Driving Rural Revitalization Through Ecotourism Projects: 2024 Ford CEGC Annual Award Recipients Announced
On Dec. 18, the winners of the 2024 Ford Conservation and Environmental Grants, China (CEGC) were unveiled in Hangzhou. This year, the program attracted over 160 project submissions from across the country since its launch in May. After a rigorous preliminary evaluation by an expert committee, followed by field research and due diligence on the shortlisted candidates, 15 projects advanced to the final evaluation. At this stage, representatives presented their project initiatives, including the background, business model, plans for scaling, and proposed use of funds. After thorough deliberation, 10 exceptional projects were selected for funding under this year’s CEGC program.
The evaluation committee unanimously agreed that the richness and diversity of this year's shortlisted projects were notably higher than in previous years. Among the 10 funded projects this year, a strong focus in ecotourism stood out. These projects leverage local natural and cultural resources, incorporate innovative stakeholder engagement models, and integrate ecological values and cultural arts into rural tourism. This approach helps create unique, differentiated experiences and enhances the added value of local tourism offerings while fostering sustainable development within their communities. Preliminary data suggests that, collectively, these selected projects have already brought over 85 million RMB in combined direct and indirect income to their local communities and have created over 300 new jobs. In 2025, these projects will gradually roll out their next phases and scale up, further establishing ecotourism practices as a critical driver of comprehensive rural revitalization.
Representatives of CEGC Winning Projects with Their Award Certificates
Drawing from more than 20 years of experience in supporting the development and capacity-building of local environmental organizations in China, in 2024, Ford CEGC underwent a pivotal transformation to shift its focus entirely on ecotourism. As such, the "Ecotourism Project Funding Program" was launched to provide financial support for exceptional ecotourism projects that demonstrate strong potential for rural revitalization, as well as ecological protection and visitor education, delivering tangible benefits to both the economic health of local communities and to the environment.
In addition, the program also launched a workshop to share knowledge and best practices around ecotourism. Prior to the final evaluation meeting, 28 representatives from the 15 shortlisted projects learned how to refine the selling points of ecotourism projects, design engaging activities, and how to maintain a customer base. Previously, Ford CEGC also conducted a series of similar public lectures, inviting experts and frontline practitioners in the ecotourism industry to curate content and record the information in five lectures. The content covered the basics of ecotourism, creating interpretation systems, fostering local community cooperation, and sharing the unique facets of indigenous cultures, attracting over 130,000 online views.
