80 Chinese Universities Participate in the 2010 Green Long March

Student award recipients of the 2010 Green Seed Awards smile in the audience

Beijing- On April 3, 2010, China’s fourth annual Green Long March began with an opening ceremony and national training sessions for students from 80 universities. Student volunteers from 31 provinces will participate in the 2010 Green Long March to promote regional solutions to climate change.

As part of the opening ceremonies, Dr. Guangchun Lei, Country Director of Future Generations China, awarded Green Seed Awards to 16 student environmental groups. Awards ranged from 500 to 10,000 Yuan (U.S. $74 to 1,473 dollars) and will allow students to conduct field research and disseminate best practices in conservation and sustainable livelihoods.

Throughout the school year and summer months, students will implement their Green Seed Award projects and raise environmental awareness on campuses and in communities. Activities will occur primarily along seven routes of the Green Long March, spanning the Gold Coast route of eastern China, to the Grasslands Route of inner Mongolia, to the Highlands Route of the Tibetan Plateau.

In preparation, more than 120 students and 20 representatives from environmental civil society organizations from across China participated in a national training session in Beijing. Workshops focused on the issues of sustainable development, low-carbon economy, and water resources. Training sessions encouraged student dialogue and collaboration on project design through small working groups. A core team of trainers consisted of senior student volunteers. In addition, Future Generations China Country Director, Dr. Guangchun Lei, led a presentation and discussion on global trends in nature conservation. Deputy Director of Future Generations China, Tsering Norbu, focused on lessons and tools for successful project design and implementation.

Support for the Green Long March comes from founding partner Goldman Sachs, Gold-level sponsors, Swire Pacific Ltd, Suzlon Wind Energy, Li&Fung (1906) Foundation Ltd., and Silver-level sponsor, ZeShan Foundation

Future Generations China, a Hong Kong-registered and Beijing-based organization, promotes sustainable livelihoods for rural China. In 1997, the organization partnered with Beijing Forestry University to initiate the Green Long March, an environmental youth movement that helps communities throughout China identify and expand their environmental successes. The Green Long March has trained more than 300 environmental student leaders, documented more than 40 green energy case studies, and implemented numerous hands-on projects and awareness raising activities across China. In 2009, the Green Long March received the Mother River Award, China’s most prestigious award for environmental conservation.

For additional news updates on the Green Long March 2010, visit www.futuregenerations.org.cn

For more information, contact:
Traci Hickson, Director of Communications
traci@future.org 304-358-2000.