What is World Wide Fund for nature?
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is an international non – government organisation, working in the field of wilderness preservation and towards reducing the impact of humans on the environment.
When was the WWF founded?
It was founded in 1961, by a small group of ardent, mostly British naturalists and conservationists such as Peter Scott, Max Nicholson, Guy Mountfort and Julian Huxley. Initially called the World Wildlife Fund, it retains its official name in Canada and the United States of America.
Where is the World Wide Fund based out of?
WWF was established as a Swiss Foundation and registered in Zurich. Its current headquarters are at Avenue du Mont-Blanc, Gland, Vaud, Switzerland. It is the world’s largest conservation organisation, working in more than 100 countries. It has identified 238 ecoregions, that represent the world’s most biologically outstanding habitats and is working toward those region’s conservation.
Why does the WWF use the Panda symbol?
The WWF giant panda logo originated from a panda named Chi Chi, who had been transferred from Beijing Zoo to London Zoo in 1958. The panda being, an endangered species, with its recognisable iconic features of black and white, made it a strong symbol that could be identified, without language barriers around the world.
It has been modified slightly over the years.
What is the WWF mission?
The WWF work has evolved from saving species and landscapes, to now working with sectors globally, to educate and influence people into making sustainable choices and decisions. The WWF also works with corporates and business and helps make decisions around the use of natural resources.
The WWF work focuses on these areas :
1. Food : With the growing human population, the food requirements of human is increasing rapidly. With this increasing need, man requires more land and resources like fresh water for rearing animals and farming for food which places a considerable strain on land and wildlife and other resources. While efforts to produce adequate amounts of food has been successful, the food doesn’t reach malnourished people. WWF aims to improve efficiency and productivity while reducing wastage and shifting consumption patterns to help conserve our resources and reduce environmental impact.
2. Climate : Our carbon footprint has led to polluted air, acid rains and global warming, which in turn causes polar ice caps to melt, causing several natural disasters. WWF is involved in helping people rethink the way we produce and consume energy, food, water in the present and for the future. It involves changing and redesigning the current public infrastructure and facilities to make it more climate resilient.
3. Fresh Water : The world is facing a huge fresh water crisis. Water is important to all life and there is just 1% of it, that is fresh and accessible. Changing climate, population growth and changing consumption patterns are just a few things affecting fresh water. WWF is committed to partnering with governments, businesses, institutions and communities to ensure healthy fresh water to communities in under developed countries, for wildlife and to provide a sustainable future for all.
4. Wildlife : Ours is a living planet. Saving our wildlife is high on the list of WWF priorities. The 2014 report revealed an astounding decline in wildlife by 52% in the last 40 years. Some species are on the verge of extinction. WWF recovery success stories include southern Africa’s black rhino to black bucks in the Himalayas. All species play an important part in the ecosystem of a region.
5. Forests : Over urbanisation due to pockets of exploding human population, or deforestation to increase farmlands to grow food, has led to extremely huge areas of the earth’s precious forest areas to completely deplete. This has caused changes in temperature, affected rainfalls, changed topography and caused wildlife to go extinct. Loss of our forests will also cause irreplaceable loss to flora and fauna on the planet.
WWF is involved in conserving tropical rain forests, which are the most biologically diverse and complex forests on Earth – forests in the Amazon, the Congo Basin, the Greater Mekong and other regions near the equator. But it also is taking place in temperate regions, such as the Russian Far East and the United States.
6. Oceans : Home to over 2 million species, marine biodiversity far outweighs, life on land. Our oceans regulate global climates, mediate and cause temperature, drought, rainfall. The oceans are also responsible for 83% circulation of the planet’s carbon cycle, making sustaining the ocean a very high priority.
WWF’s oceans work focuses on healthy and resilient marine ecosystems that support abundant biodiversity, sustainable livelihoods, and thriving economies.