What the WWF is

WWF (World Wildlife Fund) is Canada’s largest international conservation organization, supported by more than 150,000 Canadians. They connect the power of a strong global network to wildlife conservation efforts across Canada.

Their mission:

To stop the degradation of the natural environment and to build a future where humans can live in harmony with nature, by:

• conserving the world's biological diversity.
• ensuring that we use renewable natural resources in a sustainable way.
• promoting the reduction of pollution and waste.

History
The WWF was born in 1961, when a small group of people signed a declaration called the Morges Manifesto. When a giant panda had entered the London Zoo that year, it inspired the WWF’s logo, and it is still used today.

What they are about

Their work is about life, because what they do is protecting and restoring ecosystems. They are also about our living, because the choices we make and actions we do shape the world. The WWF is science-based, focusing on solutions and lasting results. They are also collaborative and create a network between local communities and the world.

What they have done

WWF Canada has protected animal species in Gwaii Haanas, Jewel of Cuba declared National Park, Nunavut, and the Bowie Seamount. They have also protected 10 million hectares of land near the Mackenzie River, as well as Lake Superior and Nahanni National Park. WWF Global has informed people about polar bear populations and turtles.

What they are doing

Some of the things that the WWF is doing globally are:

• conservation of places like the Amazon, Congo and Arctic
• conservation of the tiger, a priority species
• changing the minds and actions of key stakeholders for critical issues (climate change, commodity production & sourcing, and overfishing)

There are 5 human footprint areas that the WWF is addressing: carbon, energy, and climate; farming; fishing; forestry; and water. The WWF’s goal for 2020 is to reduce our global footprint to 2000 levels and down to within the Earth’s capacity by 2050.

WWF’s conservation areas include climate & energy, Arctic, oceans, and fresh water.