Friends of Nature
Friends of Nature (FON) is a Chinese environmental NGO affiliated to the non-governmental Academy for Chinese Culture. It was registered in March 1994 as the Academy for Green Culture. And FON is the first membership based nonprofit, public welfare NGO in China, and is funded wholly by membership fees and public support.
Its mission is to promote environmental protection and sustainable development in China by raising environmental awareness and providing a vehicle by which ordinary citizens can express their concerns about China's deteriorating environmental situation. And the objective is to develop informal environmental education, such as field trips and vacation camps for students, lectures, seminars and training classes for teachers, publications and activities for the general public. Anyone who agrees with FON's mission and volunteers to help in its activities may become a member upon application.
It has been working for over a decade to promote environmental awareness about China's most pressing environmental problems. In particular, it has focused on protecting endangered species such as the Tibetan antelope and the snub-nosed monkey; environmental education through camps, field trips, and most importantly, teacher-training; and awareness-raising campaigns such as photo exhibitions and publications. Though it has achieved some important victories for nature, possibly FON's greatest achievement is helping to foster a growing network of grassroots environmental NGOs throughout China. It firmly believes that environmental education increases awareness, and awareness increases citizen participation. It is through the participation of all Chinese citizens that China can achieve the dream of an environmentally harmonious society.
Address: Room 301, Wanbo Office Building, No. 53 Ganyu St. Eastern District, Beijing 100006, China
Tel: 010-65232040/65120929/65120827
Fax: 010-65286069
Email: office@fon.org.cn
Website: www.fon.org.cn
