In 2001, the Chinese Government developed a draft conservation Action Plan to save China’s baiji river dolphin and Yangtze finless porpoise from extinction. The plan combined in-situ and ex-situ conservation strategies.

Many international conservation organizations have supported baiji conservation strategies in the past. However, most have had to withdraw in recent years. The enormity of the challenge, combined with an unfortunate breakdown in international relations and a subsequent dwindling sense of optimism for the baiji's chances of survival - are all factors which have caused these organizations to take a cautious step back from helping the world's most endangered dolphin. Without an effective platform to provide direction and coordination of international resources and expertise - few have been willing to invest their limitted resources in the promising 2001 Action Plan.

"The baiji’s dire situation has been well documented from a scientific standpoint; and its fate now depends entirely upon management and conservation action that must be taken by the people and government of China".

The baiji.org Foundation was established in response to a clear need to rebuild international relations and network global expertise and resources in order to help build a platform strong enough to secure a future for the baiji, Yangtze finless porpoise and their freshwater ecosystem.

baiji.org’s first priority was to provide a new common strategic vision on baiji and finless porpoise conservation, and help coordinate and assist fundraising efforts to support the planning, preparation and actual implementation of effective small-scale projects developed from the 2001 Chinese Conservation Action Plan.

baiji.org began working with the Wuhan Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) in July 2004 to develop a series of small-scale conservation projects under the umbrella of "The baiji.org/IHB Best Practice Initiatives".

These projects are planned for high priority baiji and finless porpoise conservation sites along the Yangtze River (including the Shishou City National Baiji Reserve, Tian-e-Zhou Oxbow "Semi Natural Reserve", The Xinluo National Baiji Reserve, Zhengjiang Provincial Baiji Reserve, Poyang and Dongting Lakes) and have been designed to meet the following criteria:

• Address an immediate concern
• Integrate international support and expertise
• Small-scale
• Easy to implement
• Based on "models of best practice"
• Focus on conservation, education, awareness, training and research

baiji.org’s long term goal is to use these successful small-scale projects to attract further funding to support project replication along the Yangtze River and the development of additional urgent small-scale projects.

Already a Success

In the short time baiji.org has been operational, the foundation has already experienced major success with one of its Best Practice Programme Initiatives: The Workshop on the Conservation of China's Baiji River Dolphin and Yangtze Finless Porpoise 2004.

The workshop triumphantly resolved the long-standing "viability issue" of the Tian-e-Zhou Oxbow as a suitable site for the ex-situ conservation of baiji and has generated new optimism for the baiji's chances of survival. International cetacean specialists and conservation organizations are once again willing to work together and lend their support to conservation efforts.

baiji.org is now spearheading the development and coordination of the International Baiji Conservation Committee composed which is to be composed of key workshop participants. This committee will be responsible for coordinating all efforts to save the baiji, providing expertise and advice to the Chinese on preferred practices for conserving the baiji and Yangtze finless porpoise and coordinating the use of international funding and "in kind" support for baiji conservation (see International Baiji Conservation Committee for further details).