Environmental Tourism and Local Development Project in Baojing

Environmental tourism in Baojing is one of the important projects of EAFI. Since 2003, EAFI has launched some small efforts to help Baojing to build institutions like small micro-loan women entrepreneur initiatives and helping local governments to grant land use rights for green projects so that Baojing people can use the loans and new use rights as collateral to set up small businesses. This is micro finance for the poor.

Such institution building is linked with entrepreneur training.

Old Bridge

The project was built upon the philosophy of De Soto (the poor are  poor because they do not have property rights). In 2004, Kate Zhou worked with the Baojing government to create a use rights based eco-tourism project in Baojing. The local government would allow villagers to grow trees in a local barren hill. Tourists from big cities and abroad are welcome to plant trees commercially. Tourists will pay a small fee to local villagers to take care of the trees for them.

The local government will give villagers use rights up to 50 years.

1. First phase: We expect a small number of tourists from the United States, Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen to visit the village. In the Spring of 2005, Mr. Wu, a local entrepreneur, will start multi-functional platform (MFP) green projects in one tested village. Tree growing and herb growing will be used.

2. Second phase: EAFI will send agricultural experts and economists to help with development of modern high response seed varieties for herbs.

3. Third Phase: International Summer Camp: EAFI partners with Punahou school, the largest independent school in the US, to have summer camps. This will make attract Chinese people, especially students.

4. The Baojing model will be used to show how the limited use rights can empower local people to improve their life and environment.

Goals: The project aims at strengthening local capacities through getting land use rights for the poor villagers.

The project benefits the whole community but targets rural women specifically. Women own and are in charge of managing the trees. Reducing their work on rice production will help them save time in their chores giving them more time to dedicate to health, child education, and becoming involved in management of the forests.

Project Director
Wu, Tienxi
Director of Operations
Baojing , Hunan, China 416500