Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CHENGDU300
2007-12-20 07:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Chengdu
Cable title:
CHINA NGO PROJECTS AND STRATEGIES: THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
how-toVZCZCXRO6371 RR RUEHGH RUEHVC DE RUEHCN #0300/01 3540743 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 200743Z DEC 07 FM AMCONSUL CHENGDU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2709 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 0062 RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 3278
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENGDU 000300
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM AND OES
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2032
TAGS: SENV PGOV PHUM SOCI CH
SUBJECT: CHINA NGO PROJECTS AND STRATEGIES: THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
REF: CHENGDU 269
CHENGDU 00000300 001.2 OF 002
CLASSIFIED BY: John Hill, Acting Consul General, Chengdu,
Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENGDU 000300
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM AND OES
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2032
TAGS: SENV PGOV PHUM SOCI CH
SUBJECT: CHINA NGO PROJECTS AND STRATEGIES: THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
REF: CHENGDU 269
CHENGDU 00000300 001.2 OF 002
CLASSIFIED BY: John Hill, Acting Consul General, Chengdu,
Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary: While the Nature Conservancy (TNC) believes
the overall environment for non-governmental organizations to
operate in China has been noticeably more difficult during the
last few years than during the late 1990's, the increased focus
by central and local government authorities on environmental
issues appears to be facilitating its expansion beyond its
original base in Yunnan Province. As a foreign NGO, TNC is
forbidden from eliciting funding from China's growing number of
increasingly wealthy entrepreneurs, who also would receive no
tax incentives to make contributions and likely be wary of
possible political reprisals. Nevertheless, with a loyal cadre
of Hong Kong contributors, as well as funding from the United
States, TNC appears to be well positioned to try to take on the
"hot issue" of environmental protection in China. End Summary.
2. (C) TNC China director told Congenoff in an early November
visit to Kunming that the late 1990s were a boom period for
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in southwest
China's Yunnan Province. The past several years, however, have
been a more difficult period due to nervousness of the Yunnan
provincial government about NGO activities. Confrontation with
the authorities is not the TNC work style in China (or the
U.S.),noted the director, although it can in some circumstances
be a useful tactic. Since late 2006, stronger central
government support for environmental work has brought a change
in the attitude of the Yunnan provincial government, which now
supports environmental work more strongly under its "Colorful
Yunnan" tourism promotion strategy.
3. (C) As a foreign NGO, TNC may not raise money in the
mainland of China, although its strong backers in Hong Kong last
year contributed about one-third of the TNC China budget. As an
affiliate of a U.S. NGO, TNC China is subject to the same TNC
standard audits as U.S. offices of TNC. Most funding comes from
the parent NGO in the U.S., although recently for the first time
a TNC China project won some European Union funding. The TNC in
its China work has over the years gotten strong financial
support and advice from companies such as Alcoa, Caterpillar, GM
and Goldman Sachs.
-------------- --------------
--------------
TNC China Stresses National Parks Over Nature Reserves
-------------- --------------
--------------
4. (SBU) TNC China in its policy promotion work has shifted
from nature reserves towards promoting national park
development. Local governments have no incentive to create or
support nature reserves since they lose the right to develop
within the core zone of the reserve. Moreover, nature reserves
had often been imposed from above as unfunded mandates on local
governments. National parks are more palatable than nature
reserves to local governments since park development loans are
available and entrance fees of RMB 200 (USD 27) per visitor
generate significant income. The tourist core area might cover
for example 5 sq. km. of a 100 sq. km. national park.
-------------- --------------
--------------
Politics and Lack of Tax Incentives Inhibit Chinese Business
Support for NGOs
-------------- --------------
--------------
5. (C) Chinese environmental NGOs are small and local. Having
not yet developed the strong support from the Chinese business
community that TNC enjoys in the U.S. limits its potential for
growth in China. One positive sign is the emergence of a group
of wealthy PRC businesspeople, the Society of Entrepreneurs and
Ecology. The group, which assesses its members 100,000 RMB per
year in dues, works in Inner Mongolia together with the Chinese
government and the TNC's Beijing office to reduce the severity
of sandstorms that plague Chinese cities in the northeast.
These businesspeople, who come from the real estate, banking,
and IT sectors may be able to increase interest among
businesspeople in environmental protection, noted a TNC staffer.
Business people today do not get tax incentives for
contributing to NGOs or charitable organizations. They also
fear potential reprisals should the government not appreciate
business support for NGO work. Capacity building for Chinese
CHENGDU 00000300 002.2 OF 002
NGOs is a priority for the TNC.
-------------- --------------
--------------
Kunming Head Office Manages Projects, Beijing Branch Works Policy
-------------- --------------
--------------
6. (SBU) In general, TNC projects are managed from Kunming while
policy development cooperation with Chinese government partners
such as the State Environmental Protection Administration, the
Ministry of Water Resources, the State Forestry Administration,
the State Council Poverty Alleviation Office and the National
Development and Reform Commission are handled by the TNC Beijing
office. Nearly all TNC China staff are PRC citizens.
7. (SBU) Embassy Beijing comment: During the tenure of the
current director, the Beijing office of the TNC has grown from
one to 20 staffers. The TNC, with the World Wildlife Fund and
Conservation International, is among the three biggest NGOs in
China. The TNC works closely with the national and provincial
forestry administrations. End comment.
8. (SBU) TNC continues to discuss with the Three Gorges
Construction Co. minimizing environmental damage due to dams
(see reftel) and restoring the natural flow of the Yangtze
River. Restoring the flow of the river would allow flooding of
some downstream flood plains, involve the displacement of
downstream people, as well as touch upon the politically
sensitive question of the relative importance of flood control
and power generation. TNC, with GM funding, works together with
the Ministry of Natural Resources on water quality monitoring of
the mouth of the Yangtze.
9. (SBU) Most of TNC's work in China has been focused on Yunnan
for its ecological diversity and the critical, Virginia-size,
three rivers ecosystem area in and near Yunnan Province that is
the source of the Yangtze, Yellow and Brahmaputra rivers.
-------------- --------------
--------------
Five Years Later, Most Peasants Still Use Solar Water Heaters
and Stoves
-------------- --------------
--------------
10. (SBU) In the Deqin Autonomous Prefecture (a Tibetan
minority area) and Lijiang, solar water heaters and stoves have
reduced consumption of firewood by local people. A three-way
split of costs among the TNC, local government and local users
ensures that people make the project their own and do not simply
see the NGO as a cash cow. A five year follow-up check found
that most of this equipment is still being used.
-------------- --------------
TNC Projects Branch Out from Yunnan Province
-------------- --------------
11. (SBU) More recently, TNC China has taken on more projects
outside of Yunnan Province. In addition to the Yangtze River
projects, TNC China is working with the provincial governments
of Guangxi and Sichuan. At the request of the Poverty
Alleviation Office of the State Council (which supports the work
of TNC in the Deqin Prefecture project),TNC has undertaken a
similar project at Dayaoshan, Guangxi. The State Council
Poverty Alleviation Office, TNC, and Guangxi authorities have
signed an MOU but the project has not yet begun. TNC China's
Kunming Office is also working together with the Sichuan
provincial government on its biodiversity action plan.
-------------- --------------
More Information: See TNC China Websites
-------------- --------------
12. (U) More information on these projects is available on the
TNC China's English and Chinese language websites. The Chinese
language page is more current and much more detailed.
-- TNC China in English ---
http://www.nature.org/wherewework/asiapacific /China
-- TNC China in Chinese --- For a
useful Google machine translation of the Chinese language page,
go to
HILL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM AND OES
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2032
TAGS: SENV PGOV PHUM SOCI CH
SUBJECT: CHINA NGO PROJECTS AND STRATEGIES: THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
REF: CHENGDU 269
CHENGDU 00000300 001.2 OF 002
CLASSIFIED BY: John Hill, Acting Consul General, Chengdu,
Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary: While the Nature Conservancy (TNC) believes
the overall environment for non-governmental organizations to
operate in China has been noticeably more difficult during the
last few years than during the late 1990's, the increased focus
by central and local government authorities on environmental
issues appears to be facilitating its expansion beyond its
original base in Yunnan Province. As a foreign NGO, TNC is
forbidden from eliciting funding from China's growing number of
increasingly wealthy entrepreneurs, who also would receive no
tax incentives to make contributions and likely be wary of
possible political reprisals. Nevertheless, with a loyal cadre
of Hong Kong contributors, as well as funding from the United
States, TNC appears to be well positioned to try to take on the
"hot issue" of environmental protection in China. End Summary.
2. (C) TNC China director told Congenoff in an early November
visit to Kunming that the late 1990s were a boom period for
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in southwest
China's Yunnan Province. The past several years, however, have
been a more difficult period due to nervousness of the Yunnan
provincial government about NGO activities. Confrontation with
the authorities is not the TNC work style in China (or the
U.S.),noted the director, although it can in some circumstances
be a useful tactic. Since late 2006, stronger central
government support for environmental work has brought a change
in the attitude of the Yunnan provincial government, which now
supports environmental work more strongly under its "Colorful
Yunnan" tourism promotion strategy.
3. (C) As a foreign NGO, TNC may not raise money in the
mainland of China, although its strong backers in Hong Kong last
year contributed about one-third of the TNC China budget. As an
affiliate of a U.S. NGO, TNC China is subject to the same TNC
standard audits as U.S. offices of TNC. Most funding comes from
the parent NGO in the U.S., although recently for the first time
a TNC China project won some European Union funding. The TNC in
its China work has over the years gotten strong financial
support and advice from companies such as Alcoa, Caterpillar, GM
and Goldman Sachs.
-------------- --------------
--------------
TNC China Stresses National Parks Over Nature Reserves
-------------- --------------
--------------
4. (SBU) TNC China in its policy promotion work has shifted
from nature reserves towards promoting national park
development. Local governments have no incentive to create or
support nature reserves since they lose the right to develop
within the core zone of the reserve. Moreover, nature reserves
had often been imposed from above as unfunded mandates on local
governments. National parks are more palatable than nature
reserves to local governments since park development loans are
available and entrance fees of RMB 200 (USD 27) per visitor
generate significant income. The tourist core area might cover
for example 5 sq. km. of a 100 sq. km. national park.
-------------- --------------
--------------
Politics and Lack of Tax Incentives Inhibit Chinese Business
Support for NGOs
-------------- --------------
--------------
5. (C) Chinese environmental NGOs are small and local. Having
not yet developed the strong support from the Chinese business
community that TNC enjoys in the U.S. limits its potential for
growth in China. One positive sign is the emergence of a group
of wealthy PRC businesspeople, the Society of Entrepreneurs and
Ecology. The group, which assesses its members 100,000 RMB per
year in dues, works in Inner Mongolia together with the Chinese
government and the TNC's Beijing office to reduce the severity
of sandstorms that plague Chinese cities in the northeast.
These businesspeople, who come from the real estate, banking,
and IT sectors may be able to increase interest among
businesspeople in environmental protection, noted a TNC staffer.
Business people today do not get tax incentives for
contributing to NGOs or charitable organizations. They also
fear potential reprisals should the government not appreciate
business support for NGO work. Capacity building for Chinese
CHENGDU 00000300 002.2 OF 002
NGOs is a priority for the TNC.
-------------- --------------
--------------
Kunming Head Office Manages Projects, Beijing Branch Works Policy
-------------- --------------
--------------
6. (SBU) In general, TNC projects are managed from Kunming while
policy development cooperation with Chinese government partners
such as the State Environmental Protection Administration, the
Ministry of Water Resources, the State Forestry Administration,
the State Council Poverty Alleviation Office and the National
Development and Reform Commission are handled by the TNC Beijing
office. Nearly all TNC China staff are PRC citizens.
7. (SBU) Embassy Beijing comment: During the tenure of the
current director, the Beijing office of the TNC has grown from
one to 20 staffers. The TNC, with the World Wildlife Fund and
Conservation International, is among the three biggest NGOs in
China. The TNC works closely with the national and provincial
forestry administrations. End comment.
8. (SBU) TNC continues to discuss with the Three Gorges
Construction Co. minimizing environmental damage due to dams
(see reftel) and restoring the natural flow of the Yangtze
River. Restoring the flow of the river would allow flooding of
some downstream flood plains, involve the displacement of
downstream people, as well as touch upon the politically
sensitive question of the relative importance of flood control
and power generation. TNC, with GM funding, works together with
the Ministry of Natural Resources on water quality monitoring of
the mouth of the Yangtze.
9. (SBU) Most of TNC's work in China has been focused on Yunnan
for its ecological diversity and the critical, Virginia-size,
three rivers ecosystem area in and near Yunnan Province that is
the source of the Yangtze, Yellow and Brahmaputra rivers.
-------------- --------------
--------------
Five Years Later, Most Peasants Still Use Solar Water Heaters
and Stoves
-------------- --------------
--------------
10. (SBU) In the Deqin Autonomous Prefecture (a Tibetan
minority area) and Lijiang, solar water heaters and stoves have
reduced consumption of firewood by local people. A three-way
split of costs among the TNC, local government and local users
ensures that people make the project their own and do not simply
see the NGO as a cash cow. A five year follow-up check found
that most of this equipment is still being used.
-------------- --------------
TNC Projects Branch Out from Yunnan Province
-------------- --------------
11. (SBU) More recently, TNC China has taken on more projects
outside of Yunnan Province. In addition to the Yangtze River
projects, TNC China is working with the provincial governments
of Guangxi and Sichuan. At the request of the Poverty
Alleviation Office of the State Council (which supports the work
of TNC in the Deqin Prefecture project),TNC has undertaken a
similar project at Dayaoshan, Guangxi. The State Council
Poverty Alleviation Office, TNC, and Guangxi authorities have
signed an MOU but the project has not yet begun. TNC China's
Kunming Office is also working together with the Sichuan
provincial government on its biodiversity action plan.
-------------- --------------
More Information: See TNC China Websites
-------------- --------------
12. (U) More information on these projects is available on the
TNC China's English and Chinese language websites. The Chinese
language page is more current and much more detailed.
-- TNC China in English ---
http://www.nature.org/wherewework/asiapacific /China
-- TNC China in Chinese --- For a
useful Google machine translation of the Chinese language page,
go to
HILL