Project update - April 2006

ACAP - A Chinese perspective

Written by Olivia Loh

While the world focuses its eyes on The Middle Kingdom as it develops into an economic, political and cultural leader, the related positive impact this has on China's 1.3 billion population is being harnessed by the ACAP China campaign to secure a future for endangered species worldwide.

Since its inception in 2004, The Active Conservation Awareness Programme (ACAP) China has been actively securing the support and bringing together government, media, politicians and celebrities as stakeholders with the aim of raising awareness about the threats facing wildlife and to reduce consumer demand for endangered species products.

Bringing conservation to the people, ACAP worked alongside the University Green Groups on an education and outreach programme involving one hundred leading universities and secured the support of thousands of university students who signed ACAP's Global Peoples' Petition for Wildlife.

Drawing attention to marine species, shark conservation took a front seat as ACAP teamed up with the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium. Linking arms with one of Shanghai's premier tourist attractions, the "I love sharks" exhibition was launched to raise awareness of the threats facing sharks and shark-like species. It was timed to coincide with China's national day holidays or "Golden Week". Its messages encourage the Chinese population to take account of the effects their shopping decisions and/or way of life may be having on global wildlife and to inform the world's most populous country that it has the capacity to ensure a future for endangered species such as sharks. The overwhelming response of 60,000 visitors over the first five days of opening and extensive media interest has been most encouraging and we would like to thank the management and team at the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium (SOA) for their support towards conservation efforts.

ACAP is a programme of US-based conservation organisation WildAid, which is supported by international ambassador Jackie Chan, actors Minnie Driver and Ralph Fiennes, world champion sprinter Maurice Greene and award winning director Ang Lee, among others. First launched in 1996, the programme is active in countries such as China, India, Singapore, Thailand and the United States. Its celebrity messages reach up to 1 billion viewers across the globe every week through ACAP's network of media sponsors, including Bloomberg Television, CNN International, Discovery Networks Animal Planet, National Geographic Channel Asia and US, America's CBS and PAX, Star TV and Malaysia's TV3.

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