Urban Conservation in China

	In China's great cities such as Shanghai, Buddhist temples provide havens of peace and inspiration

Thirty percent of Chinese people live in urban areas, and the cities are growing rapidly. The Chinese Buddhist Association, supported by ARC, is hoping to develop community-based environmental improvement schemes, organised by Buddhist temples in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and elsewhere.

These urban monasteries and education centres have great potential to help local communities manage simple improvements in their physical environment, such as recycling waste, planting trees and reducing noise pollution. They can teach about such topics as energy conservation and toxics. The gardens around the temples provide important quiet places, popular with Chinese residents who go there to find peace, play chess, and relax with their families.

Working with these monasteries is now a priority for ARC.