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The Nature Conservancy in China China Contact Us Places We Protect How We Work China Features Ways of Giving |
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 Laojun Mountain Alpine Lake © Long Yongcheng/TNC |
Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
All throughout China, places of great scenic beauty are inseparably linked with culture. This is especially true of the red sandstone cliffs of Laojun Mountain which are named for the deified founder of Daoism. Legends say that as Laojun passed the mountain, he dropped his magic mirror. The shattered pieces later turned into the 99 dazzling lakes of Laojun Mountain. One of these, the famous Dragon Pool, lies on the mountain like a splendid piece of green jade.
Threats
Laojun Mountain provides vital habitat for the endangered Yunnan golden monkey, but human populations continue to encroach on the area, threatening plant diversity and destroying vital golden monkey habitat. A ban by the Chinese government halted commercial logging in the area, but local logging for fuel wood and building materials continues. Poaching also remains a problem, as the price of wildlife products has increased dramatically over the last ten years.
Plants
Rhododendrons
© TNC
Laojun Mountain shelters remarkably high plant diversity, particularly in its rhododendron forests. More than 10% of the world's rhododendron species are found here.
Animals
Nineteen of the 92 mammal species and 79 of the 152 bird species found at Laojun Mountain are included on the global Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) list. Laojun also hosts two of only 11 known populations of the Yunnan golden monkey. With less than 1,500 remaining, these primates are among the most endangered in the world, and along with the giant panda, are one of the most endangered species in China. Survival of the Yunnan golden monkey is critical for cultural as well as scientific reasons, and protecting its habitat requires immediate conservation action.
Our Conservation Strategy
The Conservancy is working with government partners to develop a management plan for Laojun Mountain, train natural resource managers in conservation planning and science, and develop monitoring systems. Recognizing that education and awareness of local communities is key to the successful conservation of this area, the Conservancy is also integrating environmental education in schools. Our goal is to help local communities understand how to protect its natural resources while securing sustainable livelihoods.
What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
The Conservancy's work in the Laojun Mountain area includes:
- Photovoice- a community conservation project that provides cameras and film as a way for local people to document and introduce their rich environment and unique cultures.
- In partnership with the Rare Center for Tropical Conservation, brought the “Promoting Protection through Pride” campaign to China. The campaign uses the Yunnan golden monkey as a flagship species to teach children about conservation.
- Helped the Yunnan Environmental Protection Bureau submit an application for Provincial Nature Reserve status.
- Leading a coalition of organizations collaborating on a range-wide conservation plan for the Yunnan golden monkey. We are providing management, scientific leadership, and over 50% of the funding for the plan.
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