As a relatively young NGO legally registered as a member-based research association, CBIK has successfully completed its First Five-Year Plan from 1996 through 2000. During July 2000, CKIK and partners convened the Cultures and Biodiversity Congress (CUBIC) 2000. The outcomes from this Congress including "The Yunnan Initiative", which sets out principles and recommendations regarding the management of cultural and biodiversity resources, influenced and informed CBIK''''s Second Five-Year Plan (2001-2005). This current plan intends to transform CBIK "from a donor-driven project to a demand-driven and issue-focused program"(CBIK 2001).

The CBIK leadership also recognized the need to articulate a long-term strategic plan up to the year 2010, employing a process that could invite and incorporate the diverse views, aspirations and needs of its staff, members and partners. An important step was the strategic planning workshop held 27-29 May on Jinshan Island, Fuxian Lake in Yunnan (see Annexes 1 and 2 for the workshop program and list of participants, respectively). During the workshop, the participants contributed many valuable new ideas while revisiting and modifying some of the key elements contained in the Second Five-Year Plan.

This process led to the revision and articulation of CBIK''''s long-term vision, mission and goals, based on the (1) shared values of staff, members and key partners, (2) situational analyses of the external and internal environments, and (3) evolution of CBIK into a learning and bridging organization that occupies a vital institutional niche within China''''s expanding space for NGOs and civil society. These overarching elements also provided the basis for the formulation of key strategies and impact areas, and the new CBIK program structure.