I. Summary

I participated in a Sierra Club outing in Yunnan, China in October 2013. During the trip, I discovered Yuhu (玉湖), a farming village frozen in time, retaining the indigenous flavor of the local Naxi minority lifestyle and the profound cultural heritage of the region. I would like to help the villagers maintain their tradition and history through eco-education and  eco-friendly refuse management.

Yuhu is part of the UNESCO Cultural Heritage site of Lijiang.  The houses are built with unique rocks called “monkey head”, a mix of rocks and dried earth and straw, as they were in the early 20^th century.  Beginning in 1922,  Dr. Joseph Rock , an Austrian-American botanist and geographer who subsequently introduced the area to the world (see multiple National Geographic articles), lived and researched the Yuhu  area for 27 years.  Today, there is a museum there, run down, but as testament to his work.

With the snow-covered Jade Dragon Mountain as its backdrop and numerous streams and rivers, Yuhu has become a prime tourist stop for locals and foreigners alike.  Unfortunately, visitors and locals often leave behind waste in the streets and in popular recreation areas such as the horse stable and mountain hiking trails.  The villagers need help in order to educate themselves and the tourists about ecotourism and refuse management, since the government has more pressing issues and is unable to give assistance with these matters.  

II. What We Need & What You Get

The projects I advocate will last from 1-2 years and cost $8,030 in total.  If the goal is not met, the project will be scaled down accordingly.  The project manager will donate some of her time to the projects as well.  One of the tasks of the project manager is to work with the village committees to introduce a small fee for horseback riding, with the proceeds going to sustaining the village ecological projects. 

Funds raised will be distributed in phases to the project manager with photo verification of work completed and periodic telephone calls.   

III. The Projects and Proposed Expenses

   a. Tourist Education

.  Develop a detailed project plan

·  Locate a site for a Visitor Center/Information Center with the village committee, start renovation. (The village committee has already agreed to the project concept.)

·  Design, develop, prepare, and install a small local ecology exhibition.

·  Develop and place ecotourism signs around the village.

·  Purchase and place garbage cans in the parking lot and the riding stable. About 300  visitors come to Yuhu a day.

·  Provide “green” garbage bags (at US 2c/ea) to horeseback riding customers for 6 months. Subsequent funding will be provided by the villagers. 

·  Prepare material/handbook to promote the concepts of ecology and waste recycling and management

·  Recruit and train volunteer guides to advocate environmental conservation and refuse management   

·  Conduct 9 workshops at 9 sub-villages and with 220 families primarily those who operate horse stables, on the concept of ecotourism 

(A subsequent project will provide similar ecology training to elementary school children.  Fundraising for this project will begin after the successful completion of the current project.)

If you cannot donate but you would like to help, please spread the word to other people about this campaign. Look up “Yuhu, Yunnan” on the Internet to appreciate the beauty and the uniqueness of this place.  Learn about the minorities in China, such as the Naxis.  Please keep us in mind, in case you change your mind about donating.  Thanks for your time.