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Mapping Green Beijing on your Own

A Friends of the Earth Green Map could be just what you’re looking for, but for the moment, only if you read Chinese and are touring Shichahai. More Green Maps of Beijing are being planned, and will eventually be available in English on local Green Map Web sites (see Website below).

Green Maps use universal system icons and great detail to highlight all things green in a given community. In New York City, for instance, maps are available in hard copy, as posters and via expandable PDF files. The universal system icons are used to mark ecological and cultural scenes found in a community in daily life, but which may be interesting to someone thinking green. They help explorers discover the “green resources” that might otherwise be neglected.

This new resource helps people rediscover their living environments and enjoy their lives in a healthier, more environmentally friendly way within any bustling metropolis.

Wendy Brower and her friends drew up their first Green Map of New York City in 1992. Now, the Green Map concept is catching on all over the world, with Green Map groups publishing more than 274 Green Maps in more than 300 countries and regions.

The Green Map System (GMS) is a locally adaptable, globally shared framework for environmental map-making. It invites design teams of all ages and backgrounds—Mapmakers—to illuminate the connections between natural and human environments by mapping their local urban or rural communities. Using GMS’s shared visual language, a collaboratively designed set of icons representing the different kinds of green sites and cultural resources, Mapmakers independently produce unique, regionally flavoured images that fulfil local needs, yet that are globally connected.

The resulting Green Maps identify, promote and link ecological and cultural resources. Merging the ancient art of map-making with new media tools, each of these maps creates a fresh perspective that helps residents discover and get involved in their community environment's, and helps guide tourists (even virtual ones) to special places and successful green initiatives they can replicate back home.

Friends of Nature (FON) is the first NGO to be authorized to use Green Map System Icons on the Chinese mainland. It is intended to promote environmental education and cultural identification through the Green Map activity and to spread the ideas of environmental protection, energy-saving, and creating green cultures. There were ten areas that had been authorized to use Green Map System Icons on the Chinese mainland by the end of 2006, including Shanghai, Chengdu, Lanzhou, in addition to Beijing.

The “Green Map of Shichahai” is the fruit of the hard work and wisdom of some dozens of local volunteers of FON. They walk across countless streets and lanes and observe things by themselves. From the winter of 2005 to the summer of 2006, it took them half a year to explore Shichahai. They have witnessed the area’s icy lakes with a hubbub of voices, the classic siheyuan (courtyard house), the area’s tranquil long lanes, dancing groups at dusk and more.

All the volunteers collaboratively “groped in darkness” when they began their venture. They explored sites, organized their information, edited and drafted their map. All this was for the purpose of portraying the exact situation of this area, expressing their love for its beautiful scenery, their concern about the environment, and their hopes for a better future.

Yin Yan, a sophomore at Capital Normal University, one of the volunteers of the group, said, “I seldom went to Shichahai before. After I joined the group, I found myself going by Shichahai by bike everyday after class, looking for historic sites, and doing research at home. Now, I am nearly a tour guide! I can tell you stories about the Shichahai’s historic sites.”

Another college student from China University of Political Science and Law, Yang Weidong said he compared the four-seasons by day and night to get a proper view of Shichahai, a time when he really devoted his attention to map-making.

Within half a year, about 50 volunteers accepted Green Map training, with ten of them sticking through to the end.

Volunteers are now preparing a Green Map for Nanluoguxianging. The team includes new members Liang Bo and Zhou Fang, two students from the Beijing Fuxue Hutong Elementary School. They were encouraged by their parents, who were residents in this area for a long time. On weekends, the two families visit the familiar hutong with a new emotion and purpose in the search of hidden mysteries and delights.

Frequently Asked Questions

A: It's the central question, and one that can only be answered by people who live there and know what makes it special and green. Each team must research its environment thoroughly, finding sites where people can:

      Feel a strong connection with the natural environment.

      Be refreshed by nature.

      Find a way to create less-negative environmental impact.

      Learn something about ecological systems.

      Support organizations, agencies and companies working toward a healthier future.

      Connect with local culture and feel a sense of place.

      Ideally each Green Map sets criteria for              selection that are accessible and readily            understood.

A: It varies widely, from just a handful on neighbourhood Green Maps created by children, to upwards of 50 or 60 different symbols on a larger scale citywide map. Some Green Maps use more than one icon to define a single site.

A: More than 60 people from all parts of the world have collaborated on these award-winning icons. They created the original list of symbols, refined their design and meaning and, using e-mail, fax and live workshops, placed the icons on their Green Maps. They have even developed new local icons (several of which were adopted into the global set in Version 2). Icon credits and more about their history can be found in the “Icons” section. Since they are designed to evolve with our understanding of sustainability, we plan to update the set in the near future.

A: The Green Map System (GMS) is very flexible and open to all kinds of people as Mapmakers, as explained in the “Participate” and “Youth Mapmaker” sections. We want everyone who plans to create a Green Map to register with GMS, even if they obtained GMS's icon font and toolkit from a friend. GMS functions best as a collaborative communication network; our flexible membership structure is necessary to keep GMS going and growing. The reciprocal support of all who are utilizing GMS is important.

A: The amount of time varies, but often it takes six–ten months to complete a Green Map. It really depends on the time, skills and other resources available—some have taken years!

A: All Mapmakers are asked to pay a modest annual fee to be part of the Green Map System. In addition, Mapmakers are asked to send a small "royalty" or percentage of money raised by/on behalf of their project. These fees are important so that it can continue to provide support to all projects, especially those in low-income areas and the developing world. However, service exchanges are encouraged so that fees are never a barrier to participation. For more information, see our “Invitation” page. The cost of making a Green Map itself varies locally. Mapmakers have found many inventive ways of funding their projects—find out more when you receive the Mapmaker's Guide.

A: GMS has an online store where you can select and order Green Maps. Or you can e-mail the local Mapmakers directly from the Green Map Web page or contact GMS with your request.

About Friends of Nature

Founded in 1994, Friends of Nature was the first environmental NGO in China. Over a decade of development, members of Friends of Nature have dedicated themselves to environmental education and natural conservation in the hope of setting up and spreading a green culture and advancing sustainable development in China.

Inviting you to be a volunteer

You are warmly welcomed to help with Green Map activities. If you cherish our home, care about the environment, and wish to share your time and energy, no matter where you come from, no matter whether you are from a school, a company or a community, you can become a volunteer for the Green Map. For detailed recruit information, please visit: www.fon.org.cn.