The World Wide Fund for Nature is a powerful public organization that aims to protect the wildlife of the Earth. It was created in 1961 and then brought together a few enthusiasts, concerned about the state of nature. But the fact that among these people were well-known scientists, businessmen and government leaders, a year later, the first major rally was held. Several states whose representatives set up the World Wildlife Fund have signed the World Wildlife Charter. Later, other countries joined in, recognizing that wildlife was in danger.
A more active work of the Fund was hindered by the lack of funds for large-scale environmental activities. Therefore, for almost 10 years, the organization could not prove itself by high-profile actions.
Obtaining financial independence
The then president, Prince Bernard of the Netherlands, breathed new life into the activities of the foundation. Putting aside all conventions, he made a personal request to the thousand richest people in the world. He asked for financial support from the WWF in the amount of $ 10,000.
The most influential people on the planet responded, 10 million dollars were raised, which became the basis of the financial freedom of the fund. The organization in the media often became known as the “Trust 1001”.
Wildlife Fund Emblem
The foundation’s logo, a stylized drawing of a big panda, is associated with the name of one of the founding fathers, Sir Peter Scott. He saw this rarest beast on earth from a Chinese zoo during a tour in London. He liked the good-natured and beautiful animal. He decided that the organization involved in the protection of wild animals should choose the panda that needs protection as its symbol.
The WWF emblem is a very interesting animal. It is often called a bamboo bear, as the panda eats young shoots of bamboo. A newborn baby weighs only 900-1200 grams, opens its eyes only after 6-8 weeks. And it begins to walk only in the third month of life.
Pandas could completely disappear from the face of the earth due to deforestation in China, pesticide treatment of fields and for other reasons. WWF has drawn world attention to this issue. The big panda was included in the International Red Book. Through the efforts of environmental organizations, the threat of total extinction has been removed. But it is too early to delete it from the list of protected animals.
WWF: Activities
Fund members are involved in environmental activities around the world. Based on modern knowledge in their work, they try not only to draw attention to the most acute problems of the relationship between man and wildlife, but primarily to solve them.
The Foundation is engaged in the protection of certain species of flora and fauna that are threatened with extinction, and the protection of water, air, soil and individual landscapes. Over the years of its work, more than two thousand projects have been carried out: saving tigers from destruction, protecting the seas from pollution, saving the rainforests, etc. The Fund’s figures have formulated the tasks of various governments in protecting nature.
Wildlife Fund in Russia
In Russia, the Foundation’s representative office was opened in 1994, although as early as 1988 the first projects in our country began.
The most important WWF programs in Russia are the Forest, Marine and Climate programs.
The purpose of the first of these is to protect biological diversity in the forests of Russia. Marine is aimed at protecting wildlife and the wise use of the resources of the seas. And climate involves working to prevent climate change.
What has already been done in Russia?
Since 2004, WWF Wildlife Fund has been registered in Russia as a national environmental organization. Significant successes have already been achieved over the years.
Over the years, nature reserves have been created - reserves, national parks and others. Their total number exceeded 120, and the area - more than 42 and a half million hectares. In Yakutia, within the framework of the worldwide campaign “Gift to the Earth”, natural reserves were created in 30% of the territory.
2009 was the year of the creation of the
Russian Arctic National Park, which protects walruses, polar bears, bird markets and glaciers.
The Beringia National Park, established in 2012, protects the natural landscapes of Chukotka. It was created to protect the monuments of the Chukchi and Eskimo ancient culture. Polar bears, walruses, and sheep were taken from wildlife. The largest bird markets are also located here, and salmon spawning grounds are also protected.
WWF-protected rare animals
Wildlife needs protection. This is no longer in doubt. And WWF experts have set this as one of their main goals.
The Wildlife Protection Fund launched its work in Russia with the Amur Tiger Conservation Project. The result of the work of environmental and state organizations was that now the number of Amur tigers is not decreasing, but stabilizing. It amounts to more than 450 individuals, and the threat of extinction does not threaten this rare species. In 2010, the International Forum for the Protection of the Tiger was held in the northern capital, in which the 13 states in which these large and rare cats live have adopted a program to save them.
According to the results of the Fund's project, about 400 bison are already grazing in the forests of European Russia. European bison have also returned to the North Caucasus; their herd so far is 90 individuals.
It was possible to increase the number of Far Eastern leopards by almost one and a half times. Now these rarest wild cats are no less than 50 individuals. To save them, measures were taken to combat forest fires, to equip anti-poaching units, to educate schoolchildren ... And, finally, a national park was formed, called the Land of the Leopard. Work is also underway to restore the population of the Asiatic leopard in the North Caucasus.
To maintain safety between the man and the polar bears, the Fund created “bear patrols”.
These are just a few examples of the Fund’s effective work in Russia.
Forest protection
The World Wide Fund for Nature also takes care of protecting the forest cover of our planet. Our WWF forestry program began work in the Pskov region, where we were able to develop effective forestry management. The goal of the program is to grow highly productive forests without harming the habitats of animals and plants.
More than 38 million hectares of forests in our country now meet international standards. In this indicator, they are second only to the forests of Canada. Obtaining a certificate means that social and protective functions are retained in these forests, even under conditions of industrial deforestation.
As a result of the long-term campaign of the Fund for the Protection of the Cedar Forests of Primorye in Russia, a ban on cutting down Korean cedar was introduced. More than 600 thousand ha of such forests were leased to the environment by the Fund and its partners. And in the habitats of the Far Eastern leopards, a million cedars were planted by volunteers!
Water pollution protection
One of the most famous campaigns of the Fund is an action in defense of Lake Baikal. Conservationists have ensured that the Eastern Siberia – Pacific Ocean oil pipeline route has passed a safe distance from a unique lake.
Now actions are being held with a demand to close the Baikal Pulp Mill as the main source of water pollution. The deterioration of the purity and transparency of water in the lake can lead to the destruction of the unique inhabitants of Lake Baikal: omul, Baikal seal, golomyanka and others.
The result of long work was a change in the route of the Sakhalin-2 subsea pipeline, which threatened oil pollution to gray whale feeding areas.
The construction of the Evenki hydroelectric station, which is extremely dangerous for nature, has been canceled. It was decided to exclude the construction of dams on the Amur River.
"Earth Hour"
This annual WWF promotion is the most popular. And it became the most massive in the history of both our country and the whole world. Millions of people around the globe turned off the light for exactly one hour to show their attitude to the issue of rational, rational use of the planet’s natural resources and non-indifference to the future of the Earth.
The Wildlife Protection Fund has the main goal - to achieve harmony in the relationship between man and nature, to preserve the biological wealth and diversity of the Earth. This is a charitable organization, more than half of its funds are donated by WWF supporters around the world.
It is gratifying to see that in our country there are more and more of them. Join this important matter - nature conservation for our children and grandchildren!