China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation

The China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation, commonly known as CBCGDF, is a Chinese environmental organization working on biodiversity protection, natural-resource conservation, ecological education, and sustainable development. It is described as a state-backed environmental foundation and is registered through the China Association for Science and Technology and the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The organization operates primarily in China and combines conservation research, public education, local volunteer activity, policy advocacy, environmental consultation, and environmental public-interest litigation. CBCGDF was established in 1985 under the name China Milu Foundation. Its original purpose was to support the breeding and reintroduction of Père David’s deer, also known as milu, an endangered species historically associated with China. The foundation later broadened its mandate beyond that species to address wider environmental and biodiversity concerns across the country. Its work has included research and management planning for wildlife habitats, species-protection initiatives, ecological restoration, sustainable-development advice, and programs intended to connect conservation with local communities. A distinctive part of CBCGDF’s approach is its emphasis on community-level conservation. In April 2016, it established the Community Conservation Area, often referred to as CCAfa, as a framework for locally managed conservation activity. The organization has reported more than 100 such areas in China. These initiatives seek to involve communities, schools, volunteers, and local stakeholders in protecting habitats and promoting sustainable practices. CBCGDF also works with wildlife volunteers on projects such as safeguarding migratory-bird flyways and carries out environmental-awareness activities in educational settings. The foundation’s species-conservation interests have included pangolins, the great bustard, the Yangtze River dolphin, bluefin tuna, and Acer pentaphyllum. Its activities have also extended to wildlife rescue and disputes over the administration of conservation measures. The organization presents itself as grassroots-oriented, although its community-conservation model and interventions have sometimes attracted criticism or institutional friction because some initiatives were viewed as unofficial by local authorities. Following the revision of China’s Environmental Protection Law in 2015, which expanded the ability of qualified nongovernmental organizations to bring environmental public-interest lawsuits, CBCGDF became associated with litigation against polluters, habitat destruction, and projects alleged to threaten ecological or cultural resources. Reported cases and campaigns have involved pollution in the Tengger Desert, the Bohai Bay oil spill, a hydropower project affecting old red willows, old date trees, giant-panda protection, school running-track pollution, and cultural or historic relics. The foundation was also involved in the unsuccessful Changzhou school pollution case. These legal actions form part of its broader strategy of using courts, scientific evidence, and public advocacy to influence environmental governance. CBCGDF also promotes ecotourism and faith-based conservation, seeking to build public support for natural-resource protection while creating economic or cultural incentives for conservation. Internationally, it has reported cooperation or partnerships with organizations and institutions including WWF, UNEP, UNDP, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on Migratory Species, CITES, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In 2016, it signed a partnership agreement with the Convention on Migratory Species and launched an Ecological Belt and Road Initiative. The foundation’s current public profile is therefore defined by a combination of species conservation, community action, environmental litigation, scientific work, international cooperation, and green-development advocacy.

CBCGDF was founded in 1985 as the China Milu Foundation by Lü Zhengcao, Qian Changzhao, and Burhan Shahidi. Its initial mission was closely tied to the breeding and reintroduction of Père David’s deer, or milu, an endangered species being returned to China at the time. The foundation’s original species-specific purpose provided the institutional basis for a broader environmental organization focused on conservation and natural-resource management. Over time, the organization expanded its scope to include biodiversity protection, habitat management, environmental education, community participation, and sustainable development. Its scientific personnel have worked on research and management plans for wildlife reserves and other habitats in different parts of China. The foundation has also advised government and industry bodies on environmental effects and sustainable-development considerations in several cities. CBCGDF’s operating model combines professional research with public participation. It has promoted environmental education through schools, developed volunteer networks, and supported local initiatives designed to protect wildlife and migratory-bird routes. The foundation characterizes this approach as grassroots-based. Its Community Conservation Area framework, created in April 2016, formalized an effort to involve local communities in conservation. More than 100 such areas were reported in China. The model has also generated criticism in some circumstances because local or sectoral authorities considered certain conservation activities unofficial, contributing to tensions involving the Beijing-based organization. Species-related work has extended beyond milu to animals and plants including pangolins, the great bustard, the Yangtze River dolphin, bluefin tuna, and Acer pentaphyllum. The foundation has participated in debates concerning wildlife rescue and conservation administration, including a reported dispute with the Guangxi Forestry Department that was described as contributing to changes in China’s wildlife-rescue system. The 2015 revision of China’s Environmental Protection Law created a more explicit legal basis for qualified nongovernmental organizations to bring environmental public-interest litigation. CBCGDF subsequently became associated with lawsuits and legal campaigns directed at alleged pollution and habitat damage. Reported matters included contamination in the Tengger Desert, claims relating to the Bohai Bay oil spill involving ConocoPhillips and CNOOC, protection of old red willows from a hydropower project, protection of old date trees, giant-panda conservation, cultural and historic relics, and pollution allegations involving school running tracks. The Changzhou school case was reported as unsuccessful. Through these cases, the foundation used litigation as a mechanism for public accountability and environmental protection, rather than limiting its work to charitable conservation projects. The organization has also promoted ecotourism and faith-based conservation. These activities seek to increase public understanding of China’s natural resources and create social or economic reasons to maintain protected landscapes. International cooperation became another part of its profile. CBCGDF has reported relationships with WWF, UNEP, UNDP, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on Migratory Species, CITES, and IUCN. Its 2016 partnership with the Convention on Migratory Species was presented as a significant step for a Chinese organization and was linked to the creation of the Ecological Belt and Road Initiative. The foundation is currently led by chairman Hu Deping and secretary general Zhou Jinfeng. Its institutional identity remains that of a Chinese environmental foundation combining biodiversity conservation, community-level action, scientific research, environmental education, public-interest litigation, and green-development advocacy.

• 2016

  Community Conservation Area framework launched

  [1]China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  CBCGDF established its Community Conservation Area approach to extend conservation work through local communities and reported more than 100 areas in China.

• 2016

  Partnership with the Convention on Migratory Species

  [1]China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  CBCGDF signed a partnership agreement with the Convention on Migratory Species and linked it to the Ecological Belt and Road Initiative.

• 2015

  Environmental public-interest litigation framework expands

  [1]China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Changes to China’s Environmental Protection Law increased the ability of qualified environmental organizations to bring public-interest lawsuits, enabling CBCGDF to pursue more environmental cases.

• 1985

  China Milu Foundation established

  [1]China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was founded by Lü Zhengcao, Qian Changzhao, and Burhan Shahidi to support the breeding and reintroduction of Père David’s deer in China.

A Chinese environmental foundation positioned between conservation science, grassroots ecological action, public-interest legal advocacy, and green-development policy.

• Community conservation program · 2016

  Community Conservation Areas

  A community-level conservation framework created by CBCGDF in 2016. The program seeks to involve residents, volunteers, schools, and local stakeholders in protecting habitats and species while encouraging sustainable practices. CBCGDF has reported more than 100 such areas in China, although the model has sometimes been criticized as lacking official status.

• Legal advocacy · 2015

  Environmental public-interest litigation

  A legal-advocacy activity through which the foundation brings or supports cases concerning pollution, habitat destruction, wildlife protection, infrastructure impacts, and threats to cultural or historic resources. The activity expanded after changes to China’s Environmental Protection Law in 2015.

• Conservation program · 1985

  Biodiversity and species conservation

  CBCGDF conducts or supports conservation work involving endangered species and threatened habitats. Reported focal species include Père David’s deer, pangolins, the great bustard, the Yangtze River dolphin, bluefin tuna, and Acer pentaphyllum.

• 2016Ecological Belt and Road Initiative

  China · International

  An ecological cooperation initiative associated with CBCGDF’s partnership with the Convention on Migratory Species, intended to connect biodiversity protection with broader international cooperation.

  Outcome. The initiative was established in connection with the 2016 partnership agreement.

  Source
• Tengger Desert pollution litigation

  China

  A reported environmental public-interest litigation effort addressing alleged pollution in the Tengger Desert.

  Source
• Bohai Bay oil-spill litigation

  China

  A reported legal action concerning environmental damage associated with the Bohai Bay oil spill and involving ConocoPhillips and CNOOC.

  Source

• 2016

  Adopted the Community Conservation Area modelStrategy

  Background

  CBCGDF sought to move conservation activity closer to communities and local volunteers rather than relying solely on formal reserves and centralized institutions.

  Action taken

  The foundation established the Community Conservation Area framework and expanded local conservation activity across China.

  Aftermath

  The organization reported more than 100 community conservation areas, while some initiatives encountered criticism because they were viewed as unofficial.

  Source

• 2015

  Expanded environmental public-interest litigationStrategy

  Background

  Revisions to China’s Environmental Protection Law created a stronger legal basis for qualified environmental organizations to sue on behalf of public environmental interests.

  Action taken

  CBCGDF pursued litigation concerning pollution, habitat destruction, wildlife, infrastructure, and cultural resources.

  Aftermath

  The litigation program became a prominent part of the foundation’s environmental-advocacy profile, although the reported Changzhou school case failed.

  Source

1. 1China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation official websitecbcgdf.org