China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) was originally named as China Milu Foundation by its originators, Lu Zhengcao, Qian Chengzhao and Burhan Shahidi, when they formed the organisation in 1985 to support the reestablishment of Pere David deer in China, (milu being the Chinese name for Pere David deer). Milu, originally an endemic species of deer in China had become an endangered species in the early part of the 20th Century but, in c. 1900, the Duke of Bedford had succeeded in raising Milu deer in the UK. As an acknowledgment to the importance of the relationship between China and the United Kingdom, 38 semi wild milu, raised by the Duke of Bedford, were reintroduced to China in 1985 to assist in the return of milu to their original homeland. The organization was officially renamed as China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation in 1997, from when it is dedicated to protect the environment and to conserve biodiversity in China.

中国生物多样性保护与绿色发展基金会简介   中国生物多样性保护与绿色发展基金会（简称“中国绿发会”或“绿会”）是经国务院批准、中国科协主管、民政部登记注册的全国性公益公募基金会。 1985年，为迎接我国特有物种麋鹿回归，由全国政协副主席吕正操、钱昌照、包尔汉等领导发起、成立了中国麋鹿基金会。经过不懈努力，麋鹿得以回归自然。国际公认中国麋鹿重引进项目是世界物种重引进最成功范例。 随着1992年中国加入联合国《生物多样性公约》及2009年胡德平理事长指出绿色发展的要义后，经国务院批准，我会两次更名为现名，并在胡德平（法人理事长）、谢伯阳、周建等理事会领导的带领下，积极、全面落实中央关于生态文明建设的指示，动员社会各界力量关注、参与相关工作。此外，在金鉴明院士统筹下，由十余位院士和近百位专家组成的专家委员会为我会各项工作提供了科学、先进的指导建议。 自成立至今，我会倡导生态文明、绿色发展、保护生物多样性，在创新、研究、科普等方面取得了一系列重大成就，受到广泛关注与赞誉。