(Originally published on 06/13/2012)

Environmental conservationist, Mr. Yuan Xueshun, also known as China’s ‘Swan Dad’, has received the prestigious ‘2010-2011 China Green Figure’ award for his work in protecting migrating Whopper Swans. For 35 years, Mr. Yuan has dedicated his life to the protection of the birds and their natural habitat, watching as economic reforms and environmental degradation have pushed their wetland home in Shandong Province beyond its natural capacity to sustain the climate and biodiversity that that Swans need to survive the winter. More recently, he has been supported in his work by UNDP’s Small Grants Programme.

Mr. Yuan was among 10 winners from a group of 323 nominees. Mr. Yuan received the award at a ceremony held on 12 June. The scheme is jointly run by seven national organizations, including the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Culture, in addition to the United Nations Environment Programme.

Since founding the Weihai Whooper Swan Protection Association, Mr. Yuan has focused on preserving and restoring wetlands and establishing feeding and rescue stations for the birds. Using his own home to begin with, he has personally contributed to a drastic increase in the number of birds returning to the area. Furthermore, local communities are changing their attitude, gradually realising the value of their environment and the importance of protecting it.