Environmental research

Targeted Location and Population: The project site is located in the northeast of Beijing Municipality, where is a region with fragile ecological environment, severe water shortages and sensitive climate. The project site -the Miyun Reservoir watershed is the most important water source protection zone, while the region is also the survival home of forest community residents, who account for 1/3 of the total population of Beijing. The target group are 76 households, 172 people with average income of RMB 8,700, which was at the medium level in Huairou District, Beijing. Problems: In project site, "Cooking with firewood and heating through hypocaust" is the traditional way of life. However, its energy efficiency is very low and also quite energy-consumable. To a certain extent, it affects the improvement of rural ecological environment and the mitigation of climate change process. Meanwhile, due to the low economic and cultural development levels of forestry community, the weak awareness of responding to climate change, absence of management knowledge and skills, as well as low energy efficiency of traditional life, the forest resources are damaged and wasted in varying degrees, and this direct affected the forest carbon sequestration capacity. Solutions/ planned activities: 1.Conduct technical trainings on carbon sequestration-oriented forest management and close-to-nature management among community residents and carry out forest management demonstration. 2.Transform energy-inefficient hypocausts and reconstruct firewood-saving and high energy-efficient hypocaust for target households. 3. Carry out technical training on sustainable firewood collection. 4. Organize workshop on climate change and project experience exchange for local stakeholders. 5. Submit experts proposal to related governmental department. Anticipated results/ immediate outputs of this project: 1. about 40% community residents are technically trained on carbon sequestration forest management and close-to-nature management, and their carbon sequestration forest management capacities are improved. 2. Compile`Technical Guidelines on Carbon Sequestration-oriented Forest Management` and deliver to local community. 3. Energy-saving hypocausts are constructed for about 76 households, which will annually save firewood 75-120 tons, reduce CO2 emission 100-170 tons, save 30% energy; living environment is improved. 4. about 40% residents have basically manage skills of sustainable firewood collection. 5. the local people knows about climate change issues. 6. A professional proposal is submitted to the local government as reference for policy-making.

China