10 Opinion/Analysis a 09·08·11 BBC Wildlife Phoenix Fund Fund: Giving back to the natural world

As the BBC Wildlife Fund begins its wind-down Amy Coyte looks back on its achievments

One Of the jewel’s in the BBC’s crown,  Amur tiger: Back has broadcast two live appeals. The first, with an appeal season encouraging wid- of them over the next thirty years. (75% the Natural History Unit in Bristol. found- from the brink in 2007, followed BBC One’s Saving Planet er BBC engagement and community fun- of coral reefs are under threatened right ed the BBC Wildlife Fund (BBCWF). After  Cuckoo numbers Earth series and raised £1.8 million; it was draising. Everyone was excited – and a lit- now.) The BBCWF is currently supporting years of bringing the wonder and beauty down nearly 60% supported by celebrities including Dav- tle daunted – as launched a project run by the Marine Conservation of the natural world into our living rooms  Coral reef at id Attenborough, Graham Norton and Ed- the Go Wild Season on in May. Society, in collaboration with local com- whilst at the same time witnessing the project site ith Bowman and marked the beginning of Radio 4, Radio 2, BBC learning, BBC On- munities in Malaysia, using innovative dramatic declines in populations of spe- destroyed by fish a groundbreaking initiative. In 2010 BBC line and BBC Worldwide all joined in. techniques to restore coral reefs whilst cies they were filming, the NHU desper- blasting Two commissioned a two- hour appeal pro- Comparisons with CiN and Comic Relief were also tackling the causal issues of degrada- ately wanted to give something back. gramme. This time we adopted the Chil- inevitable but both were warm and gener- tion. It is not all doom and gloom. There Since the fund’s foundation the BBC dren In Need (CiN) and Comic Relief models ous and the first to remind us of their own is much hope. humble beginnings. Many of us support wildlife conser-

Uganda Conservation Foundation Tim Scoones (Wild Night In executive) vation because we cannot envisage be- and the NHU team pulled out all the stops. ing without the natural world. Imagine I was delighted with the open minds and spring without the chance to hear a cuck- willingness to help we met throughout oo – yet the UK has lost two thirds of its the BBC. David Attenborough introduced cuckoos in the last 25 years. Audience do- the programme, Kate Humble, Chris Pack- nations to the BBCWF are enabling the ham and Martin Hughes-Games presented. British Trust for Ornithology to track A range of celebrities supported the char- where cuckoos go when they leave ity including Joanna Lumley, Bill Oddie, our shores and so hopefully find out Steve Backshall and many more. how to address their decline. The team auc- Reports from our projects regular- tioned their sofa to start the wild ly highlight the impact the dona- auction. The RSPB offered the tions have made. For exam- rare chance to see Sea Eagles (a ple – the last remaining 450 project supported by the BBCWF). The list Amur tigers and 35 Amur leopards now of generous donations inspired us. have a chance as a result of the BBCWF’s The Wild Night In raised £1.2 million. support – visit www..co.uk/wild for The number of viewers actively donating further information about all 87 projects gave a 4.1% conversion rate, well above funded. Children in Need’s 2.2% in their previous ap- The BBCWF has supported both icon- peal. And all against the competition of a ic popular species and less well known, major world cup game! equally threatened ones. We cannot af- Did we make a difference? Most cer- ford to be complacent or leave it to oth- tainly. The variety of life on the plan- ers- our future lies with the future of bio- et is central to all our futures. One quar- diversity on this planet. ter of all the fish we eat depend on coral The BBCWF remains a proud example reefs at some stage of their life cycle. But of what can and should be done. if the degradation of coral reefs contin- Amy Coyte is Director of the BBC Wildlife ues at current rates we will lose almost all Fund M a rine Conserv a tion s oc iety

RAF00373_ariel_140x185.indd 1 04/07/2011 11:28