Targeted Location and Population:
The project sites are located in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province, on the periphery of Baima Snow Mountain National Nature Reserve, where is the habitat of the Yunnan golden monkey (Rhinopithecus bieti).

The local popalations are all Lisu ethnic minority. The arable lands are very limited there. The main income of the locals are highly dependent on non-timber products collection, such as mushroom and medicinal herbs.Large patch of original alpine coniferous forest and diverse wildlife exist in the surrounding of the communities.

Problems:

The Yunnan golden monkey (Rhinopithecus bieti) is endangered primate species endemic to China. It has been listed under ?the first class of the protected wildlife? and regarded as ?national treasure? with the giant pandas. Based on the latest version of IUCN?s Red List of Threatened Species, the Yunnan golden monkey is considered to be ?Endangered?.

The Yunnan golden monkey is experiencing a range of ongoing threats and the persisting effects of past disturbances, including illegal hunting and trapping, habitat loss resulting from farming, grazing, firewood collection and construction materials, and the biological vulnerability associated with having the entire species occur in small isolated populations.

Three populations (Bamei, Jinsichang, Dapingzi) are totally outside the existing nature reserves, and three Yunnan Golden Monkey populations (Wuyapuya, Shiba, Gehuaqing/Xiangguqing) live on the periphery of Baimaxueshan Nature Reserve. These populations are still continuously threatened by the people around them.

Solutions/ planned activities:
1. Conduct PRA appraisal on the project sites to understand the needs of local communities and convoke meetings to establish administrative committee and develop management regulations;
2. Consult with the country forestry bureau to obtain authorizations for the establishment of community conserved areas;
3.Compile and print booklets of knowledge on the monkey and its habitat, and engage the local communities to participate in conservation by training;
4.Install solar water heaters for the local communities to mitigate the impact of firewood collection on the forest;
5.Train on sustainable use of forest resources in project sites, including patrolling techniques, collection methods for non-timber forest products, etc.
6.Explore alternative livelihoods for project sites , including growing papaya and medicinal herbs in Zhongmigua village to prevent soil erosion, and bee-keeping in Tuoluoding village.
7.Conduct patrolling and monitoring in project sites.

Anticipated results/ immediate outputs of this project:
1. A community conserved area (CCA) for Yunnan golden money is established; administrative committee and Management regulations is accepted by local communities.
2. The local people's conservation awareness is raising.
3. Solar water heaters are installed and utilized in 58 households of project sites and firewood consumption decrease 3000kg for each household.
4. The villagers understand the proper methods for non-timber forest products collection.
5.The net income increase RMB 500 for each household in project site.
6.Patrollers can accurately collect information on biodiversity and fill the recording sheets.