Celebrating 8 Years With CERS
November marks the eighth anniversary of Land Rover’s partnership with China Exploration & Research Society (CERS).
Led by Wong How Man – China’s ‘greatest living explorer’ and a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) – CERS focuses on some of China’s most endangered natural and cultural heritage, as well as original exploration of national treasures.
Founded in 1986, CERS explores remote regions of China, conducts multi-disciplinary research, conserves nature and culture, and also seeks to educate through its results and findings. CERS was established as one of Land Rover’s six Global Humanitarian and Conservation Partners in 2003 and celebrates a quarter century of exploration in 2011. Full details of the group’s activities can be seen at cers.org.hk
Wong famously led expeditions pinpointing the sources of the Yangtze (2005), the Mekong (2007) and the Yellow River (2008). And, in 2011, CERS’s summer expedition set out to reach the Salween River source, a goal that has evaded geographers and scientists for decades. Despite immense difficulties, including a sudden and bitter snowstorm, the team reached the source on 14 June 2011.
CERS’s latest wildlife projects include researching the Tibetan Antelope calving ground at the Arjin Mountain Nature Reserve, an extremely remote region of Xinjiang close to the Tibetan plateau. Whilst there, they also studied rare and exotic breeds of Asiatic Beaver, Wild Yak, Black-Necked Crane and Musk Deer.
The CERS caving teams were recently featured on a CCTV 10 Beijing, a major state TV science channel, for discovering a new species of cave-dwelling blind fish. Meanwhile, there are plans for four further caving expeditions in 2012. CCTV Channel 12 primetime has also aired three new half-hour episodes on a variety of CERS projects in November, with three hour-long episodes due in 2012. In all, CCTV is watched by over a billion people worldwide.
Cultural preservation is another focus for CERS. The teams have preserved 15 traditional thatch-roofed houses of the Li minority people of Hainan Island in southern China, in support of the Lisu Hill Tribe community. CERS have also successfully saved one of the world’s last remaining timber courtyard houses of the Lisu hunting/collecting tribe of remote Yunnan Province in southwest China. Their future plans include beekeeping research, a pressing issue worldwide.
CERS have a total of nine project sites including Zhongdian Centre, Tai Tam Research Centre, Tibetan Mastiff Kennel, Tibetan Nunnery, Black-Necked Crane Museum, Burmese Cat Café, Yak Cheese Site, Hainan Hongshui Site, Tea House Clinic and Exploration Museum.
In addition, CERS’s educational contribution has included hosting 30 summer interns, with the aim to provide a more diverse learning experience. Students have come from secondary school to university level – and from a range of backgrounds, including Eton, Choate and Taft; as well as interns from more deprived areas within China and Hong Kong.
CERS Founder Wong How Man said, “CERS take on multiple expeditions and projects throughout the year with a large, diverse team from around the world. For our explorers and scientists, Land Rover not only provides a means of transportation through some of the most difficult and inhospitable terrain on this planet, but also acts as an essential shelter in the world’s most extreme weather conditions along the way.”
Bob Grace, President JLR China added, “We are proud of Land Rover’s achievements in preservation of fragile environments and endangered wildlife around the globe. In China, we are glad to work with China Exploration and Research Society to bring our philosophy of sustainability to the local community. For the future, we will continue to expand the scope of our care for nature and continuously reinforce the commitment to making our environment better.”
People in the UK can find out more about this commitment at The Land Rover In Action Exhibition at the Royal Geographical Society from 14-18November 2011. The exhibition is open Monday to Friday, from 10am to 5pm.
The Land Rover In Action Exhibition features the work of Land Rover’s six Global Humanitarian & Conservation Partners including; International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Born Free Foundation, Biosphere Expeditions, China Exploration & Research Society (CERS), Earthwatch Institute and the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). It showcases the invaluable work of the Global Partners and their numerous projects utilizing Land Rover’s all-terrain vehicles, stretching across the four corners of the world. The exhibition is open to the public and entry is free.
Tags: CERS, China, Exploration
