The foundation was founded in 1985 by Lu Zhengcao, Qian Changzhao and Bao Erhan, the former vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative ConferenceNational Committee to support the breeding and popularization of endangered Père David's deer species which was reintroduced back to China at that time. And it has worked since then on a number of resource management, environmental protection and conservation projects across China. Hu Deping is the current chairman of the foundation and Zhou Jinfeng is its secretary general. The foundation is made up of several expert committees and special funds for biodiversity conservation composed of dozens of academicians of the Chinese academy of engineering and many experts in environmental ecology and law commission made up of many lawyers and scholars.
Approach
The foundation is involved in conservation efforts in a number of ways. It engages in lobbying the conservation work to community level through its Community conservation Areas which it established in the April 2016 having till date over 100 CCAfas in China, yet in some cases criticised as non-official. It has a number of educational initiatives to raise awareness of Environmental issues in China and to encourage sustainable practices. It works with schools and with a large network of wildlife volunteers through local initiatives in target areas to ensure safe flyways for migratory birds. The NGO labels itself as grassroots-based, and the working system sometimes bring troubles to the Beijing-based NGO. Its scientific staff is engaged in research and management plans in reserve wildlife habitat across the country. It also advises industry and government bodies on sustainable development and environmental impacts for their projects in several cities in China.
Species conservation
Endangered species the foundation focuses on include pangolin, great bustard, Yangtze River dolphin, bluefin tuna, acer pentaphyllum, etc. It is reported that the fierce battle between the foundation and the Guangxi Forestry Department opened a new reform for China's wildlife rescue system.
On the path of safeguarding public interests, since the revision of China's new Environmental Protection Law giving non-governmental organizations the right to sue polluters on behalf of the public, the foundation has filed quite a number of Environmental Public Interest Litigation Cases against polluters and habitat destroyers causing harm to the environment and the people and wildlife living around it. Famous cases include the lawsuit against Tengger Desert Pollution, the litigation against oil giants ConocoPhillips and CNOOC over Bohai Bay oil spill, and to protect old red willows from a hydropower project, on old date trees, to safeguard cultural and historic relics, to protect Giant Panda, on poisonous school running tracks, and the failed Changzhou School case, etc.
Cultural field
The Foundation also promotes eco-tourism and faith-based conservation with the goal of expanding awareness of the countries natural resources and also creating economic incentives for a continued and expanded preservation.
