August 2001
Program Development for UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage Sites in Tibet

IHE organized the visit of UNESCO officials responsible for world natural and cultural heritage sites to Tibet. The result of this visit is a joint program led by UNESCO, the Forestry Department of Tibetan Autonomous Region (FDT), and IHE on establish 3 world natural heritage sites in Tibet for the next 3-5 years. Mayor and Lhasa, Lhosang Gyaltsen hosted the visit.

The long term projects include:

1. UNESCO is interested in helping FDT on the nomination of Chang Tang National Nature Reserve to the natural world heritage site, meanwhile look into other possibility of nomination, such as The Grant Canyon of Yarlung Tsangpo River and others.
2. Assist on Qomolangma (Mt Everest) nature reserve which has been nominated as Man and the Biosphere site. Meanwhile, FDT will identify other potential sites for Man and the Biosphere nomination, such as a cluster of reserved area in Nyingchi and Chamdo where man and wildlife co-existence in harmony.
3. IHE will coordinate with relevant ministries and government agencies at national level to assist the nomination process in item 1 & 2.
4. UNESCO will prepare a proposal on capacity building for the conservation sectors of Tibet at all levels.

UNESCO will also support small and short term projects:

1. Publish a book of conservation in Tibet in English based on FDT information of nature reserves in Tibet.
2. Facilitate conservation scientists and officers of Tibet to participate in regional and international workshops and conferences on conservation.

May 2001
Visit by National Geographic Magazine Correspondents to the Biodiversity Hotspot in China

From May to June, IHE conducted the tour and interviews for NGM correspondents to visit 6 nature reserves in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces where the "hotspot" is concerned. The article of this trip will be published in April 2002 issue of NGM. It is our hope that a worldwide attention would be raised through the readers of magazine for the purpose of protection of this last wildlife paradise on earth.

March 2001
The policy recommendation on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) control in China results from scientific researches and public participatory activities sponsored by B.A.T. China, was finally proposed to law-makers of the National People’s Congress (NPC), and was reviewed at the March 2001 National Assembly

On behalf of all participating organizations and sponsor of IAQ program, Prof. Zhu Tan, the national congress representative, together with the other 29 congress representatives signed and submitted the IAQ proposal to the 9^th National Assembly in March 2001. The proposal is among 268 bills selected from 1040 proposed to the Special Committee for Proposal Examination and Approval.

IAQ proposal has received not only attention at the national assembly but very positive feedbacks from relevant government ministries and agencies. Reply from Ministry of Construction (MOC) states that MOC seriously reviewed and discussed the IAQ proposal. Recently, MOC organized to draft "the State Regulation for Indoor Pollution Control in Civil Buildings." The first draft will be completed soon, and the public hearing on the draft will be held by the end of this year.

In "Reply to the Proposal by Congress Representative Zhu Tan at the Forth Conference of the 9^th National Assembly, NPC" documented SEPA [2001] 5, it says that in response to the proposal, SEPA listed the task of drafting "the Standard for Indoor Air Quality Evaluation" in year 2001 work plan, to set up environment standards for IAQ supervision.

January 2001
Published First China Environmental and Development Annual Review with Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

Three board members of IHE contributed writings to this review, together with the scholars of the Environmental and Development Center at CASS.

October 2000
IHE put together the Symposium On Integrated Conservation and Development of Hengduan Mountain Biodiversity Corridor in Chengdu, Sichuan Province

Co-organized by Sichuan Provincial Government, China and Conservation International, USA, and in cooperation with Provincial Development and Planning Commission, Sichuan West Development Leading Group, Sichuan Provincial Government, Chengdu Institute of Biology, National Academy of Science, China, Institute of Human Ecology, Forestry Department and Environmental Protection Bureau, Sichuan Provincial Government, IHE put together the Symposium On Integrated Conservation and Development of Hengduan Mountain Biodiversity Corridor in Chengdu, Sichuan Province.

The Hengduan Mountain region of South Central China is one of the 25 global biodiversity hotspots identified by Conservation International (CI). Botanically, it is arguably the richest temperate area in the world. Home to some of the world’s best-known species, including the giant panda, the golden monkey and the red panda, the Hengduan Mountains are arguably the botanically richest temperate region in the world.

Urgent action is needed to conserve this hotspot of global importance. Growing pressure on the already fragmented natural habitat means that the extinction of many endemic (found nowhere else) species of plants and animals is an immediate possibility. These mountains are also critical to the integrity of the major rivers that flow through them—the Yangtze, Mekong, Salween and Brahmaputra. For example, large-scale deforestation in the Hengduan Mountains contributed to the devastating floods of the Yangtze in 1998.

CI, together with IHE and Chinese NGOs and local governments are responding to this crisis by applying its science, policy and awareness-building skills to conserve biodiversity in the central portion of the Hengduan Mountains. This area of western Sichuan spans about 130,000 square kilometers and encompasses parts of Ganzi and Aba Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture and Panzhihua City.

The objective of this symposium is to provide a forum to access the opportunities and threats facing biodiversity conservation in western Sichuan as well as to strengthen the partnership between CI and Sichuan provincial and local governments, key governmental agencies, scientific institutes and NGOs in order to conserve the entire Hengduan Mountain hotspot with a biodiversity corridor framework.

January 2000
On behalf of IHE, Dr. Diane Chang award the title of "Environment Envoy" of China, by State Environmental Protection Administration, together with 30 distinguished national figures.

March 1999
Environmental media and NGO Seminar

IHE representative attended the Chinese and International Environmental Media and NGO Seminar in Beijing. IHE’s speech and photograph was published in China Environmental Daily (march 3).

Ms Browner and her delegation met with Chinese and international environmental NGOs in Beijing on March 23, 1999. In the meeting, IHE representative expressed concerns on global warming and its negative impact on China’s dense biodiversity area, such as Yunnan. IHE urges both US and Chinese governments to cooperate on this issue.

January 1999
IHE met with NPC (National People’s Congress)

Prof. Qu Geping, Chairman of Environmental and Natural Resources Committee of NPC, met with 3 IHE deputy general secretaries at his NPC office in Beijing. IHE expressed concerns on climate change and other environmental degradation issues in China, and proposed policy recommendation such as carbon trading policy carried out from Kyoto Conference, to bring economic solution to China’s environment.

Prof. Qu Geping spoke highly of IHE’s achievement on environment. In his interview on July 30, 1998 with Time magazine correspondent stationed in Beijing, Ms Mia Turner, Prof. Qu introduced Chinese NGO development, in which Dr. Diane Chang and her organization IHE were examplified by Prof. Qu to characterize such development.

December 1998
News Conference on IAQ of Public Spaces and Human Health

IHE presented annual report on IAQ research of public spaces in China. Representatives of NPC, SEPA, Ministry of Health, Beijing Municipal Government, Institute of Environmental Science, Academy of Preventive Medicine, and 40 Chinese and international media groups attended the conference.

October 1998
CI and IHE partnership

IHE and CI (Conservation International) signed a cooperation agreement to establish the Hengduan Mountains Biodiversity Corridor in Sichuan Province, China. CI and IHE have been exploring with Sichuan provincial and prefecture authorities and other potential partners, the implementation of a major conservation initiative in the Hengduan Mountain region of west Sichuan, southwest China. This biodiversity "hotspot" designated by CI is the richest temperate region in the world and the cradles of the major rivers of China and Southeast Asia. It is hoped that creation of a biodiversity corridor area integrating conservation and environmental sound economic development can protect the extraordinary plants and animals of this hotspot while benefiting the people who live there.

October 1998
Bruce Babbitt met US and Chinese environmentalists

Mr. Bruce Babbitt, the Secretary of Interior met representatives of IHE and TNC, and China Biodiversity Delegation in his Washington DC office.

September 1998
China Biodiversity Delegation to the US

In cooperation with TNC and US Department of Interior, IHE facilitated and co-led the China Biodiversity Delegation, consisting of high level government officials of SDPC and SEPA, to visit various national parks in the US and have meetings with park officials.

June 1998
International Symposium on Indoor Air Quality and Related Policy Study held in Beijing

These series of Symposium and seminars were organized by IHE, and in cooperation with Committee of Environmental and Resources Protection, Committee of legal Work, the National People’s Congress; the State Development and Planning Commission; the State Environmental Protection Administration, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

June symposium program includes environmental law and institutional building; indoor air quality (IAQ) and its related policy implementation; promoting technology exchange in IAQ to improve human condition, and etc.

March 1998
Study Program on Urban Environmental issue in Shenzhen Special Economic Zone

February 1998
Exchange Program in Sydney on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Research with Australian Government and Corporations

IHE incorperated this conference with Ministry of Power Industry and the provincial government of Hubei.

November 1997
Organized "China Environment Forum: Integrating Economic Development, Social Progress, and Environmental Sustainability" in Beijing

The 1997 China Environment Forum set in place practical measures to achieve the following aims:

• promoting international awareness of the enhanced Chinese commitment to set in force sustainable environmental and industrial development in China.

• providing practical guidance on the technical, legal, fiscal and regulatory challenges on incorporating environmental principles into Chinese development plans, and gain from the lessons of international corporate experience in implementing sustainable development.
• launching a program of environmental awareness and action in China, with a new emphasis on education.

A select group of 100 delegates, 40 representing the highest level of international expertise in sustainable development, assembled in Beijing to discuss practical measures to achieve the conference's aims. China's Trans-Century Green Plan, a collective charter of enhanced national development and environmental protection, which is already endorsed by the World Bank, was employed as the basis of panel discussions.

This forum was the first international environment conference ever held in China under the auspices of a Chinese non-government organization (NGO). Over 300 participants from more than 20 countries traveled to Beijing to participate. During the Forum, China’s leaders endorsed the role of NGOs in mobilizing public opinion on the environment and supervising environmental protection. This view was expressed by the President of China, Mr. Jiang Zeming in his congratulation letter to the forum. And Prime Minister Li Peng met with delegates at the Great Hall of the People on the eve the Forum. State Councilor Song Jian delievered opening address, and Vice-Premier Zou Jiahua presented his remarks at the closing banquet three nights later.

(For detailed report see IHE website "Summary of the Events of the 1997 China Environment Forum")

September 1997
IHE and TNC Cooperation in China to Launch Yunnan Great River National Park System Project

IHE and TNC (The Nature Conservancy) Chairmen signed a cooperation agreement in September 1997, establishing the Great Rivers National Park Project in Yunnan Province.  This potential 'national park system' initiative takes place in southwest China - a region that cradles the major rivers of China and south Asia, as well as a great number of the biodiversity of China and the world.  This project will be the leading example of conservation and eco-tourism in China, and has received strong support from both central and provincial government.  TNC and IHE are also interested in establishing appropriate policy and mechanisms to guide development of this and other regions along an environmentally balanced and sustainable line.

January 1997
Program on Re-building the Environmental Science Lab of Beijing Experimental Middle School

This program enable the science students to work together with the communities on environmental monitory and test. Students monitor and sample the air pollution not only in campus, but at the communities outside the school campus.

This program also coordinated with the in-campus station established by the GLOBE program of US government.

March 1996
International Symposium on Energy and Sustainable Development held in Beijing

This symposium was organized by IHE and in cooperation with the State Planning Commission, Ministry of Power Industry, National Center for Wind Energy, and Center for Biomass Research. Participants are the officials and scientists from provincial planning commission of more than 26 China’s provinces. They came together with international corporations to discuss the development of cogeneration and renewable energy projects in China, and the potential cooperation with international sources.

Projects and cooperative research developed after the Symposium include Spanish Government loan on wind power technology and production transfer, biomass research and experiment, and cogeneration and water desalination power plants.