Mountain Emei Certification (ISO9000/ISO14000) for Montane Ecosystems Emei Mountain lies seven kilometers southwest of Sichuan Basin and is one of the four mountain ranges in China that Buddhists consider sacred. Its main peak is 3,099 meters above sea level. Since ancient times, Emei Mountain has been described as “Beauty under Heaven”. Emei Mountain is a well-known natural museum with more than 3,200 specimens of plants and 2,300 types of wild animals. In 2000, the Emei Mountain Management Committee aimed at harmonized development of economic growth and ecology conservation. Consequently, it was certified according to ISO9000 and ISO14000. Through the certification issued by China Quality Certification Centre (CQC), it achieved great successes. in terms of quality management, service management and environmental protection; furthermore, it obtained good social as well as economic results, won wide reputation at home and abroad. Emei Mountain Management Committee insists on popularizing total quality control, strictly carries out ISO9000 and ISO14000 standards, and pursues to meet the international and scientific standards all the time. In September, 2005, Emei Mountain was awarded the “World Excellent Entironment Tourism Area” by the United Nations. Emei Mountain’s great successes in conducing international management certification are of great significance, as follows: Integrating ISO9000, ISO14000 with Buddhism culture Emei Mountain Management Committee stipulates “maintaining heritage, developing national culture, building world top quality tourism products” as its quality and environmental protection policies and endeavors to achieve 96% tourist satisfaction. It quantifies a series of objectives, including service, accommodation, shopping, sanitation, safety, environmental protection satisfaction and appeals and complaints from tourists, and makes these abstract objectives specific and applicable for evaluation. Since it was certified, no single significant complaint and safety accident happened. Tourists’ comprehensive satisfaction to the scenic area reaches 97%. Combining tourism management, environmental protection with sustainable development There are 26 temples, more than 300 monks and nearly 17,000 farmers in Emei Mountain, which poses many problems to the administration and environmental control. Emei Mountain Management Committee realized that sustainable development could be achieved only after ensuring the protection of ecological environment. The Committee has taken varied measures to strengthen the environmental management of tourism from various aspects, for instance, it actively promoted the control of water, air, trash and noise pollutions in scenic sites, strictly managed the environment during implementing tourism facilities construction projects. Putting the protection of ecological environment on top of agenda, realizing win-to-win Emei Mountain insists the principle of giving priority to protection. World Heritage Protection Committee was established to enhance the protection of heritages in Emei Mountain. In order to protect the varieties of plants and animals in Emei Mountain, the Committee reforested 20,000 mu of cultivated land, planted 2 million varieties of trees and besides, forest acreage reached 95% in 2004, vegetation protection rate 100%, landscape rate 100%. 37 coal pits and 11 limekilns were closed, which effectively controls pollution and provides good environment for wild animals. None of catching wild animals, transporting animals was discovered in the scenic spots. Wild animals get 100% protection. Around RMB20 million was invested to clean emerge. Temples, individually owned businessmen replace coal by electricity and liquefied gas, all vehicles use natural gas. Vehicle tail exhaust discharge reaches standard. Benefits from certification The management level of the personnel is obviously improved. Emei Management Committee will actively promote OHSMS18000 certification, keep constant efforts and build Emei Mountain to a natural ecological kingdom. CQC China Quality Certification Center Mr. Li Jie No A10 Chaowai District Beijing, 100020 China Tel: +86 10 6599 3912 Fax: +86 10 6599 3923 lij@cqc.com.cn http://www.cqc.com.cn