西藏自治区潘得巴协会

In the ceremony of the First China Charity Fair held in Shenzhen Exhibition Center on July 12, 2012, Pendeba Society’s executive director and program manager, on behalf of the Society attended the Fair of great national significance. Many concerned government officials also attended the ceremony including Secretary of Guangdong CPC, Mr.WANG Yang, Vice President of CPPCC, Mr. HUANG Mengfu, and Minister of Civil Affairs, Mr. LI Liguo, etc.  

This is the first national charity fair, organized by the Ministry of Civil Affairs along with the Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce together with the Shenzhen and Guangdong governments. With a theme of the fair of “Development, Integration and Transparency,” the purpose of the Charity Fair is to provide a platform to showcase effective charitable programs and organizations, encourage open communications within and beyond the social sector and help increase understandings toward charity work from the public.

The exhibition fair demonstrates all of China’s latest achievements, management and innovative social construction, and at the same time to promote development of charitable organizations and enterprises as well as opening new channels for the public to participate in charitable activities. The exhibition fair is covering 15,000 square meters and will have forums, celebrations, online exchanges and charity festivals.

 From June 23-28, 2012, Pendeba Society staff went on a field visit to Asan and Chundu Villages in Nyalam County to examine the completion of Vale Award projects carried out in these two villages.

The farmland enclosure project in Asan Village of Suozuo Township was successfully completed. Through setting up farmland enclosures, this project not only helps protect farmland from being destroyed by wild animals, but it also helps build a sustainable development path and increase life abilities for wild animals. Over 98% of villagers, more than 600 people can benefit from the project, meeting the urgent needs of the community.

So was the farmland enclosure project in Chundu Village of Menbu Township. Through this project, it helps protect farmland from being destroyed by wild animals and livestock; rather it solves the conflicts over the grasslands between Chundu and Gucuo Villages due to historical problems. It eases the management work for local village government, duly meets the needs of the community, stimulates social stability and economic development in the village. 

On June 22, 2012, the sixth Vale Award sub-project, Flood control dam project for Sea-buckthorn shrub and farmland was launched in Langga Village, Tingri County. This project is expected to be finished in mid-July. 

The project aims to protect 30 mu’s Sea-buckthorn shrub and farmland from being destroyed by summer floods of Luoluoqu River passing by Langga Village. It helps mitigate soil erosion and farmland conservation, which in return ensures food security, enhances environmental conservation and promote sustainable use of land. 

Due to observable climate change and other natural factors, the rainfall has been unstable and summer floods emerge frequently in recent years. Even the national road has been destroyed by the mighty floods of Luoluoqu River. The floods have imposed very negative impact and threat toward the village’s farmlands and many areas of them have been flushed away. Although some Sea-buckthorn shrubs near the farmland have played a role in protecting the farmland by cushioning the floods, it is still not enough given lacking of firm measures on flood control and the Sea-buckthorn shrubs are also facing risks being flushed away. Hence, we plan to build rock dams fastened by strong wire netting to combat summer floods, where Sea-buckthorn shrubs can be better conserved to help reduce soil erosion, and farmland be protected from being destroyed. It safeguards food production, and benefits more than 190 villagers by meeting the urgent needs of the community.

The project was initially planned to help the village build a water pipeline, fetching water from water source to the village. However, after several surveys by technicians, the structure of the hill behind the village where sources the water, and the hill slope are not suitable for paving water pipeline. Therefore, after consulting with community leaders and local government officials, the project was changed to build flood control dam to protect Sea-buckthorn shrub and farmland in the village. 

In March 2012, the fifth Vale Award sub-project, Asan Village Farmland Enclosure Project was launched in Suozuo Township, Nyalam County. The project was completed in June. Gangjiu Natural Village consists of 56 poorest households in Asan Village. Although in recent years, the government has built and strengthened farming irrigation systems and pond, which has largely improved local irrigation facilities, enhanced its ability to resist natural disasters, ensuring agricultural production. 

However, one of the most critical problems arose, which is wild animal, especially Procapra gutturosa, destroying crops. Asan has 290 thousand mu of grassland, and there is no major conflict between human and wild animal or livestock and wild animals for the grassland. There is no hunting or wild animal killing in the village. Due to wild animal conservation efforts, Procapra gutturosa has enjoyed an increased number, where many Procapra gutturosa can be seen around the village. It is estimated that more than 50 Procapra gutturosa are living around Asan. After spring sowing, Procapra gutturosa usually come down to farmland to feed on fresh barley crops when grass has yet grown on hills. It is understandable. But even when the grass is well grown in summer, Procapra gutturosa still feed on crops, which largely undermines poor farmers’ interests, resulting in reduced production. The solution is to set up farmland enclosures to prevent wild animals from destroying crops. 

When the project is completed, it has several benefits. First, it protects farmland from being destroyed by wild animals; Second, it helps build a sustainable development path and increase life abilities for wild animals; Third, over 98% of villagers, more than 600 people can benefit from the project, meeting the urgent needs of the community. 

We are pleased to share the Pendeba Society's Annual Report 2011, which can be downloaded here, or under publication section of the website:

Annual Report 2011

Letter from the Executive Director

Dear friends and colleagues:

2011 marked the third year of the Pendeba Society since its establishment in 2009. In the past year, with dynamic teamwork efforts and the support from the Sociey’s Council, the Society has been active in communicating its projects via multiple channels and expanding the impact, and has received better understanding, ample assistance and support from various circles of society. And we successfully implemented a number of projects that promote environmental conservation and community development in the preserve including wetland conservation, conventional sheep corrals transformation, farmland protection and general Pendeba trainings, etc. In the course of project implementation, we have received generous support from concerned government departments and several domestic and international foundations as well as well-known enterprises. 

In June 2011, the Pendeba Society received the top prize of Vale Award on Innovative Public Participation in Western China Ecological Conservation – the Special Project Award for its Nature Conservation and Community Development Project and 250,000 yuan as the project fund. And in December, the Project again was selected by Ford Green Awards Committee for the top prize of Nature Conservation Pioneer Award with 200,000 yuan as the project fund. Moreover, the Pendeba Society was conferred with “Outstanding Social Organization of Tibet Autonomous Region 2011” from the Government of TAR. These honors came as solid approvals of the work that the Society has been done, and also witnessed the growth of the Society. Many government departments, experts, domestic and international organizations, in particular Mr. LEI Yongsheng, Secretary of LAO NIU Foundation, have expressed their interest in the Society, and hope that the Society can draw best practices and become a pioneer in catalyzing development in poor regions and amplifying conservation efforts for better natural reserve management. 

Recently, the Pendeba Society was conferred with "Outstanding Social Organization of Tibet Autonomous Region 2011" from the Government of TAR. This honor comes as an official approval of the work that the Society has been done, and also witnessed the growth of the Society. At this moment, the Pendeba Society would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Non-governmental Organization Management Bureau of TAR, and those who constantly support the Society, and the efforts for environmental conservation and community development in the Mt. Everest region. In the years ahead, the Pendeba Society will be more devoted and work even harder!

Featured on the Chinese Government Official Web Portal, the Pendeba Program was depicted as “having brought noticeable achievements.”  

The program, started in 1994, was in response to the growing need for local participation in the protection of the Qomolangma National Nature Preserve (QNNP) in the Mt. Everest Region. This innovative program relies on a new type of conservation and community service volunteer, known as a Pendeba. Pendebas are locally nominated volunteers from each village within the protected area who improve family health, advance options for income generation, spread conservation concepts, and organize collaborative action around local priorities. In QNNP, these volunteers have helped to decrease child mortality by 50% and reduce deforestation by 80%. 

From 1994-2010, more than 1200 Pendebas were trained to bring benefits to villages in three protected areas of Tibet. In 1998, the United Nations recognized the program as one of the world’s most successful examples of sustainable human development.

In the ceremony of Ford Green Awards 2011 held in Beijing on December 2nd, The Pendeba Society was awarded with the top prize of Nature Conservation Pioneer Award for its Nature Conservation and Community Development Project and 200,000 yuan as the project fund.  Mr. Tsering Norbu, Director of The Pendeba Society accepted the award on behalf of this project. Mr. Joe Hinrichs, President, Asia Pacific and Africa Ford Motor Company and Chairman and CEO, Ford Motor (China) Ltd., who described the Pendeba Project as respectful, awarded Tsering Norbu with the certificate and trophy. Along with The Pendeba Society, another 29 excellent individual environmentalists and civil environmental organizations were also awarded with Ford Green Awards prizes. 

The Pendeba Project, through a variety of projects that promote ecological conservation, social welfare improvement and alternative livelihoods development in the Qomolangma National Nature Preserve, aims to ameliorate local communities’ living standards and the surrounding environment, which in return stimulates sustainable use of natural resources and creates rapport between human and the Nature in the region. The Ford Green Awards (Pioneer Award and Communication Award), launched on August 1st, has attracted around 120 applications from concerned individual environmentalists and civil society organizations across China.  After several rounds of evaluation and assessment procedures including on-site surveys, telephone interviews and oral examination in house, the Committee of Ford Green Awards finally selected the awardees.