June 02, 2011
IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING
I come from a poor family in southern China. When I was a child, my parents could barely feed us. Having a global vision was the last thing on my mind. But over the years I have dreamed of becoming a messenger between China and western society so that both sides can ease tensions, increase communication, and learn from each other. I believe so much can be done in these areas.
With help from IFP, I completed a master’s in Resource Management and Administration from Antioch University New England in 2005. While studying abroad I exposed myself to the community as much as I could, attending a conference sponsored by the US Environmental Protection Administration, taking a practicum at the Environmental Service of New Hampshire, and attending activities organized by non-profit organizations. The experience helped me understand the different yet important roles of each stakeholder—particularly the roles of the government and NPOs.
Upon my return home, I received an offer to work at Quzhou Environmental Protection Bureau. Since 2006, I’ve been head of
the Environmental Pollution Control Division, working on air, water, and hazardous waste pollution prevention and control, and discharge control of Sulfur Dioxide and Carbon Oxygen Demand Emissions.
In August 2008, I began my career at the
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in China as Manager of the Wildlife Trade Program. The focus of my work is to combat illegal wildlife trade of key target species through supporting law enforcement capacity building, education and outreach campaigns, and market surveys.
Outside of my daily job, I’m active in supporting people in need. I visited Wenchuan - China’s 2008 earthquake epicenter - right after the earthquake ruined the community and took away more than 80,000 residents. My fellow IFP alumni and I donated jackets to children to help them through a harsh winter. Since last year I have been helping a French friend support four impoverished children (three of them are Tibetan).
At the same time, I have been active in promoting green concepts by working with mass media and by taking advantage of different opportunities that come my way. While the heads of governments were in Copenhagen arguing over who should be blamed for messing up the climate, and who should take more responsibility to mitigate carbon emissions, I was live broadcasting in Guangzhou Daily’s studio on the Copenhagen Climate Conference and our current ecosystem issues. I 
declared that only by joining hands and working closely could the international community solve the climate change problem.
In April 2011, I was invited to the international EcoBlogy environmental citizen journalism forum, which was sponsored by the IFP Russian Association and the Russian Information Agency (RIA). This coming June, I will be a judge at a nationwide college student green design competition for the second year in a row. It is my belief that promoting green concepts among college students can lead to a greener society in the near future.
As the international community is facing a tremendous environmental problem, I will carry the IFP spirit and continue to put my experience and knowledge together to make the world a better place.
IFP China Alum Guihong Zhang received his master's degree in Resource Management and Administration from Antioch University, USA in 2005. He works for the Wildlife Conservation Society in China, where he focuses on conservation and awareness efforts.