The Green Long March was initiated in 2007 with the purpose of providing youth a way to participate in creating a sustainable future for China. In 2007, the Green Long March engaged thousands of students from 43 Chinese universities on a march spanning 22 provinces and 10 eco-zones across China. Youth directly impacted an estimated 250,000 people; extensive local and national media coverage brought the Green Long March to an additional 9.75 million people. The Green Long March is the largest youth conservation movement in China.
Major activities included: Conservation Education; a National Survey of Community-level Conservation Successes; Scientific Reports from 26 National Nature Preserves; and the Promotion of the Beijing Green Olympics.
Media Coverage
The Green Long March activities generated over 100 national press clips including television, radio and newspaper coverage. In addition, a professional Green Long March documentary film was made by Cinereach in cooperation with Beijing Longevity Film Company. All marchers' diaries, press clips and research reports were published in a book series by the China Environmental Science Press.
Community Interaction:
The Green Long March facilitates direct discussion of community conservation achievements across China, by visiting and interviewing hundreds of villagers and collecting the data into a national database of conservation successes. This process is achieved through:
- Investigations on how government-led environmental policies have influenced the economy and the environment at a community level
- The Seed-Scale survey: investigating how successful, local-level conservation projects were initiated, how they were expanded, and in what conditions did they yield the best results
Conservation Education:
As China moves to develop an “Ecological Civilization”, education becomes the focal point to increase awareness of the importance of conservation. The Green Long March becomes a unique vehicle to spread information on the environment and environmental issues to rural areas nationwide. This interactive conservation education takes place in the following formats:
- Environmental Education Campaigns: environmental education presentations in primary schools, orphanages, retirement homes and government offices
- Green Trains Campaign: surveying, environmental education and engaging in ‘green discussions’ on trains
- Olympic Education Campaigns: spreading the spirit of the ‘Green Olympics’ in public squares and parks
- Environmental Networking: sharing ideas on student-based conservation projects and initiatives at the university level
Seed-Scale Survey:
A methodology for sustainable development founded on the principles of partnerships of communities with local leaders, experts and each other
“The students were warmly received by the passengers and greeted with encouragement and praise as they continued their ‘Green Trains’ and ‘Green Ferries’ conservation surveying and campaigning activities onboard each ferry and train they took. In one case, during the ride aboard the Z21 train from Beijing to Shanghai, a 60 year old man was so affected by the enthusiasm of these students that he would eagerly shout out answers to questions on the Beijing Green Olympics; In another case, during the ferry ride from Shanghai Baoyang to Baozhen, one mother was so moved by the activities of the university students that she turned to her five year old child and began to teach him environmental slogans and question him on everyday conservation practices they should follow, urging him to follow the example set by the students.”
- The 29th Olympiad Official Website News, 3/82007