The World Wildlife Fund is a powerful public organization that has set itself the goal of protecting the wildlife of the Earth. It was created in 1961 and then united a few enthusiasts who were concerned about the state of nature. But the fact that among these people there were well-known scientists, businessmen and government leaders made it possible to hold the first major action a year later. Several states, whose representatives organized the World Wildlife Fund, have signed the World Charter for the Protection of Wild Animals. Other countries later joined in acknowledging that wildlife was in danger.
More active work of the Fund was hampered by the lack of funds for large-scale environmental actions. Therefore, for almost 10 years, the organization could not prove itself with high-profile actions.
Financial Independence
New life was breathed into the activities of the foundation by its then president, Prince Bernard of the Netherlands. Throwing aside all conventions, he made a personal request to a thousand of the richest people in the world. He asked for financial support from the WWF in the amount of $10,000.
The Most Influenti althe faces of the planet responded, 10 million dollars were collected, which became the basis of the financial freedom of the fund. The organization has often become known as the 1001 Trust in the media.
Wildlife Foundation Emblem
The appearance of the foundation's logo - a stylized drawing of a giant panda - is associated with the name of one of the founding fathers, Sir Peter Scott. He saw this rarest animal on earth from a Chinese zoo while on tour in London. He liked the good-natured and beautiful animal very much. He decided that an organization dedicated to the protection of wild animals should choose a panda in need of protection as its symbol.
The emblem of the World Wildlife Fund is a very interesting animal. It is often called the bamboo bear because the panda feeds on young bamboo shoots. A newborn cub weighs only 900-1200 grams, opens its eyes only after 6-8 weeks. And he starts walking only at the third month of life.
Pandas could have completely disappeared from the face of the earth due to deforestation in China, the treatment of fields with pesticides and for other reasons. WWF drew the attention of the world community to this problem. The giant panda has been included in the International Red Book. Through the efforts of environmental organizations, the threat of complete extinction was removed. But it's too early to cross it off the list of protected animals.
WWF activities
Members of the Foundation conduct conservation activities around the world. Based in their work on modern knowledge, they try not only to attract attentionto the most acute problems of the relationship between humans and wildlife, and first of all to solve them.
The Foundation is also 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 implemented: to save tigers from destruction, protect the seas from pollution, save tropical forests, etc. The Fund's leaders formulated the tasks of governments of different countries in protecting nature.
Wildlife Fund in Russia
In the Russian Federation, a representative office of the Fund was opened in 1994, although the first projects in our country began in 1988.
The most important WWF programs in Russia are the Forestry, Marine and Climate Programs.
The purpose of the first of them is the protection of biological diversity in the forests of Russia. Marine is aimed at the protection of wildlife and the rational use of the resources of the seas. And climate change means working to prevent climate change.
What has already been done in Russia?
The WWF Wildlife Fund has been registered in Russia since 2004 as a national environmental organization. Significant progress has already been made over the years.
Over the years natural reserves have been created - nature reserves, national parks and others. Their total number exceeded 120, and the area - more than 42 and a half million hectares. In Yakutia, as part of the global campaign "Gift to the Earth", natural reserves have been created on 30% of the territory.
2009 was the year of creationNational Park "Russian Arctic", where walruses, polar bears, bird colonies and glaciers are protected.
The natural landscapes of Chukotka are protected in the Beringia National Park, established in 2012. It was created to protect the monuments of the Chukchi and Eskimo ancient culture. Polar bears, walruses, bighorn sheep are taken under protection from wildlife. The largest bird markets are also located here, and salmon spawning grounds are also protected.
Protection of rare animals under the auspices of WWF
Wildlife needs protection. This is no longer in doubt. And WWF specialists have set this as one of their main goals.
The Wildlife Conservation Fund kicked off its work in Russia with a project to conserve the Amur tiger. The result of the work of environmental and government organizations is that now the number of Amur tigers is not decreasing, but has stabilized. It is more than 450 individuals, and the threat of extinction to this rare species is no longer threatened. In 2010, the northern capital hosted the International Forum for the Protection of the Tiger, in which 13 states inhabiting these large and rare cats adopted a program to save them.
According to the results of the Foundation's project, about 400 bison are already grazing in the forests of European Russia. Bison have also returned to the North Caucasus, their herd so far is 90 individuals.
Managed to increase the number of Far Eastern leopards by almost one and a half times. Now there are at least 50 of these rare wild cats. To save them, measures were taken to combat forestfires, for equipping anti-poaching detachments, for educational work among schoolchildren … And, finally, a national park was formed, called the "Land of the Leopard". Work is also underway to restore the population of the Persian leopard in the North Caucasus.
To maintain safety between humans and polar bears, "bear patrols" were established with the help of the Foundation.
These are just a few examples of the Fund's effective work in Russia.
Forest protection
The World Wildlife Fund is also committed to protecting the forest cover of our planet. We have started the WWF forestry program in the Pskov region, where we were able to develop effective forestry management. The goal of the program is to grow a highly productive forest, while not harming the habitats of animals and plants.
More than 38 million hectares of forests in our country now meet international standards. According to this indicator, they are second only to the forests of Canada. Obtaining a certificate means that social and protective functions are preserved in these forests even under the condition of industrial felling.
As a result of a long-term campaign by the Fund for the Protection of the Siberian Cedar Forests in Russia, a ban on the felling of Korean cedar has been introduced. More than 600,000 hectares of such forests were taken on environmental lease by the Foundation and its partners. And in the habitats of the Far Eastern leopards, volunteers planted a million cedars!
Protection of water bodies from pollution
One of the mostThe well-known campaign of the Foundation is the action in defense of Lake Baikal. Conservationists ensured that the route of the Eastern Siberia - Pacific Ocean oil pipeline passed at a safe distance from the unique lake.
Now there are actions with the demand to close the Baikal Pulp Mill as the main source of water pollution. The deterioration of the purity and transparency of the water in the lake can lead to the destruction of the unique inhabitants of Baikal: omul, Baikal seal, golomyanka and others.
The result of long work was a change in the route of the Sakhalin-2 underwater pipeline, which threatened oil pollution in gray whale feeding areas.
The construction of the Evenk hydroelectric power station, which is extremely dangerous for nature, has been cancelled. A decision was made to exclude the construction of dams on the Amur River.
Earth Hour
This annual WWF action 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 lights for exactly one hour to show their attitude towards the issue of rational, prudent use of the planet's natural resources and indifference to the future of the Earth.
The Wildlife Protection Fund has the main goal - to achieve harmony in relations between man and nature, to preserve the biological we alth and diversity of the Earth. This is a charitable organization, more than half of its funds come from donations from WWF supporters around the world.
It is gratifying to see that we also havemore and more of them in the country. Join this important cause - nature conservation for our children and grandchildren!
