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The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund

Introduction to Grant Projects

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF China / Chinese NGO - recommended by the Mitsui & Co. Asia Pacific BU)

Creating low-carbon, energy self-sufficient communities in order to conserve the ecosystems and biodiversity of giant panda sanctuaries in Sichuan Province, China

Activity grant

Project Description

Deforestation, caused by ethnic minorities living in Sichuan Province's conservation areas for Liangshan giant pandas logging trees for fuel, is threatening panda habitats as well as various rare plant and animal species. There are plans to provide electricity to 390 households by installing 110 micro hydro power plants (3-5.5kW), thereby reducing deforestation, protecting rare species, and conserving biodiversity in the area. This project will apply a new small-scale CDM framework to allow locals to earn money to maintain, manage, and monitor these plants by selling credits. It will also carry out environmental education and conservation activities with minority peoples to improve living conditions, and encourage the creation of low-carbon, energy self-sufficient societies. This activity will also contribute to reducing CO2 emissions.

Fields
Climate changePreservation of surface soil and forestsEnergy problemPreservation of biodiversity and ecosystem
Grant year
FY2009 Activity Grants
Grant term
3 years
April 2010 - March 2013
Grant amount
30,811,200 yen
Activity region
Liangshan Giant Panda Sanctuaries, Sichuan Province, China
The Liangshan region of China's Sichuan Province, where micro hydro power plants will be introduced to reduce deforestation

Overview of the Organization

Li Ye, WWF Beijing Office Project Office Manager
Representative
Li Ye, WWF Beijing Office Project Office Manager
Establishment
1996
Establishment purpose
WWF is the world's largest nature conservation NGO and it is engaged in activities in over 100 countries. Established in Switzerland in 1961 with the goal of preserving endangered wildlife, it has since expanded its activities and now works to protect endangered species and biodiversity across the globe by identifying the most important regions for conservation activities, promoting the sustainable development of seas and forests, and mitigating the effects of climate change and chemical contamination. It first engaged in the conservation of giant pandas and their habitats in 1980, and established the WWF Beijing office in 1996.
Main areas of activity
Shanghai, Chengdu, Changsha, Wuhan, Lhasa, Xi'an, Kunming, and Changchun, China
Staff
120 full members
Annual operating budget
646.62 million yen in 2007, 916.81 million yen in 2008, 1.26 billion yen in 2009
WEB site
http://www.wwfchina.org
Recent activities
  • (1) Panda conservation
  • (2) Freshwater and marine ecosystem conservation
  • (3) Renewable energy initiatives that enable the conservation and restoration of forests
  • (4) Environmental education on creating sustainable societies
  • (5) Initiatives tackling climate change and solving energy issues
  • (6) Conserving wildlife and biodiversity
  • (7) Initiatives related to scientific development and the negotiation of global conventions