2 December 2024
In 1961, a limited number of organizations around the world—such as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and The Conservation Foundation—were trying to meet conservation needs, but were desperately short of funds.
The first call for broad support was the Morges Manifesto, signed in 1961 by 16 of the world’s leading conservationists, including biologist and African wildlife enthusiast Sir Julian Huxley, IUCN vice president Sir Peter Scott and director-general of the British Nature Conservancy E. M. Nicholson. The Morges Manifesto stated that while the expertise to protect the world environment existed, the financial support to achieve this protection did not. The decision was made to establish World Wildlife Fund as an international fundraising organization to work in collaboration with existing conservation groups and bring substantial financial support to the conservation movement on a worldwide scale.
Who They Are
For more than 60 years, WWF has worked to help people and nature thrive.
As the world’s leading conservation organization, WWF works in nearly 100 countries. At every level, they collaborate with people around the world to develop and deliver innovative solutions that protect communities, wildlife, and the places in which they live.
How They Work
For Nature, For People, Forever
WWF works to help local communities conserve the natural resources they depend upon; transform markets and policies toward sustainability; and protect and restore species and their habitats. Their efforts ensure that the value of nature is reflected in decision-making from a local to a global scale.
WWF connects cutting-edge conservation science with the collective power of their partners in the field, more than one million supporters in the United States and five million globally, as well as partnerships with communities, companies, and governments.
Today, human activities put more pressure on nature than ever before, but it’s also people who have the power to change this trajectory. Together, they can address the greatest threats to life on this planet and protect the natural resources that sustain and inspire us.
Goals
Recognizing that the problems facing our planet are increasingly more complex and urgent, WWF focuses its work on six ambitious goals. Through this integrative approach, they can challenge the planet’s greatest threats and ensure a healthy future for people and nature.
