NGLC Grantee Spotlight: China Outdoors Collective

Have you ever dreamed of venturing into the wild and experiencing the unspoiled beauty of nature? Are you a nature photography aficionado? If so, NGLC's grantee China Outdoors Collective is an initiative you need to know about. This group of dedicated individuals is on a mission to showcase the breathtaking wilderness areas and inspire exploration and conservation for future generations.

China Outdoors Collective is committed to raising awareness of the natural wonders of China. By sharing stunning photography and videos of these incredible places, the group hopes to inspire others to appreciate and protect these precious resources.

NGLC X China Outdoors Collective

The Beginning

As one of the earliest supporters, NGLC helped China Outdoors Collective (COC) jumpstart its initial vision with seed funding and mobilized the NGLC board into action to help COC. With the initial $10,000 funding provided by NGLC, COC was able to build a prototype and demonstrate a proof of concept. NGLC also provided additional resources, insights, and pro bono legal help to properly register the young organization.

The Mission

The founding members of China Outdoors Collective (COC) are Thomas Chu (Chu Weimin), Chen Wei Qian, and 欧阳凯 . These three friends are not only high-profile nature photographers with millions of followers on Chinese social media but also the driving force behind COC's mission to showcase the beauty of China's wilderness and inspire conservation efforts.

Their vision is not just about taking pretty pictures; it's about transforming the attention on social media into a tangible and cohesive nonprofit mission that aims to reverse negative Western stereotypes about China, its nature, and its people. Their broader goal is to empower Chinese photographers to be a direct bridge between China's conservation NGOs, nature photography, and philanthropy.

Since its humble beginning of three foundin members, COC has grown into a network of 67 volunteers, 10 interns, and 3 fellows working towards showcasing the beauty of China's wilderness and inspiring conservation efforts. COC has achieved significant milestones, including creating the most complete database of conservation NGOs within China and a customized zoogeographical region mapping system of China that is georeferenced to all conservation project sites associated with each photograph. All images are captured by photographers who submit their work to the database from around the world.

The Best is Yet to Come

This is just the beginning. NGLC supported COC in developing an interactive website that will soon launch. The Tuchong photography competition in China, which is part of COC's mission, has also been a huge success, with 301,544 submissions and counting.

As a result of NGLC's funding and support, COC has been able to accomplish its mission more effectively and efficiently. The collaboration between NGLC and COC is a prime example of how organizations can work together to make a meaningful impact on society and the environment.

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