WWF in China - Timeline

To mark WWF's 25th anniversary in China, we have compiled this timeline of major events and activities over the past 25 years of working in conservation in China.

1979
WWF International's chairman signs a unique agreement in Beijing for conservation cooperation with the People's Republic of China. The highlight of the agreement is a six-member WWF-China committee, established to coordinate links between conservation organisations and authorities in China and WWF's worldwide conservation network. A number of high-priority projects in China are decided upon, the first of which is the conservation of the panda.

1980
Dr George Schaller is invited by WWF and the Chinese government to study the panda, making him the first Western scientist to be entrusted with leading WWF work in China and WWF, the first international conservation organisation to begin fieldwork in China

1985-1988
The Chinese Ministry of Forestry and WWF jointly conducted a national survey on the giant panda and its habitat, which revealed that around 1000 pandas were found in the wild.

1992
A management plan for the panda is launched following a decade of cooperation between WWF and the Chinese Ministry of Forestry. The plan is entitled the National Conservation Programme for the Giant Panda and its Habitat and calls for the establishment of an additional 14 nature reserves, tangible improvements in the 13 existing reserves and the creation of 15 migratory corridors to enable increased interaction between isolated panda populations. Upon completion of the plan, 60 percent of all panda habitat will be included within protected areas

1989-95
WWF supports a range of panda conservation work, including training courses; the provision of equipment for rangers, wardens, and scientists; veterinary work in Wolong Captive Breeding Centre; and bi-monthly monitoring in the Wuyipeng Area of Wolong

1995
WWF China’s Climate & Energy programme is established, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in China

1996
WWF China establishes its Education programme, which focuses on promoting the concept of sustainablity - the wise, appropriate, and efficient use of resources, so that population and demand do not damage the environment's long-term life-supporting ability.

1996
WWF China’s Forest programme is established, which aims to protect, restore and sustainably manage forests to provide goods and ecological services

1996
WWF CPO opens its office in Beijing, with nine staff working on four programmes: Giant Panda Conservation, Energy Efficiency, Forests and Environmental Education.

1996
TRAFFIC begins work on wildlife trade in China

1997
WWF, together with the Chinese government, launches an Integrated Conservation and Development Project in Pingwu county of Sichuan Province to address the conflicting needs of pandas and people

1997
The Environmental Educators’ Initiative (EEI) is launched in China, which aims to embed Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in all schools across China

1996-2000
WWF trains more than 300 panda reserve staff and local government officials in Pingwu in nature reserve management, monitoring, conducting anti-poaching patrols and pioneering community-based conservation approaches

1998
Sichuan Forestry Department, with support from WWF, initiates biodiversity monitoring in 11 panda reserves in the Minshan mountain range.

1999
WWF Yangtze Programme launched in Changsha, Hunan. It aims to restore a ‘living Yangtze river’ in the next 25 years

1999
The Third National Panda survey begins across the entire panda range, including six mountain ranges. WWF provided technical and financial support to the survey.

1999
TRAFFIC's 'Healthy People, Healthy Planet' conference is held in Beijing, bringing together TCM practitioners, wildlife conservationists and the Chinese government, laying the foundation for further cooperation and improved communication.

2000
China's Air Conditioner standard is passed with support from WWF – the new law rates the efficiency of appliances and prevents the sale of appliances that fall below the stipulated minimum level of efficiency.

2001
First annual WWF Yangtze programme Wetland Ambassador Action campaign carried out. 10 university groups campaigned in the middle and lower Yangtze to spread wetland conservation and wise use concepts to local communities

2001
Biodiversity monitoring work in giant panda reserves initiated by WWF in the Qinling Mountain range, the northernmost panda distribution area

2001
Forest certification working group established and holds first meeting in Beijing to develop forest certification policies in China

2001
Establishment of TRAFFIC China office

2001
Some 600 swans came back to Qingshan polder in Hunan province after 1-year of working on wetland restoration. WWF’s alternative livelihood project improved income in Xipanshanzhou polder by an average of 500RMB per household.

2002
14 new wetlands designated as Ramsar sites (wetlands of international importance) and recognized by WWF as the 71st Gift to the Earth (GttE). Mainland China’s first GttE.

2002
An agreement is signed between WWF and the Shaanxi Forestry Department to establish 13 new reserves and create 5 ecological corridors in the Qinling mountains. The project aims to reconnect the fragmented giant panda populations in this mountain range.

2002
With the support of WWF, the Conservation Newsletter of Giant Panda Reserves in Sichuan Province was created and has became an effective platform for information exchange among giant panda reserves in the province.

2002
China's establishes first certified forest – the Changhua Forest Farm (CFF) in Zhejiang province (940ha)

2002
HSBC Investing in Nature Programme launched with WWF, aimed at re-linking disconnected lakes with the Yangtze to rebuild the River basin’s ‘web of life’

2003
Facilitated by WWF's Qinling Project, the Shaanxi Provincial Government officially sanctioned five new panda reserves and five ecological corridors for the giant panda, increasing protected area for the giant pandas in Qinling by over 150,000 ha. WWF International recognized this exciting initative as a major "Gift to the Earth".

2003
All 17 giant panda reserves carry out regular biodiversity monitoring work in the Minshan mountain range.

2003
China adopts new national Environmental Education guidelines, developed in close cooperation with WWF, bringing environmental issues into the classrooms of China's 500,000 primary and middle schools and advocating the use of inquiry-based teaching approaches that encourage student participation and community action

2003
Traditional Medicine Advisory Group formed by TRAFFIC, which aims to lead policy discussions about sustainability in China's use of traditional medicines. Members are drawn from across China's traditional medicine community.

2003
Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Task Force of CCICED (China Council of International Cooperation on Environment and Development) established in Beijing, and gives recommendations to the central government on how to promote integrated river management in 2004

2004
The result of the Third National Survey on the Giant Panda and Its Habitat was released by the State Council of China. It showed that there are 1596 wild pandas in the world.

2004
Shangri-La Sustainable Community Initiative established, with the aim of empowering local communities to preserve their unique local cultural heritage and natural environment

2004
WWF organizes the first bird census in middle and lower Yangtze river

2005
China Forest and Trade Network established, as part of a global WWF initiative to facilitate market links between companies committed to responsible forestry and purchasing of forest products.

2005
Nine wetlands (8 of which are high altitude) designated as new Ramsar sites

2005
China certifies its first two state-owned forests - in Heilongjiang and Jilin Provinces, totaling an area of 420,000ha

2005
WWF organizes the Yangzte Forum, which for the first time, brings together provincial governors and key ministers from China’s water, environment, forest, and agriculture sectors in the Yangtze River basin to develop a common strategy and action plan for protecting the entire basin.