1. “Greener Future with Smaller Carbon Footprint” — Nature Education Community Pilot at Giant Panda National Park, Yingjing Area

Challenge

Global ecosystem degradation is accelerating, and biodiversity faces severe threats. As an iconic “umbrella species,” the giant panda’s habitat suffers from serious fragmentation due to geographic isolation and human activity, splitting wild populations and creating genetic isolation risks over the long term. The Yingjing Management Station of Giant Panda National Park has long sought to integrate ecological conservation with community development. The core challenge is how to disseminate habitat protection knowledge and biodiversity concepts while enhancing public awareness and mobilizing broader participation in nature conservation.

Solution

In May 2024, Volvo Group partnered with SEE Foundation and the Yingjing Management Station to launch Phase II of the “Greener Future with Smaller Carbon Footprint” project at Daxiangling Reserve, Yingjing County, Ya’an, Sichuan, a two-year project (May 2024–April 2026).

First, professional teams developed a nature education curriculum centered on giant pandas and habitat conservation, including course design, teaching materials, educational aids, and remote learning videos and covering modules of knowledge sessions, nature observation, nature games, and nature crafts. Targeting youth and families, the program plans to reach five schools annually with 5–8 nature class sessions.

Second, a nature classroom was established in Jinshan, converting a rented village house equipped with exhibits and equipment, alongside 1–2 field practice routes each featuring at least 3 fixed and 2–3 mobile teaching points.

Third, at least three training sessions cover station staff, Jinshan villagers, and Volvo employees and dealer volunteers, building a blended online-offline, theory-practice nature education community.

Impact & Value

Economic value

The project drives local tourism, accommodation, and dining through visitor and volunteer engagement, creating jobs and boosting community income.

Social value

Nature education courses and remote video teaching broadly spread ecological knowledge, strengthening environmental awareness among youth in particular. The project also encourages Jinshan residents to volunteer, enhances community cohesion and promotes harmonious coexistence between people and nature.

Strategic value

The project bridges ecological conservation, nature education, and community development, creating a platform where “natural environment, natural community, and natural classroom” converge. Through school outreach and community education — with remote learning reaching broader regions — it provides a replicable model for corporate engagement in biodiversity protection. The collaboration among government, business, nature reserves, foundations, and communities demonstrates a viable multi-stakeholder pathway for sustainable development.

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