Friends of Nature

Description

Friends of Nature is an environmental non-governmental organization in China, founded in 1993, one of the country’s oldest environmental groups and its first legally registered NGO. It works through environmental education, ecological communities, public participation, legal action and policy advocacy to reconnect people with nature and protect the environment. The organization counts more than 30,000 volunteers and over 7,000 monthly donors across the country.

Founded by Liang Congjie, Friends of Nature raises awareness of issues such as protecting endangered species, recycling and energy conservation through workshops, field trips and teacher training. It has helped other environmental NGOs and student groups form across China. In the 1990s the group campaigned to protect the Tibetan antelope, holding conferences with international partners and pressing foreign governments to stop the illegal fur trade.

Its stated vision is a society in harmony with nature where everyone shares a safe environment. Its mission is to build a platform for public participation in environmental protection, turning environmental awareness into everyday action.