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Location
  • China
Project Types
Agriculture Arts Community Development Service Learning Conservation Environmental Conservation Wildlife Conservation Panda Conservation Education

Program Details

Language
Chinese
Housing
Host Family Hostel

Pricing

Starting Price
500
Price Details
Accommodation: Shared hostel room run by local villagers
Food: 3 meals a day and refreshments while in the field
Support and Environmental Interpretation: Local staff interpretation and 24hr emergency support
Airport Transfers and transportation from the center to the reserve: Included on arrival when volunteering for 2 weeks or more - by bus
Travel Insurance: Comprehensive travel insurance with volunteer abroad coverage
Pre-Departure Kit: Full project details will be sent following registration
Orientation: All necessary training and introductions provided upon arrival
Feb 08, 2019
Wish List
9 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

About 1,600 giant pandas live in China's wild forest, mostly in Sichuan and the northwestern provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu. Approximately, another 300 are in captive-bred programs worldwide, mainly in China.
When we work on the development of a city or village, we should also consider the natural living environment for the giant panda. It shouldn't be that we just think of giving them food and lodging inside a house. Living better is more than just having a place to stay and having enough food to eat. Free life and following innate habits are also needed for all the animals. Can Giant Pandas really return to the wild? What can we do to help them completely shake off dependence on humans and integrate into a wild population?
This project offers volunteers the chance to learn and involve themselves in the important work of Giant Panda conservation, as well as exploring the stunning natural beauty of the landscape and mouth-watering organic Sichuan cuisine.

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Questions & Answers

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Peng Luo

Program
Volunteering and Travel: Giant Pandas in China
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What inspired you to found EcoAction? What has been your career path so far?

I used to be an ornithology student, doing bird conservation in a remote area (Eastern Tibetan Plateau) as a masters candidate at the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. At that time, I found out conflicts between conservation and the poor local community who needs alternatives to live on. And the conflicts are hard problems which research alone cannot solve.

After graduation, I worked for an environmental NGO based in Beijing for three years, to improve people's environmental consciousness via environmental education. During the three year experience, I also learned about NGOs' unsustainability and lack of transparency. So I learned that a good business is a better way to encourage more and more people learn about nature, appreciate nature and act positively for nature.

What has been the most exciting for you as your programs have grown?

It has always been an exciting journey to make the big idea come true, step by step. And every tiny step toward progress and every supporting word strengthened my conviction. The most exciting is always that when you tell a stranger, even someone who is not a professional in conservation about your idea, he agrees and feels inspired and wants to help.

What does the future hold for EcoAction - any exciting new programs for next year?

We have a good connection with professional researchers and nature reserves in China. And there are different conservation stories which need more help.

In 2014, EcoAction is going to launch several more volunteering programs themed in different species, such as Giant Panda in Sichuan (my hometown), Golden Money in Yunnan, Endemic birds species in Gansu (where I had been doing research projects for three years), David's Deer in Jiangsu, antelopes in Qinghai, etc.

What about the future of the industry? How do you think volunteer abroad will change over the next 10 years?

I believe voluntourism can really do good and make a positive difference. Because it not only provides meaningful help to the targets, it also satisfy the volunteers who want to learn about authentic nature, culture and people.

Of course there is augment of "do good but put harm" on volunteering. But it is quite reasonable that an effort to improve voluntourism would follow, because it serves as a trisecting point for the three popular topics: development assistance (transparency), travel& tourism (sustainability), and volunteering (accountability). And to ensure the transparency, sustainability and accountability of the program itself makes the key point.

What is your advice for anyone considering participating in one of your volunteer programs?

To ensure that our volunteers do good and gain experiences, we design the grounded programs carefully based on the need of local community and on on-going conservation projects. There will be essential training before our volunteers head to the site.

Also, in order to minimize the impact on nature and the local community, we live, eat locally and do irreplaceable contribution. So please learn more about the destination and project before you decide to come. You can contact us anytime for further information.

Location

Location:
China
Currency:
Chinese Yuan
Weather:
Jan-Mar
57 F / 37 F
Apr-Jun
82 F / 52 F
Jul-Sep
90 F / 72 F
Oct-Dec
73 F / 50 F
Airports:
Beijing Capital International Airport
( PEK )
Shanghai Pudong International Airport
( PVG )
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport CAN
( CAN )

China is the most populous country in the world and has one of the fastest-growing economies. China's landscape is vast and diverse, ranging from the Gobi and Taklamakan Deserts in the arid north to subtropical forests in the wetter south. China has over 34,687 species of animals and vascular plants, making it the third-most biodiverse country in the world, after Brazil and Colombia.

About EcoAction

EcoAction is a Chinese company, based in Beijing, who focuses on the environment and sustainable development via responsible travel and volunteering. We are a bunch of passionate young people with biology, environment and education backgrounds. We design a series of authentic, memorable and unique travel/volunteering activities which welcome...

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