Problem overview:

     Awareness and visions: Women have, through the ages, played a central role in environmental management, through good gardening practices, promoting safe water supplies, and maintaining home cleanliness. Today, women are becoming prime movers in environmental reform throughout the world. In this example China outlines womens coordinated contribution for economic and environmental development. There is also a marvelous story of Niu Yuqin, a women who created a forest from desert land.

Background in summary:

     Womens role in environmental conservation: The Chinese women's organizations have been working hard to protect the environment and have made substantial contributions. The popularization of the fuel-conserving stove in the countryside was driven by the women federations, and the method of separate treatment of urban wastes was advocated by the women officials in the neighborhood committees.

     Women in reforestation: Another example of women's contribution to the coordinated development of economy and environment is the fact that each year 120 million Chinese women take part in the "March 8th Green Project" - a voluntary reforestation scheme. As a result of this action, more than 60 thousand small orchards, mulberry fields and other green bases were built and are operated by women in the rural areas.

     The rural women have also actively participated in:

• Construction of water conservation facilities
  
  
• Comprehensive management of small drainage areas
  
  
• Collection of organic fertilizers as substitutes for chemical equivalents
  
  
• Dissemination of new farming technologies.

     All of above demonstrate that women are playing an indispensable role in the realization of China's sustainable social and economic development.

Read about Niu Yuqin - A Model Peasant of Afforestation and Desert Control

Peer Review Committee Good practice rating: (1 for the best, 5 for the lowest score)
Sustainability		Efficiency
2	Improvement in either the environment of economic condition with no harm to the other.	-	Cost efficient.
3	Sustainable over time (not one-off)	Process
Adaptability		2	Participation of the community
3	Location adaptability (can the project be done in other places?)	2	Participation of resource owners/users
1	Socio-cultural adaptability.	-	Partnerships between various actors (Governments, NGO, Academia, Private)
2	Level of development adaptability.	-	Degree of coordination and cooperation between government departments.
3	Style of government adaptability.	2	Ability to attract political interest/support
3	Degree of decentralization adaptability.	-	Procedures for feedback and review.
Comments on this example:       Women in developed countries have been in the forefront of governance and have been involved in policy making for a certain period of time. Opposite to women in developing countries whom are seldom involved in governance and are mostly kept as housewives, especially the poor. The fact is women have as much potential to be leaders as men but are still not widely accepted. Therefore, developing societies should be more open-minded and give more support for women leaders. Sustainability of the project:      Awareness and visions: The urban and rural women of China have demonstrated the potential of women in supporting the country in enhancing environmental and economic development. They have claimed their roles that women have been practicing sustainable way of living since early days. They have also proved that in modern days, women are still actively interested and involved in seeing sustainable development. Adaptability of the project to other situations:      Women, especially in the West, are more and more involved in governance and play an increasing active role in society. Similarly occurring in Asia, Chinese women have formed a union or an organization to strengthen their powers and have contributed to the improvement of society, in this case, helped improve the environment. However, there are still countries in which the role of women are held back and kept only within households. In these countries, the idea of women participating in environmental conservation may be difficult. Process of decision making and implementation:   Cost efficiency: