WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003

Compiled, edited and designed by: Published in October 2002 by WWF Tim Davis – World Wide Fund For Nature DJEnvironmental (formerly World Wildlife Fund), Berrynarbor Gland, Switzerland. Any Devon EX34 9TB reproduction in full or in part of this UK publication must mention the title and credit the above-mentioned Picture research: publisher as the copyright holder. Michèle Dépraz, WWF-Canon Photo Database No photographs from this publication may be reproduced on Printed by: the World Wide Web without prior Toptown Printers Ltd, Barnstaple, authorization from WWF. Devon, UK The material and the geographical Cover photos: designations in this report do not Main picture: Featherstar on lettuce imply the expression of any opinion corals in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. whatsoever on the part of WWF (WWF-Canon / Jürgen Freund) concerning the legal status of any Inset: An Antshihanaka fisherman country, territory, or area, or with his catch of mouthbrooder fish, concerning the delimitation of its Lake Aloatra, eastern Madagascar. frontiers or boundaries. (WWF-Canon / Olivier Langrand) © text 2002 WWF. All rights reserved. Contents

Introduction...... ii

WWF’s Global Conservation Priorities...... 1

Forests ...... 14

Freshwater ...... 24

Oceans and Coasts...... 34

Species ...... 45

Climate Change...... 56

Toxics ...... 64

Financial overview ...... 69

WWF around the world ...... 70

The view from here – a cheetah atop a termite mound. WWF / Martin Harvey Introduction

his time last year I was came almost a year later at the World refusing to participate; meanwhile ■ A UN report found that one-third writing the introduction to Summit on Sustainable Development records show the 1990s as the of the world’s human population this annual report just before (WSSD) in Johannesburg. One aim of warmest decade on record. lives in countries that are water WWF marked the 40th that meeting was to speed up stressed – a figure that could T ■ anniversary of its founding – on 11 implementation of the ground-breaking The burning of oil, of which double by 2025 – and that as many September 1961. Sadly, a year later, agreements reached at the Earth consumption grew by 14 per cent as 30,000 people die each day that date lives forever in our memories Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Rio in the 1990s, accounted for 40 per from water-related diseases. for events of greater horror than could achieved a political and conceptual cent of the 23 billion tonnes of ■ ever have been imagined. breakthrough which created a new new carbon dioxide (CO2) added Rates of deforestation have wave of optimism that the world could annually to the atmosphere. become confused as the UN Those events threw into stark relief the indeed find a way of continued Food and Agriculture differences and inequities that exist in economic growth whilst reducing ■ Although the Convention on Organisation (FAO) has loosened our world. The social challenges at inequities and safeguarding Biological Diversity (another Rio its definition of what constitutes their heart arose from an indifference environmental integrity. That optimism product) has been ratified by more “forest”; nonetheless, there are which is matched by that shown lasted for a while, but for the NGO nations than any other 1.7 billion people in 40 countries towards the global environment. The community in general, and the environmental treaty, it lacks real who rely for their well-being on tragedy that unfolded in New York environmental community in teeth. (Scientists now estimate that forests which are now at a caused us to ask fundamental questions particular, the Rio rhetoric was mostly on only five occasions in the past critically low level. as to what is happening in the world just that, and it has proved much four billion years has biodiversity and how it affects different cultures harder than anyone ever imagined to been destroyed at current rates – ■ Environmental catastrophes – and communities, and many people break with “business as usual”. There and then from natural causes.) among them loss of fish stocks, began to think carefully about what are many examples: floods, droughts, and forest fires could be done about it. It was a wake- ■ The proportion of the world’s on a scale never seen before – are up call to world leaders to look deeply ■ The Climate Change Convention threatened coral reefs has grown causing enormous economic and at a number of important issues and agreed in Rio was modest in its from 10 per cent to 27 per cent, human losses on every continent, take remedial action. goals but, ten years on, the Kyoto and the continued rising and whilst subsidies which encourage Protocol is still not ratified, with warming of seas will only make overexploitation of land, sea and One significant opportunity for action the US and Australia in particular things worse. water continue unabated. ii WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 WWF International Programme Director Chris Hails in the Minkebe Reserve in northern Gabon with staff of WWF and the Ministry of Waters and Forests – the reserve is one of 13 new protected areas declared by President Bongo following an assessment carried out jointly by WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society and was a significant step for the region in meeting the goals of the Yaoundé Declaration.

Perhaps it was the knowledge of the Among them, WWF, the government of failures of the past decade that made Brazil, the World Bank and the Global the outcome of the WSSD such a Environment Facility (GEF) announced disappointment. The time was ripe, the a new programme to triple the area of warnings had been posted, we knew Amazon rainforest under protection. much more about the challenges, but the world’s leaders, so determined in Surprisingly, the meeting virtually many aspects of their difficult jobs, gave up on setting real targets and blinked and turned away. timetables for many urgent issues. Targets and timetables may be The Summit failed to address energy inconvenient but to those keen to issues, the harmful effects of trade make substantive and measurable liberalization and subsidies, made progress they are essential. In the lukewarm statements to support the pages of this report, you will find the Biodiversity Convention, and targets and timetables for WWF’s six compromised on toxic chemicals to the global thematic programmes on extent that the outcome was weaker forests, freshwater, oceans and coasts, than previous international agreements. species, toxics, and climate change. All this has happened in the ten seen in WWF’s Living Planet Report You can also find examples of some years since Rio, a decade during 2002. It documents the decline in the Some things were achieved however, of the ecoregions targeted by WWF which the value of nature’s natural health of the planet as the including a determination to improve as being of overwhelming importance “services” – reliable water supply, human footprint – the pressure our water supply and sanitation, the need to in saving the major part of the Earth’s prevention of erosion and floods, etc activity places on the Earth – allow fish stocks to replenish, and biodiversity. For each conservation – was valued, in 1997, at US$33 increases. If the current trend establishment of an international fund target we have also set milestones trillion annually, twice the gross continues, sometime in the next 50 to tackle poverty. Over 300 new which will allow WWF to judge world product of that year. years we will exceed the natural partnerships between governments, whether its work is moving in the regenerative capacity of the Earth by a businesses, and NGOs and other civil right direction. By adopting this The combined effect of all this can be factor of two. society organizations were forged. approach, unlike many of the world’s

Introduction iii Introduction

leaders, we can gauge our overall ■ lobbied hard, and with some progress. success, for implementation of the Kyoto climate treaty Among significant achievements in the past year, WWF has: ■ succeeded in persuading major international companies to reduce ■ helped establish 17.4 million ha of their CO2 emissions irrespective of new forest protected areas the Kyoto accord

■ helped establish certified sustainable ■ lobbied governments to speed up forest management in 4 million ha ratification of the Stockholm Convention on toxic chemicals ■ encouraged governments to set aside 18.4 million ha of freshwater ■ worked with the International habitats for conservation – habitats Maritime Organisation (IMO) to which form the natural reservoirs phase out the use of toxic paints on for the world’s water supply ships.

■ formed partnerships with a major Although these successes are modest bank for the conservation of compared to the size of the challenges freshwater we face, they nevertheless represent hard-won battles in the war to slow ■ helped create new protected areas down the damage being done to the in the marine environment planet. Despite the disappointments of Johannesburg and the blow dealt to ■ campaigned successfully against multilateral approaches to dealing with harmful EU subsidies that promote global problems, we remain optimistic overfishing that there are sufficient enlightened iv WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 In 2002, WWF encouraged governments to set aside 18.4 million ha of freshwater habitats for conservation – habitats which form the natural reservoirs for the world’s water supply. WWF-Canon / Anthony B Rath WWF / Chris Martin Bahr governments, intergovernmental None of the successes listed above agencies, private corporations and would have been possible without the partner NGOs with which WWF can help and support of the many form effective alliances to move thousands of donors, supporters, forward on the major issues. More than collaborators and partners who have ever, self-interested parties must not be worked with and helped WWF in a allowed to kill the momentum gained myriad of different ways over the past over the past decade. year. To all of you we are immensely grateful. With your continued help we WWF will continue to fight for the will persevere in our efforts to save as protection of nature’s special places much as we can for future generations. and species, and work with market mechanisms like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) to ensure that the utilization of natural resources is sustainable. We see the private sector as a critical partner in these endeavours, as well as those governments and individuals willing to Chris Hails take courageous decisions in support Programme Director of the environment. WWF International

Introduction v African elephants – see page 48. WWF-Canon / Martin Harvey WWF’s Global Conservation Priorities

ince its inception in 1961, Through conservation successes in a Guiding Principles. The mission ■ be global, independent, WWF has worked to conserve few well-chosen areas, and effective clearly recognizes that WWF’s aims multicultural and non-party nature and ecological processes communication of the results, WWF cannot be achieved without taking into political Sthrough a combination of action aims to create the momentum necessary account the underlying causes of ■ use the best available scientific on the ground, national and international to challenge the root causes of the environmental degradation. information to address issues and advocacy work to establish appropriate degradation of our planet’s environment. critically evaluate all its policies, and international campaigns to Mission Statement endeavours highlight and demonstrate solutions to WWF’s Purpose ■ seek dialogue and avoid crucial environmental problems. Over WWF’s mission is to stop the unnecessary confrontation the course of its 41-year history, WWF WWF’s Purpose, as laid down in its degradation of the planet’s natural ■ build concrete conservation has contributed significantly to the Statutes, first established in 1961 and environment and to build a future in solutions through a combination of development and impact of the world slightly modified in 1993, is “to conserve which humans live in harmony with field-based projects, policy conservation movement and to the natural environment and ecological nature, by: initiatives, capacity building and sustainable development in a period of processes worldwide”. This is taken to education work great pressure on the world’s natural include fauna and flora, the landscape, ■ conserving the world’s biological ■ involve local communities and resources. water, soils, air and other natural diversity indigenous peoples in the resources, with particular emphasis on ■ ensuring that the use of renewable planning and execution of its field It is clear that no single organization the maintenance of essential ecological natural resources is sustainable programmes, respecting their can claim to credibly cover the entire processes and life support systems, and ■ promoting the reduction of cultural as well as economic conservation agenda. In setting on the preservation of genetic, species pollution and wasteful needs WWF’s agenda for the 21st century, and ecosystem diversity, and on ensuring consumption. ■ strive to build partnerships with during which the quest for natural that the utilization of wild plant and other organizations, governments, resources will become even greater, it animal species and natural ecosystems is Guiding Principles business and local communities to is essential that WWF sets clear sustainable. enhance WWF’s effectiveness priorities for its work. Those To guide WWF in its task of achieving ■ run its operations in a cost- priorities, and the ways in which To further tighten and focus its the mission goals, the following effective manner and apply donors’ WWF is addressing them, are institutional forces, in 1989 WWF principles have been adopted. WWF funds according to the highest described here. adopted a Mission Statement and seven will: standards of accountability.

WWF’s Global Conservation Priorities 1 WWF’s Global Conservation Priorities

Beluga whale. What and Where? WWF-Canon / Kevin Schafer

To maximize its impact, WWF has insidious of the threats to biodiversity: “ecoregions”. In 1997, WWF identified a set of global priorities for the spread of Toxic Chemicals and the embarked on ecoregion conservation as The WWF Network its work. These priorities cover six phenomenon of Climate Change. a response to the increased pace of globally important issues, allied to Both of these have grave and often degradation of the world’s endangered WWF is a network some of the most important places in invisible impacts upon the security of habitats and species. organization with almost 5 the world for biodiversity conservation all life on Earth. million regular supporters, (termed “ecoregions”), where WWF To begin with, WWF identified the over 50 country or regional will apply its effort and support. For each of the six global issues WWF most valuable and sometimes offices and 4 Associate has established a programme with clear vulnerable ecoregions in the world Organizations, led and The Six Global Issues conservation targets that identify those which best represent the breadth of coordinated by an actions required for WWF to achieve biodiversity and ecological processes. International Secretariat in Firstly, there is the conservation of the its ambitious mission. The programmes The list of priority ecoregions Gland, Switzerland. By careful three biomes of Forests, Freshwater are hosted by various parts of the identified by WWF scientists is known application of its resources Ecosystems, and Oceans and Coasts. WWF Network (currently the WWF as “The Global 200 Ecoregions” (see and expertise, and through These contain the bulk of the world's International Secretariat in Gland, map on page 12 or visit http://www. strategic partnerships with biodiversity and provide the Switzerland, WWF-Netherlands, panda.org/global200/pages/mainmap.htm). governments, different sectors environmental goods and services upon WWF-UK, and WWF-US) and work of business and industry, civil which all life ultimately depends. in a coordinated fashion with WWF The Global 200 recognize the fact society groups and offices and Ecoregion Action that, whilst tropical forests and coral indigenous peoples across Secondly, WWF has identified a small Programmes across the world. reefs harbour the most biodiversity the world, WWF conducts number of flagship Species whose and are the traditional targets of those activities which are conservation is of special concern and The Global 200 Ecoregions conservation organizations, unique necessary to fulfil its which act as powerful icons for the manifestations of nature are found in aspirations and attain its conservation of other species and Biodiversity is not spread evenly temperate and boreal regions, in mission. In the 2001 financial habitats. across the Earth but follows complex deserts and mountain chains, which year WWF channelled more patterns determined by climate, occur nowhere else on Earth and than CHF400 million into And thirdly, WWF has targeted two of geology and the evolutionary history of which risk being lost forever if they conservation solutions. the most globally pervasive and the planet. These patterns are called are not conserved.

2 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Delivering Conservation – How?

WWF has selected a subset of the and outside ecoregions, for example in Target Driven Programmes are needed to achieve their targets: for Global 200 where it is best placed to the area of sustainable forest example, working the corridors of carry out conservation programmes at management or improving the way in ATarget Driven Programme (TDP) is power (as on subsidies), seeking an ecoregional scale. WWF encourages which freshwater is used in agriculture, the delivery mechanism for focused innovative partnerships such as those others to take up the challenges of will support the conservation of and targeted work on one of the global that led to the creation of the Forest conserving the rest of the Global 200 ecoregions. Global advocacy priority issues central to WWF's Stewardship Council (FSC) and the ecoregions. campaigns will help to create the mission. TDP activities are aimed at Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), appropriate political and policy context policy change, introduced either or working to engage the public. Not Relationship between the to enhance the chances of conservation through existing instruments (e.g. all targets will necessarily be in the Global Issues and the Global success in the ecoregions. conventions, legislation), market forces public eye – certain targets may be 200 Ecoregions Conservation of the Global 200 will (e.g. certification, buyers groups), or best addressed by a more political (less address the long-term security of their voluntary commitments (e.g. Gifts to visible but still “high profile”) There is a clear synergy both between biodiversity by integrating the six the Earth, Climate Savers). Issues approach and only emerge into the and amongst these two sets of issues with other conservation lending themselves to the TDP public arena at certain stages or when priorities. The six global issues are a approaches, addressing the full range approach typically are those where a successfully completed. Other targets set of globally important processes of socio-economic factors which are short- to medium-term critical mass may be best addressed by highly which are WWF’s priorities for the root cause of biodiversity loss, effort leads to a new level of visible activities, motivating and conservation action; the Global 200 leading to concrete conservation conservation or magnification of its mobilizing the media and public identify those large landscapes WWF solutions. As we learn more about the effects, such as the adoption of WWF's opinion to achieve the targets. has prioritized for broad-based root causes of biodiversity loss in the forest targets by the World Bank. conservation action. ecoregions, so this will inform the Global Conservation Targets policy work that is carried out for the Each of the six TDPs focus on two or Work on the global issues both inside six global issues. three global targets (see below), and Forests lead WWF’s effort to achieve those targets, also assuring appropriate links WWF’s vision for forests is for the to Ecoregion Action Programmes. world to have more extensive, more diverse and higher-quality forest The TDPs develop whatever strategies landscapes which will meet human

WWF’s Global Conservation Priorities – What and Where? 3 WWF’s Global Conservation Priorities

needs and aspirations fairly, while distributed in a balanced manner wetlands the world over will enhance worldwide are protected and/or conserving biological diversity and among regions, forest types and the quality of life, but that this will sustainably managed fulfilling the ecosystem functions land tenure regimes only be achieved when nature is necessary for all life on Earth. recognized and valued as the source of ■ Water infrastructure development: ■ Restoration: By 2005, at least 20 water. By 2010, ecological processes are To achieve this, WWF’s Forests for forest landscape restoration maintained or restored in at least Life Programme aims to halt and initiatives underway in the world’s The goal of WWF's Living Waters 50 large catchment areas of high reverse the loss and degradation of threatened, deforested or degraded Programme is to conserve and restore biodiversity importance forests and all kinds of woodlands forest regions to enhance freshwater ecosystems and their worldwide. This will require the ecological integrity and human processes for the benefit of people and ■ Resource use in water intensive establishment of forest protected areas; well-being. wildlife. To achieve this requires a products: By 2010, private sector sustainable management of unprotected holistic approach to freshwater practices and related government forests; restoration of degraded forests; Freshwater Ecosystems management through integrating policies concerning key water- minimizing forest loss due to climate ecological concerns with basic human using sectors are established and/or change and pollution; and responsible Freshwater is a precious resource, needs and cultures; promotion of the changed in order to sustain the trade in forest products. necessary for all life. Its future is far conservation of freshwater ecosystems integrity of the freshwater from secure. The failure of modern and their processes by emphasizing ecosystems on which they depend Three global targets have been set: society to deal with water as a finite management of entire water and/or impact. resource has led to the unnecessary catchments; and maximizing beneficial ■ Protection: By 2010, the destruction of rivers, lakes, marshes impacts and minimizing detrimental Oceans and Coasts establishment and maintenance of and other wetlands that provide a life impacts on freshwater resources and viable, representative networks of support system for the planet. ecosystems. The oceans cover 70 per cent of the protected areas in the world’s Globalization of trade and water Earth's surface. Acting as both the threatened and most biologically privatization are now further adding to Three global targets have been set: source of primordial life and the sink significant forest regions the demands on freshwater of material washed off the land, the sea ecosystems. ■ Freshwater biodiversity: By is the life support system for the world. ■ Management: By 2005, 100 2010, 250 million ha of high- It contains a huge biodiversity, from million ha of certified forests, WWF believes that healthy freshwater priority freshwater ecosystems the shallow coral reefs of the tropics to

4 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Gifts to the Earth

A Gift to the Earth is WWF’s highest accolade for the significant conservation work of others. It provides international recognition and support to a government, a company, or an individual. By August 2002, 77 Gifts had been recognized by WWF. Queen conch shell. WWF-Canon / Michel Roggo cold, dark ocean trenches up to 11km protected areas (MPAs), and by the the organization's establishment in global concern are stabilized or deep. It is a transport route, introduction of measures to ensure that 1961. WWF’s vision is a world in increased and their critical habitats playground, source of resources, means fishing is carried out in a sustainable which the intrinsic, aesthetic, economic safeguarded of livelihood, and a huge store of manner. and ecological values of species are biodiversity – as well as being recognized and respected worldwide ■ Wildlife trade: By 2010, at least incomparably beautiful. Driving Two global targets have been set: and that, as a result, environmental ten species of global concern are climate, supplying food and recycling degradation and unsustainable use no no longer endangered by some of our wastes, we damage it at ■ Protected areas: By 2020, the longer threaten the survival of wild overexploitation. our peril. establishment and implementation plants and animals and their crucial of a network of effectively habitats. The species and species groups which WWF believes that governments, managed, ecologically form the focus for target one are giant communities, environmentalists, representative marine protected WWF’s Species Programme seeks to panda, tiger, rhinoceroses (black, industries and other interest groups areas covering at least 10 per cent conserve viable populations of selected white, Javan, Sumatran, and greater around the world must work closely of the world’s seas species that are of particular one horned), elephants (African and together to keep and restore the conservation concern. Whilst important Asian), marine turtles (leatherback, treasures of the sea. We have to use ■ Sustainable fisheries: Maintain in their own right, species are also hawksbill, green, loggerhead, olive oceans and coasts wisely for the the status of all fish stocks that are critical for the maintenance of ridley, and Kemp's ridley), great apes benefit of current and future currently exploited sustainably fundamental ecological processes, and (gorilla, chimpanzee, bonobo, and generations. Through a common and, by 2020, halve the number of as indicators of the health of natural orang-utan), and whales. Amongst the understanding and admiration of fish stocks that are overexploited places. As flagships, they also provide species included under target two are natural richness and beauty, we must or depleted, as currently unique opportunities for promoting and snow leopard, sturgeon, and Tibetan respect the idea that all marine life has categorized by FAO. communicating important conservation antelope. a right to be and the space to survive. and environmental issues. Species WWF articulates its species WWF’s Endangered Seas Programme Two global targets have been set: conservation work through Species approaches the conservation of oceans The world's fauna and flora lie at the Action Plans and influencing the and coasts by promoting globally the heart of WWF's mission to conserve ■ Flagship species: By 2010, decisions made by the Convention on establishment of a system of marine biodiversity and the prime reason for populations of key species of International Trade in Endangered

Delivering conservation – How? 5 WWF’s Global Conservation Priorities

Species of Wild Fauna and Flora carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, WWF nations achieve a permanent downward Toxic Chemicals (CITES) and the International Whaling expects to have triggered by 2030 a trend in their domestic emissions of

Commission (IWC). At the heart of this series of changes in society that will CO2 as a first step towards substantial Wildlife, people, and ecosystems are work lies the concept of species viability have transformed the supply and use of reductions in emissions. threatened by pervasive and global and the corresponding need to conserve energy and raw materials compared to chemical contamination. WWF is wildlife in managed landscapes large the beginning of the 21st century. This Three global targets have been set: working to reduce and eliminate the enough and varied enough to ensure will need not only pressure from civil world's most dangerous industrial their long-term well-being within society, but also action by policy- ■ Emissions reductions: By 2010, a chemicals and pesticides while contexts increasingly dominated by makers, businesses and investors. By 10 per cent reduction below 1990 simultaneously promoting increased social and economic concerns. working together, catastrophic damage emissions in industrialized country understanding, regulation of, and to ecosystems can yet be avoided. carbon dioxide emissions alternatives to toxic chemicals. An issue of wide concern in species conservation is the international The Intergovernmental Panel on ■ Solutions: By 2010, initiatives Within one generation, by 2020, WWF commercial trade in endangered Climate Change’s most recent report should be underway in thirty would like to see an end to threats to species. Jointly with IUCN–The World documents more strongly than ever developing countries to implement the Earth’s biological diversity from Conservation Union, WWF runs the before the extreme and daunting solutions leading to a significant toxic industrial chemicals and TRAFFIC (Trade Records Analysis of impacts that climate change will have reduction in carbon intensity, in pesticides, especially endocrine Flora and Fauna in Commerce) on wildlife, spelling extinction and particular from the combustion of disrupting, bioaccumulative, or programme whose mission is to ensure vast changes for species such as polar fossil fuels persistent chemicals. In pursuit of this that trade in wild plants and animals is bear, Bengal tiger, and amphibians. vision, WWF’s Toxics Programme not a threat to the conservation of With increasing temperature ranges of ■ National plans and strategies: By investigates toxic chemicals and their nature. 1.4–5.8˚C, it is clear that climate 2010, fifty countries are relationship to biodiversity and human change poses an enormous threat to implementing adaptation strategies health; works to phase out and ban Climate Change biodiversity and WWF's mission in key ecoregions/biomes and chemicals that threaten life; and seeks worldwide. sectors of their economies on the to identify and promote safe, effective, WWF’s task is to protect nature from basis of national plans for the and affordable alternatives. global climate change. By focusing on WWF’s Climate Change Programme reduction of vulnerability to achieving a deep reduction in global aims to ensure that industrialized climate change. Two global targets have been set:

6 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Nile crocodiles. WWF / Martin Harvey

■ Elimination: By 2007, eliminate or reduce at least 30 of the most hazardous industrial chemicals and pesticides, with special emphasis on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)

■ Informed decision-making: By 2007, scientific, educational and regulatory initiatives will be firmly in place, enabling decision-makers Cross-cutting issues (governments, industry, consumers) to make informed choices about toxic chemicals and There are a number of issues that cut across the work being carried out by WWF’s Target Driven their alternatives. Programmes and Ecoregion Action Programmes. These include matters such as trade and investment (e.g. World Trade Organization rules), indigenous and traditional peoples (e.g intellectual property rights), These targets will be integrated into national implementation of treaties such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, as well as the impacts of WWF’s work on the other global tourism. WWF will focus on those cross-cutting issues, including newly emerging topics, that directly affect issues, as well as the Global 200 programmatic and ecoregional work. Particular attention will be paid to the root causes of biodiversity loss, Ecoregions. In all cases the “precautionary principle” will be used such as poverty, migration, macroeconomic policies, and poor enforcement of environmental legislation. as the basic approach.

Delivering conservation – How? 7 The TDP approach

Seven important features for Target Driven Programmes have been developed in the light of lessons learned over six years from WWF’s first international campaigns and underscored by the early experiences of the Ecoregion Action Programmes.

1. Focused targets – targets focus effort and bring results Targets have proved to be extremely effective tools in achieving conservation goals. The campaigning approach has demonstrated that setting targets builds momentum and helps us focus our effort.

2. Flexible strategy – flexibility in strategy and tactics allows timely action TDPs need to be flexible in their strategy and tactics in order to respond effectively to political and media opportunities and threats in a fast-changing world. This means they should not be over-planned.

3. Effective communications – policy advocacy needs potent communications strategies Effective internal and external communications need to accompany the policy goals. Communications is a tool for achieving targets, not just for highlighting successes.

4. Regular reporting and accountability – reporting and accountability measures and a steering group with high-level composition The “project” approach is central to the TDP management process. This approach uses results-orientated monitoring with timetables and check points and has proven extremely useful to ensure delivery. Full accountability, to one Steering Group, mandated by the WWF Network, is also vital.

5. Strong leadership and entrepreneurship – strong staff leadership with entrepreneurial skill, rather than management by committee TDPs are effective only when led by a capable director who has credibility with the WWF Network. The director should be a good spokesperson and have the ability to carry things through without too much friction. He/she should also have a good eye for campaigning opportunities.

6. Firm funding and financial accountability – established funding commitments for a set term accompanied by fiscal responsibility and oversight TDPs need a multiple-year funding guarantee and budgeting flexibility in order to use opportunities to their maximum.

7. Monitoring and lesson learning – innovation needs constant learning and adaptation Monitoring progress against the overall goal is essential. Targets have been selected to help move towards one overarching goal. The TDP must ensure it remains outward looking and monitors not only the progress towards the chosen targets, but also the continuing relevance and priority of those targets in a fast-moving world.

Underpinning the TDP approach is the need for institutional support and capacity building both to enable the TDPs to act effectively and to empower staff in key areas of the WWF Network to play an effective part in their delivery.

8 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Coral reef in the Turtle Islands, Philippines. WWF-Canon / Jürgen Freund

Ecoregion Action Programmes ■ Viable populations of all native species in natural patterns of Ecoregions as a unit for conservation action In addition to the six Target Driven abundance and distribution Programmes outlined above, WWF Ecoregions are defined in biological terms and, as such, are logical has identified and chosen to work in a ■ Healthy ecological and subset of individual or combined evolutionary processes such as units for conserving biodiversity. By moving from sites defined ecoregions, for each of which an disturbance regimes, hydrological geographically or politically to biologically defined ecoregions, WWF Ecoregion Action Programme (EAP) processes, nutrient cycles, and can better assess what is necessary to maintain the full array of will be formulated. An EAP is an biotic interactions, including biodiversity – species, communities, ecosystems, and ecological ambitious, broad-scale, integrated predation. processes. An ecoregional approach helps ensure that we do not approach that aims to conserve and, where necessary, restore the Using current information, and in overlook areas that are particularly unique or threatened, allowing biological diversity of an entire conjunction with partners, each EAP for smarter trade-offs and greater positive impacts that are more ecoregion. This does not mean that establishes a vision for the long-term likely to endure over time. every individual of every species conservation of the ecoregion’s must be protected, rather that WWF’s biodiversity, and a set of targets which Because ecoregions often transcend political boundaries, managers, strategies and actions work toward need to be achieved to reach that vision. decision-makers, and other constituents, including in particular civil achieving the broad goals of These targets address the full range of biodiversity conservation: socio-economic change necessary within society (e.g. community groups, non-governmental organizations, the ecoregion and also in some cases labour unions), must enlarge their thinking and planning to act ■ Representation of all native contribute to the achievement of the beyond their own borders. Whether an ecoregion is made up of habitat types and plant and animal global TDP targets. This latter feature – forests, grasslands, rivers and streams, or marine and coastal communities across their natural creating synergy between ecoregion and zones, the people who live in an ecoregion often share a common range of variation TDP work – is where WWF will relationship with the land, water, and their other natural resources. maximize its impact and institutional ■ Resilience of ecosystems and efficiency and make most progress. By encouraging ecoregional thinking, there is a greater chance that species to short- and long-term Examples of how it can be done are large-scale ecological processes will be recognized and maintained. environmental change found in the pages of this report.

Delivering conservation – How? 9 WWF’s Global Conservation Priorities

The principles which outline the exploring and understanding the ■ Human development needs must rationale of ecoregion conservation linkages between social and biological be reconciled with conservation Ecoregions defined (see opposite) are those which guide factors. This interplay between actions: ecoregional scales of and direct WWF’s Ecoregion Action understanding and action will better planning and action require a WWF defines an ecoregion as Plans (EAP). EAPs employ the tried enable WWF and all parties in an EAP thorough understanding of the a "large unit of land or water and tested methods that WWF has used to secure conservation gains and interactions between social, containing a geographically over the years – e.g. protected area complementary economic and social economic, and ecological factors distinct assemblage of establishment, environmental development successes over the short species, natural communities, education, capacity building, advocacy and long term. ■ Emphasis must be given to and environmental for policy change – but on a collaboration and developing conditions". The boundaries of geographically larger scale and Based on the need to think and act partnerships: partnerships among an ecoregion are not fixed engaging a broader range of issues and differently, with broader visions, larger institutions and individuals are and sharp, but rather partners than ever before. In addition, scales, longer time horizons, and vital for getting the best input and encompass an area within as we analyse the pressures bearing greater impact, WWF has defined a set broadest commitment to which important ecological upon ecoregions, certain “common” of simple features of ecoregion programme design and and evolutionary processes problems will emerge, such as adverse conservation, developed and refined by implementation, and to ensure that most strongly interact. trade rules, perverse subsidies which ecoregion conservation practitioners, scarce resources are efficiently drive agricultural expansion or based on their experience in the field. applied resource depletion, and other socio- economic issues. It is in these common ■ The fundamental goal of ecoregion ■ Adapting through learning: putting areas that the EAPs and the TDPs will conservation is to conserve and, experience into practice: interrelate most, working together, as where necessary, restore the full continuous reshaping of actions well as with external partners, to range of an ecoregion's biodiversity: and strategies based on previous achieve common goals. genes, species, communities, lessons and experience and on ecosystems, and ecological emerging information and new Ecoregion conservation requires a phenomena must be conserved on a tools for conservation careful balance of analysis, planning, scale that ensures their integrity and management. and action, thinking differently, and long-term survival

10 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Principles of Ecoregion Conservation

1. WWF’s primary purpose is the conservation of biodiversity, which is the foundation for a future where humans live in harmony with nature.

2. Ecoregions are the appropriate geographical unit for setting conservation goals; they represent an ambitious and visionary scale necessary for biodiversity conservation.

3. Sharing ideas, promoting learning processes at different scales, and practising adaptive management are critical to rapid success.

4. WWF must be flexible in its outlook and be willing to adapt its own structures and operations to the needs of conservation in the ecoregion.

5. Ecoregion conservation programmes should develop a bold, engaging and ambitious vision for an ecoregion in order to set directions and arouse support. This vision should contain an inspirational message to motivate and engage stakeholders and partners.

6. Ecoregion conservation plans must be flexible and allow for sound judgement when a change of course or tactic is necessary.

7. Operationally, implementation may take place at levels below the ecoregional scale, or outside the ecoregion, depending on the issue under attention. Threats analysis is an essential filter for figuring out the scale at which we should act.

8. Personal initiative and effective, empowered leadership are vital. Appropriate emphasis must be placed on training and capacity building.

9. Knowing who and when to engage in strategic partnerships throughout the entire ecoregion process is crucial to realize the vision. This may include partnerships with stakeholders who represent a critical constituency but who may not normally be seen as conservation allies.

10. An inspiring vision must be combined with up-to-date reporting and transparency of goals, actions and achievements in order to build the commitment and ownership of partners to stay actively engaged.

11. Clear objectives and precise conservation targets are needed to guide, focus and monitor progress.

12. Long-term flexible financing must be focused at an ecoregional level (rather than site level) to give the programme a confident start and to maintain it. Novel and ambitious financial mechanisms that go beyond traditional WWF support must be actively pursued.

13. All conservation activities must be conceived and implemented in relation to the social and political realities in which they take place.

14. Appropriate institutional development is necessary to strengthen advocacy at several scales. This includes the harnessing of the full power of the WWF Network and key partners to make the most of political and high publicity opportunities.

Delivering conservation – How? 11 The Global 200 Ecoregions

12 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Sustainable development, poverty and the environment: a challenge to the global community

The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg in August 2002 gave the world community the opportunity to assess progress in addressing sustainable development and to agree priority issues for the future. It took place ten years on from the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro which called for sustainable development “to ensure socially responsible economic development while protecting the resource base and the environment for the benefit of future generations”.

WWF defines sustainable development as that which is economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound. Development is not sustainable if it does not integrate all three elements. This requires changes in business practices and lifestyles, as well as the adoption of environmental and social standards to stay within the limits of available resources. WWF believes that sufficient technical knowledge exists to achieve sustainable development. Political will and appropriate incentives are required to convert the ideals into practical action.

In preparing for the WSSD, governments, UN institutions and development agencies focused on economic well-being by targeting poverty alleviation as the overriding concern in achieving sustainable development. While this was both welcome and necessary, and provided the opportunity to embed this firmly in the sustainable development agenda, WWF argued that the other two pillars of sustainable development must also be strengthened in the process.

WWF and other organizations working within the sustainable development arena issued an appeal to those attending the WSSD to build on previous analyses and conclusions, not least the considerable preparations for UNCED, and to reaffirm and strengthen the global view that sustainable development is the only option for a viable future.

Success in this quest for sustainability requires the joint efforts of three sectors:

■ National and local governments, supported by international instruments that provide standards, incentives, and regulations

■ The private sector, whose new freedoms resulting from globalization place the responsibility of informed stewardship squarely on their operations

■ Civil society, whose pressure and support can ensure that the public interest is being well served.

The challenge ahead lies in enabling the three sectors to work harmoniously together, each providing checks and balances on the others and recognizing their mutually supporting roles in achieving sustainable development.

Sustainable development, poverty and the enviroment: a challenge to the global community 13 Forests

CHRIS ELLIOTT, Director of the Forests for Life Programme, provides an overview of WWF’s efforts to conserve the world’s forests.

WF adopts an integrated successes have been recorded during Forest landscape restoration began to often deprives local communities and approach to forest the past 18 months. Over 17 million ha get underway with an international national economies of much-needed conservation which can of new forest protected areas have meeting in Costa Rica, co-hosted with revenue. We will focus on Wbe characterized by been established. In addition to the IUCN Forest Programme, with encouraging the G8 countries and ‘protect, manage, restore’. Forest promoting the creation of new funding from the Korean and UK China to adopt timber procurement, protection has always been a priority protected areas, we are also pressing governments. The results of this aid and trade policies which help to for WWF, but we also recognize that for improvements in the management international workshop were brought to reduce illegal logging in exporting as many as 90 per cent of the 1.2 of existing protected areas – to the second session of the United countries. billion people in the world who live in overcome the phenomenon known as Nations Forum on Forests in New York extreme poverty depend on forests for “paper parks”. In collaboration with where numerous governments We have chosen a few key ecoregions a variety of goods and services. Trade the World Bank, management expressed support for the restoration of around the world where we can work in wood and wood products is also an effectiveness has been assessed in 70 forest landscapes. Far more than with WWF conservationists and others important source of income for many million ha of parks using a new simple tree planting, restoration aims to implement our integrated approach countries, and many forests will thus methodology developed by WWF. to regain complete ecological integrity to forest conservation, adding value to continue to be used to satisfy the needs and enhance human well-being by ongoing activities in an innovative of local communities as well as In the same period, the amount of improving representation of forest manner. The South-West Amazon, international markets. Conservationists FSC-certified forests increased by 4 species and communities, increasing Western Congo Basin and the Forests should therefore identify and promote million ha. A major new partnership forest resilience to climate change, and of the Upper Yangtze in China are ways in which these forests can be was established with IKEA to promote connecting forest habitats outside prime prospects in this regard. well managed. In addition, in some certification in China, the Baltic States, protected areas. parts of the world forests are highly Bulgaria, Romania, and Russia. New By 2003, we should be seeing degraded and must be restored if they Forest and Trade Networks of In the coming year, WWF will be significant implementation of the are to provide benefits for people and companies committed to sourcing launching a major new international pledge made in 1997 by President nature. certified wood products have been campaign on illegal logging and forest Cardoso of Brazil to protect 10 per established in Central America, Hong crime, which is not only a serious cent of the country's forests. Some significant conservation Kong and Japan. threat to forest conservation, but also Preparation and planning to implement

14 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Boreal forest and wetlands in Lenskie Stolby National Nature Park, Sakha Republic, Russia. WWF-Canon / Hartmut Jungius this pledge has been underway for some time in Brazil, and WWF has Targets and examples of progress in 2002 also been active at the international level in collaboration with the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), the Protecting forests: By 2010, the establishment and maintenance of viable, representative networks of World Bank, and private foundations protected areas in the world’s threatened and most biologically significant forest regions. in the United States to raise funds to assist the Brazilian government to set ■ 17.4 million ha of new forest protected areas established in Russia, Georgia, Croatia, Tunisia, Brazil, up and manage the new protected areas. Mexico, Peru, Tanzania, Gabon, and Cameroon.

A main focus of WWF in 2003 will be Managing forests: By 2005, 100 million ha of certified forests, distributed in a balanced manner among the reduction of illegally logged regions, forest types and land tenure regimes. timber reaching western markets. Studies of trade flows from Russia to ■ Western Europe, Japan and China will 4 million ha of forests placed under Forest Stewardship Council management standards in a number of highlight the amount of timber from countries, including Bolivia, Mexico, and Colombia dubious sources crossing Russian ■ New Forest and Trade Networks promoting forest conservation in Japan, Hong Kong, and Central borders. In addition, WWF wants to America. ensure that protected forest areas will also be managed effectively; a system of identifying management Restoring forests: By 2005, at least 20 forest landscape restoration initiatives underway in the world’s effectiveness has already been put into threatened, deforested or degraded forest regions to enhance ecological integrity and human well-being. practice and is currently being evaluated in Russia. WWF will be ■ Wide governmental support won for the concept of Forest Landscape Restoration using the results to assist governments ■ and protected area managers to Forest restoration projects underway in Malaysia, China, Brazil, and Bulgaria. identify priorities.

Forests 15 Forests Conserving ecoregions – Miombo, Africa

The Miombo ecoregion, covering 3.5 million square kilometres across ten countries of southern Africa (Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe), comprises dry and moist woodlands that support some of the most important mammal populations left in Africa. Among threatened animals are black rhino, African elephant, African hunting dog, cheetah and the slender- nosed crocodile, along with many lesser known plants, birds, reptiles, fish, and insects. More than half of the estimated 8,500 Africa and Madagascar further assessments done in Lobeke plant species in Miombo are found nowhere else on Earth. National Park in Cameroon, the WWF is focusing its forest Minkebe Forests of Gabon, and the The biggest threat to Miombo wildlife is the large and rapidly conservation efforts in Africa and Ithala Game Reserve in South Africa. growing human population and its demand for agricultural land. Madagascar on establishment of new WWF will use the results to Many rural people depend heavily on natural resources for their protected areas and improved recommend improvements where livelihoods. This has led to community-based natural resource management of existing ones, necessary. management programmes and the establishment of conservancies sustainable utilization of forest – bodies charged with the preservation of environmental resources resources, and better opportunities for Forest protected areas supported in – across southern Africa. These are now yielding significant benefits local people to have a central role in 2002 include Taï National Park in Côte for nature and people, with profits ploughed back into the managing protected areas. This d’Ivoire, Lobeke in Cameroon, Dzanga community, such as through provision of grants to local schools. approach is being developed in a Sangha in Central African Republic, number of ecoregions, including the Gamba and Minkebe in Gabon, WWF’s long-term vision for Miombo is “a biologically diverse and Western Congo Basin Moist Forests, Udzungwa in Tanzania, Virunga in the ecologically functional ecoregion that meets and sustains human Guinean Moist Forests, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), needs and development through the sustainable use of natural African Coastal Forests, Miombo and the Zombitse-Vohibasia and resources, landscapes, species Woodlands (see opposite), the Fynbos, Andringitra National Parks in and environmental and the Spiny Forest of Madagascar. Madagascar. processes”. For WWF, wildlife An increasingly important aspect of Despite ongoing instability in the conservation is forest conservation is assessing the DRC, WWF continues to work in and inextricably linked to effectiveness of protected area around Virunga National Park. A human development management, for which WWF and the community-run greenbelt plantation, and livelihood issues. World Commission on Protected Areas where over 170,000 tree seedlings (WCPA) have developed a means of have been planted, has increased forest testing. During 2002, assessments were cover over a 20km stretch of the park’s African hunting dog. WWF-Canon / Frederick J carried out in three forest reserves in buffer zone. WWF also assisted in the Weyerhaeuser both Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, with negotiated removal of illegal settlers

16 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Green tree python from the rainforests of Australia. WWF / Martin Harvey from the park through financial and conserve Andringitra National Park in In Madagascar, national standards for forest, have been designated by the technical support to a joint commission Madagascar. Successful fire risk sustainable forest management, government. set up in Goma to delineate the park’s management has led to much higher developed under the WWF/World Bank boundaries. species diversity, in particular among alliance, were endorsed by the Asia and the Pacific orchids. In addition, keeping numbers government. The new standards will In Tanzania, WWF is working in of cattle within the carrying capacity of help the country’s Forest Service to Forest conservation, particularly the partnership with the Tanzanian pasture areas has helped to reduce improve monitoring of private logging creation of protected areas, continues National Parks authority to conserve habitat degradation. Elsewhere, despite operations and will give private to be the largest single area of focus the rich biodiversity of the Udzungwa a profusion of sapphire mines and the enterprises clear guidelines on what is for WWF in the Asia/Pacific region, Mountains National Park. Highlights in settlement of over 200,000 miners expected of them. with a growing emphasis on forest 2002 included approval of the Park’s around the periphery of the Zombitse- certification and restoration. management plan, further development Vohibasia National Park, the park has WWF has become a leader in A major effort is underway to reduce of facilities within the park and, in so far retained its natural community-based forest management the European “footprint” on Asian conjunction with local communities, characteristics. in Madagascar. Agreements have been forests by engaging with the edible oils creation of alternative income- signed with nine villages to transfer sector in sustainable forest generating activities. Several tree The major focus of WWF’s work to management responsibility to them for management. Much of this work is nurseries were established, with over promote sustainable use of forest around 3,000ha of forests in Antsiraka, taking place in Indonesia and 15,000 trees planted, and a number of resources lies in Central Africa. In Tolongoina, and Tsitongambarika Malaysia, where forest loss through animal husbandry projects were Cameroon, WWF helped to formulate districts. Similarly in Cameroon, WWF conversion for oil palm plantations is undertaken by women’s groups. A new legislation and develop partnerships has worked with the government to being tackled by developing 8,050ha National Forest Reserve, with local communities and the private create a system that will give local partnerships and entering into Namekutwa-Nyamuetta, was sector to control the rapidly expanding communities more control over discussion with industry leaders (see designated under the WWF-supported bushmeat trade. Helpful in this regard management of forests and wildlife. under Europe and the Middle East, Lowland Coastal Forest project. was the signing of an accord with the The government has also formally page 20). national railroad transporters, which, recognized Community Managed Better protection of forests by amongst other things, placed a ban on Hunting Zones as a category of Major achievements in forest encouraging participation of local the transportation of wild meat and managed forest. Five such zones, conservation have come in Indonesia, people in their management has helped other animal products. covering approximately 300,000ha of where the problem of illegal logging

Forests 17 Forests

Forest certification under the FSC reached 28 million ha during 2002. WWF-Austria

has been recognized by the national science: up to 218 species were successfully pioneered a number of meaning “group of smiling government as a high priority and has recorded in a single 200 square metre private conservation efforts, including mountains”. Its members are drawn led to crack-downs on corrupt officials. plot – nearly twice as high as similar conservation agreements setting aside from various sectors including forest At a national level, the World Bank forests elsewhere in the world. land for nature conservation. owners and managers, paper mills, and WWF have assisted with the However, WWF has warned that Tesso timber processors, furniture designers formation of the Forest Law, Nilo’s natural riches could be lost In China’s Baimaxueshan region, four and manufactures, architects, and Enforcement and Governance network. within four years if logging of the villages testing collective forestry forest product wholesalers and WWF has also influenced legal forest continues at the present rate. schemes have succeeded in eliminating retailers. decisions by local administrations Satellite images show Tesso Nilo illegal cutting of forests. In Nepal, favouring sustainable forestry standing out like a green ark in a sea of community forests established in and In-country promotion of certification practices. One decree forbids clear-cut forests and plantations. Heavy around Bardia, Shey Phoksundo, also gained momentum during 2002. exploitation of resources in Wasur logging for timber and pulp by small- Dhorpatan and Kangchengjunga China established a national working National Park, while in Lombok, a scale illegal loggers and an National Parks are benefiting 2,600 group, with one timber-consuming WWF proposal for introducing international corporation is having households and easing pressure on the company committing to join alternative land use and natural devastating effects on both plant and parks’ natural resources. In Malaysia, EcoWood@sia and another 20 users resource management planning was animal life. Working on the ground to too, forest reserves are being expressing interest. Seventeen accepted by the province's governor. prevent further damage, WWF is successfully placed under community companies received FSC “chain of pressing the government to declare management. custody” certification. New Zealand’s Despite these successes, Indonesia still Tesso Nilo a protected area. newly established national working presents some of the biggest forest Certification of forests has surged with group on certification received staunch conservation challenges. For example, Elsewhere in the region, all logging of the launching in March 2002 of two support from the country’s timber WWF is campaigning vigorously to old-growth and high value Forest and Trade Networks (FTN). The supply industry, once a major opponent save the last remaining patch of viable conservation forest has been halted in East Asian FTN – EcoWood@sia – of certification. The industry now sees habitat for the Sumatran elephant in Western Australia,. This followed a covers Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and it as a means to meet growing overseas the tropical forest of Tesso Nilo. A WWF campaign to influence the South Korea, collectively among the demand for certified wood. In survey by WWF scientists found that environmental policies of mainstream world’s heaviest timber importers and Vietnam, WWF helped the national the area harbours the highest density of political parties in the lead up to the consumers. The Japanese FTN is working group develop criteria and lowland forest plants known to 2001 election. Australia has also known locally as WWF Sanshoukai – indicators compatible with those of the

18 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 The Global Forest and Trade Network

Consumers are increasingly demanding responsible business practices. As a result, investors such as pension funds and insurance companies are beginning to take account of social and environmental concerns. It is therefore in the forest industry’s interests to adopt internationally recognized management standards. Companies that can demonstrate sound management of timber resources – by gaining the FSC certificate – can gain competitive advantage both in the financial markets and the product marketplace. FSC for assessing proper management Pakistan. In Indonesia, the principles, of the country’s forests. And Laos criteria and indicators for forest To promote greater levels of buy-in for independent certification, could soon see its first certified forests landscape restoration were considered particularly from major companies in the forest industry, WWF under a new FINNIDA-funded project. by the Ministry of Forestry, which then helped establish the Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN). The Initially, the aim is to certify 20,000ha issued a decree on forest rehabilitation. network is an alliance of environmental and social organizations and of forests in Khammouane and In India, a pilot project is underway to nearly 700 companies in 18 countries committed to producing, Savannakhet provinces, managed by restore degraded forest corridors in the trading or purchasing certified timber and wood products. Its village associations; in time, this Terai Arc landscape in the eastern members, including forest owners, timber companies, processors of should expand to 100,000ha. Himalayas. WWF-India is also forest products, architects, construction companies, local authorities, working on joint forest management and retailers of timber and paper goods, account for some 7 per In April 2002, the Indonesian and UK with local communities in three states. cent of the world’s industrial wood use. governments signed a ground-breaking agreement to tackle illegal logging and And in Australia, a patch of rainforest Market demand for FSC-certified products is now well established illegal international trade in timber and managed under WWF’s highly and growing in Europe and North America, and increasing in Asia (in wood products. This is the first time successful Rainforest Recovery that two governments have committed Programme yielded a new plant particular Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea). However, with to reforming legislation and species. Donated to the local council forest production spread throughout the world, the GFTN is looking developing systems to prevent the by a farmer as a public reserve more to increase the area of certified forest across all forest types and to harvesting, export, and trade of illegal than 30 years ago, the site is also of link certified suppliers to markets around the globe. To achieve this, timber. On the horizon is a study of prime conservation importance for the particularly in large regions and less developed countries like Brazil, China’s timber consumption, the report threatened black-breasted button-quail, Russia, China and the Baltic states, Producers Groups – networks on which is expected to include the world’s only rainforest quail. of timber suppliers – are now being established on each continent to recommendations for ameliorating the promote the benefits of certification. impact of the growing demand for Europe and the Middle East timber. Together, the members of the GTFN are proving how the forest Over the last 18 months, WWF has industry can be both sustainable and profitable, securing the health Forest restoration projects got helped to increase significantly the size of forests worldwide for people, economies, and wildlife. underway in Malaysia, Nepal, and of FSC-certified forests in Europe and

Forests 19 Forests

Giant river otters – amongst the Amazon’s most spectacular wildlife. WWF-Canon / Hartmut Jungius

secured further commitments from responsible forest management. Since have embarked on a three-year soy. The aim of the project, linking governments towards more responsible July 2001, Finland, Liechtenstein, partnership to promote responsible work in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, forest management, in particular in Slovakia, Lithuania and Ukraine have forestry. The two organizations will Ghana, and Nigeria with market- Central and Eastern European moved some of their forests under the carry out a series of forest projects that oriented work in Europe, is to improve countries where most of Europe´s FSC standard. will promote responsible forestry in standards within the edible oil industry valuable forest resources exist. Russia, China, Bulgaria, Romania, and and influence investment decisions and At the same time, European markets are the Baltic countries. These will include trade policies. Palm oil and soy By mid-2002, the area of FSC-certified becoming increasingly sensitive to the the development of a means for plantations are proliferating at the forests had increased by 4 million ha to origins of timber. With the launch of the identifying and managing forests of expense of natural forests, as well as a global total of 28 million ha. Half of Italian FTN in late 2001, the number of high conservation value, and issues polluting the environment through this increase came from new forest Forest and Trade Networks in Europe such as illegal logging and forest excessive use of pesticides. Already, certifications in the Baltic states. Latvia has increased to 13, encompassing more certification. four Dutch banks have made and Estonia together now have than 400 companies committed to commitments to invest in forest and approximately 2 million ha of forests promoting responsible forest A paradigm shift in thinking about palm oil activities using sustainable certified to FSC management standards, management and trade. forest management has also been practices, and the Swiss retailer Migros mostly on public lands. Romania also demonstrated by the Swedish has committed to purchasing expressed its commitment to work In April 2002, the French and German company, Sveaskog. The state-owned “ecologically-friendly” palm oil and is towards certifying 1 million ha over the governments announced a change in company that recently purchased supporting a pilot test case in Ghana. next two years. These advances sent a their public timber procurement AssiDomän has committed to set aside Meanwhile, the Malaysian Palm Oil strong signal to other timber-producing policies towards FSC-certified wood, 20 per cent of productive state forest Association has invited WWF to join countries and for western buyers of following an earlier decision by the land for nature conservation. in policy dialogue. FSC timber. UK government. WWF now expects the European Union as a whole to In an initiative begun in 2001, WWF is Latin America and the WWF has witnessed a significant make a clear decision on purchase of bringing together fieldwork across Caribbean increase in the certification of state- timber for use in the public domain. three continents to focus on the owned forests all over Europe, which relationship between forest conversion Nearly 1 billion ha of natural forest indicates that governments are WWF and IKEA, one of the world’s for edible oil production and Europe as blanket the Latin America and increasingly taking an active role in largest home-furnishing companies, the biggest importer of palm oil and Caribbean (LAC) region. WWF

20 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Conserving ecoregions – Amazonian Forests

Much of WWF’s conservation work on forests is taking place in ecoregions. One of these lies in the Amazon jungles of South America, home to over half of the world's remaining tropical rainforest. At the heart of this still vast region is the Southwest Amazon Moist Forest ecoregion, almost 200 million ha of largely intact forest covering part of the western Brazilian states of Amazonas, Acre, and Rondonia, stretching into the lowlands of south-eastern Peru and north-western Bolivia. Among its abundant riches is an incredible array of trees, including the valuable big-leaf continues to champion forest areas in the LAC region. Under the mahogany, as well as some of the continent's most spectacular conservation from the dry forests of leadership of WWF-Brazil, the wildlife, including jaguar, harpy eagle, and giant river otter. north-western Mexico’s Chihuahuan Amazon Region Protected Areas Desert to the temperate rainforests of Project (ARPA) is becoming a reality. Although 92 per cent of the original forested area still remains, the southern Chile and Argentina. The first four-year phase of a ten-year region faces numerous large-scale threats, such as road However, this work is still challenged project estimated at US$400 million is construction, illegal logging, gold mining, human settlement and by agricultural expansion, cattle expected to be launched this year, agricultural expansion, and oil and gas exploration. Human raising, unsustainable timber financed by the Brazilian government, populations remain relatively low, consisting mainly of indigenous exploitation, and unsound GEF, the German aid agency KFW, tribespeople, river dwellers, Brazil nut gatherers, and rubber infrastructure projects which threaten and WWF. ARPA will represent an tappers. However, migrants from overpopulated and deforested the integrity of the region’s forests and achievement of global importance: regions of Bolivia, Brazil and Peru are moving into the region, their rich biodiversity. 28.5 million ha of new protected areas converting forest into farm and pasture and threatening the and improved management of 12.5 traditional way of life. In order to reduce these threats, WWF million ha of existing parks and has collaborated with a large and reserves. The remoteness of most of the forest has insulated it from the worst diverse group of partners, from the development pressures so far, presenting a great opportunity for smallest community organization to Protected areas in Latin America, conservation. This opportunity, however, is fleeting and is tempered government agencies and the largest where many people live in or around international aid and development forests and depend on forest products, by rapidly increasing development plans in all three countries. agencies. In the realm of forests, these require innovative approaches beyond WWF's efforts in the ecoregion are focusing on the creation of new collaborations have focused on traditional national parks. WWF has protected areas and attaining effective management of existing protected areas, sustainable forest made substantial progress with respect ones, promotion of sustainable natural resource management, such management through voluntary to Community Protected Areas in as FSC certification of both timber and non-timber forest products certification, policy reform, and forest Oaxaca, Mexico, and Private Reserves and the establishment of community-managed forests, and support restoration. in Chile and Paraguay. In Colombia, for policies that deal with the threats posed by oil and gas WWF has played a crucial role in development and road construction. WWF continues to be a leader in furthering the concept of private supporting and developing protected reserves and supporting the

Forests 21 Forests

establishment of seven new private WWF has also been instrumental in Iisaak Forest Resources Ltd, jointly thereby re-establishing a supply of reserves in the Central Andes. In developing a Forest and Trade owned by a native people’s FSC-certified paper in North America. December 2001, WWF, the World Network to promote the marketing of organization and the global forestry Wood supply to the mill comes from Bank, and the Colombian Ministry of certified products. giant Weyerhaeuser, received the FSC Domtar’s private land operations in the Environment signed a certificate for its sensitive forest southern Ontario and New York state. Memorandum of Understanding that Forest landscape restoration has management, including protected will maximize the conservation significant potential in the LAC areas, throughout its 87,000ha Pacific During the year, an assessment of potential of the three institutions. region, especially in the Valdivian coastal rainforest in Clayoquot Sound forest fragmentation in the US was forests of Chile and Argentina, and in on Vancouver Island, British completed, including an analysis of the WWF’s office in Bolivia has provided the Atlantic forests of Argentina, Colombia. Iisaak operates in an Klamath-Siskiyou ecoregion, where a project coordination for strengthening Brazil, and Paraguay. A first ecoregion of tremendous global campaign was undertaken to promote community certification efforts in restoration initiative is taking form in interest and its accomplishment was the use of FSC-certified timber and to Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, the northern Andes of Ecuador, based recognized as a Gift to the Earth by certify one or two mills. Elsewhere, Guatemala, and Mexico. Bolivia on the use of the bamboo Guadua WWF. WWF defended the Cascade-Siskiyou continues to lead the way in terms of angustifolia for the protection of small National Monument in Oregon from certification of natural forests, with river systems. Westwind Forest Stewardship Inc., a government attempts to shrink its nearly 1 million ha of certified forests not-for-profit community-based forest boundaries, and also started a process representing almost one-third of the North America management company, earned the there to certify to FSC standards LAC total of 3.5 million ha. The largest FSC certification to date in 4,000ha of private forest holdings. In certification movement in Brazil is also In Canada, WWF sponsored and Canada for its 855,000ha parcel of the Southeast Rivers and Streams gaining momentum. In 2002, Brazil coordinated the development of FSC public lands in Ontario’s French- ecoregion, WWF worked to secure passed the 1 million ha mark of FSC- standards for the boreal forest of Severn Forest, which they manage FSC certification of forest lands owned certified forests. WWF’s Central Ontario, convening a year-long process under a license on behalf of the by the state of Tennessee and to American office continues to pioneer involving representatives of industry, Ontario provincial government. encourage other public and private the improvement of community environmentalists, First Nations and Domtar Inc., one of Canada’s largest landowners to seek certification. certification with the indigenous and other groups. FSC will use the new and oldest forestry companies, earned mestizo communities of northern standards in certification processes in its FSC chain-of-custody certificate for In April 2002, WWF co-hosted the Guatemala and southern Mexico. other Canadian provinces. its Cornwall, Ontario paper mill, Forest Leadership Forum in Atlanta,

22 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Palm trees, bamboos and tree ferns in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica. WWF-Canon / Michèle Dépraz

WWF’s Global Conservation Programme Expenditure on Forest Conservation FY 2001

16,000

14,216 14,000 12,805 12,453 12,000

9,566 10,000

8,000 6,293

6,000

4,000

Georgia, bringing together 1,000 consumption, and certification. 2,578 representatives from the environmental 2,000 community and the forest products Over the past year, 300,000ha of forest 1,135 industry, and retailers and buyers from were certified under FSC in the US, 0 around the world. Issues covered bringing the country’s total certified Africa Asia Europe Latin North Conservation Campaigns included illegal logging, forests of high area to 3.4 million ha. America America Policy conservation value, responsible

Forests 23 Freshwater

JAMIE PITTOCK, Director of the Living Waters Programme, looks back over the past year and previews WWF’s freshwater work in 2003.

WF’s Living Waters billion people lack water sanitation, Netherlands. Exciting progress has to be carefully managed to maintain Programme is dedicated leading to widespread outbreaks of also been achieved in managing many adequate water quality and quantity. to ensuring that water-related disease and possibly as significant freshwater reserves for We have drawn together 34 WWF Wfreshwater ecosystems many as 10 million deaths annually. conservation, at the same time projects conserving river basin around the world are valued and helping to develop sustainable ecoregions to identify and raise the conserved as a source of life for people WWF is tackling the conservation of livelihoods with local people, extra resources needed, and the lessons and nature. Freshwater wetlands are freshwater ecosystems in three ways: particularly in Algeria and China, and that can be shared to achieve among the richest wildlife habitats in establishing protected areas for the most through a tri-national programme conservation of river ecosystems. A the world – and also the most important wetlands, conserving river involving Australia, Indonesia and WWF film on our conservation work threatened. According to the 2002 basins – freshwater ecoregions – as the Papua New Guinea (see page 28). on the Niger River won a Certificate of Living Planet Report, WWF’s periodic source of fresh water, and promoting Merit at the prestigious Chicago review of the state of the planet, more efficient use of water to increase Currently, WWF is working in 14 International Television Competition in freshwater species declined by some the share for people and nature. countries to protect a further 20 million the Public Affairs/Video News Release 55 per cent between 1970 and 2000 – a ha of wetlands and enhance their category. We are using this platform to rate faster than wildlife loss in forests Working as a catalyst, WWF aims to management. In Africa, we are accelerate the complex task of bringing and oceans. see 250 million ha (about 20%) of the working with the Lake Chad Basin together governments and other world’s freshwater wetlands under Commission and Niger Basin stakeholders to conserve the most These alarming trends are reflected by strict protection. In partnership with Authority, among others, using new biologically important freshwater increasing human suffering. Currently, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands protected areas as a catalyst for ecoregions. Examples are WWF’s 1.5 billion people lack ready access to and in cooperation with the people cooperation between governments to work in the Danube River basin that clean drinking water and if current and governments of many countries, manage these critical river basin has been critical in bringing together consumption patterns continue, at least such as Algeria, Bolivia, Chad, ecoregions as sustainably as possible. conservation efforts in 13 countries, 3.5 billion people – 48 per cent of the China, Cuba, Guinea, Peru, and and the tri-national Morava-Dyje projected world population – will be Turkey, in excess of 18 million ha Freshwater areas cannot be conserved Floodplain initiative in Austria, the living in water-stressed river basins have been set aside for conservation – by protection alone. All the land and Czech Republic and the Slovak within the next 25 years. Already, 2.5 an area about half the size of The waters upstream in the river basin need Republic (see page 30).

24 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Mountain wetlands 3,600 metres high in the Ecuadorian Andes. WWF-Canon / Kevin Schafer

WWF is also working to redirect Targets and examples of progress in 2002 environmentally disastrous development proposals into more Freshwater biodiversity: By 2010, 250 million ha of high-priority freshwater ecosystems worldwide are socially and economically responsible protected and/or sustainably managed. alternatives. In particular, poorly planned dams cause immense ■ 18.4 million ha set aside for conservation, including in Algeria, Bolivia, Chad, China, Cuba, Guinea, environmental damage, including Peru, and Turkey changing the quality and quantity of ■ Memorandum of Understanding to manage 3 million ha of wetlands signed by the governments of water in rivers and by fragmenting and destroying wildlife populations. A Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Australia at the fourth preparatory meeting in Bali in May for the major push has commenced against World Summit on Sustainable Development. the Spanish National Hydrological Water infrastructure development: By 2010, ecological processes are maintained or restored in at least Plan, a massive inter-basin water 50 large catchment areas of high biodiversity importance. transfer scheme requiring hundreds of dams and impacting on dozens of ■ Five-year, multi-million dollar agreement with HSBC to conserve four major river basins critical conservation areas (see under Europe and the Middle east below, and ■ Options assessment completed according to World Commission on Dams guidelines, resulting in Polish also page 29). government's decision to reconsider the need for more dams and to consider instead sustainable ways of addressing problems of the ageing Wloclawek dam. In February, a report on shipping along the Danube set out WWF’s case Resource use in water intensive products: By 2010, private sector practices and related government against the proposed ‘Trans European policies concerning key water-using sectors are established and/or changed in order to sustain the integrity Network’ of shipping channels in of the freshwater ecosystems on which they depend and/or impact. eastern Europe. An economic assessment was also published as a ■ A new partnership with an international drinks company to develop industry standards for minimizing critique of the proposal for a massive water use and improving water quality. south-north water transfer scheme in China. Following a WWF

Freshwater 25 Freshwater

commissioned assessment, we are WWF is collaborating with a major innovative solutions that conserve WWF has also initiated an ambitious making good progress in Poland in drinks company to develop best freshwater wetlands and benefit people programme for the Niger River, favour of abandoning the proposed practice standards for minimizing and wildlife. together with Wetlands International Nieszawa Dam and decommissioning water use and improving water quality and the Nigerian Conservation the Wlocalwek Dam on the Vistula in manufacturing plants. And we have Africa and Madagascar Foundation. As with the Ruaha, a River. And the World Bank’s draft concluded a five-year agreement with catchment approach is being adopted strategy on water resources was HSBC for the conservation of four WWF made significant progress in to conserve the Niger’s wetland amended to partially reflect WWF’s major river basins, including the advancing some of the major wetland habitats and wildlife and to secure approach to implementing the Yangste and the Brazilian Amazon. conservation initiatives started last year sustainable livelihoods for human recommendations of the World This work will also develop practical in Africa. Much of this work was aided populations that depend entirely on the Commission on Dams. guidance on how the financial sector by the commitment of African river for survival. can apply the recommendations of the governments to wetland conservation – In 2003, the Living Waters World Commission on Dams and more than six million ha of new The Lake Bogoria Community-based Programme will launch a new promote best practice in river basin Ramsar sites were declared across the Wetlands Project in Kenya intensified campaign on dams, seeking to management based on WWF’s continent. its conservation work through closer redirect investment into ecologically, fieldwork experience. Lastly, as a ties with the peoples and councils of environmentally and socially partner with nine leading international Among these wetland initiatives were the Baringo and Koibatek beneficial alternatives to dams for water and agricultural organizations in efforts by the government of Tanzania communities. Some of the provision of power and water. In the ‘Dialogue on Food, Water and the to re-establish year-round water flows achievements resulting from these other work, we will be seeking a Environment’, WWF will be seeking in the Great Ruaha River. Much of this efforts include the establishment of better deal for people and nature by agreement on solutions to the world’s involves better management of environmental planning committees, an promoting more efficient use of the food, water and environmental needs wetlands within the river’s catchment, environmental education strategy, 87 per cent of fresh water used by in time for the 2006 World Water which WWF is promoting under the habitat and wildlife surveys, and the agricultural and industry sectors; Forum. Great Ruaha River and Catchment installation of facilities for ecological an assessment of the most water- Programme. Projects in Udzungwa and monitoring. demanding crops will help us WWF’s biggest challenge in 2003 and Kipingere are helping to protect the identify the most promising beyond is to fight the mismanagement Ruaha’s headwaters and secure water In Tanzania, WWF worked with opportunities for change. of water by finding and promoting flows in numerous tributaries. government and non-governmental

26 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Water-lilies in the delta of the Danube River, Romania. WWF-Canon / Michel Gunther

1,650,000ha in Chad, and 4,500,000ha government’s designation, on World in Guinea. A new protected site, Wetlands Day, 2 February, of 14 Mazabuka, covering 47,000ha, has wetlands totalling nearly 2 million ha been established in the Kafue Flats in as Ramsar sites. The government also Zambia. Further Ramsar designations pledged nearly US$1 billion over the are anticipated in the coming year in next ten years for their management. Cameroon, the Central African The sites are located in the north-east partners to focus public attention on In South Africa, the Table Mountain Republic, Madagascar, and Nigeria. of the country (five sites), along the the plight of Tanzania’s wetlands. Fund developed a partnership between Three potential Ramsar sites have also Yangtze River (three sites), and at six Efforts by the Journalists the National Botanical Institute’s been identified in the Seychelles and coastal sites which include mangroves Environmental Association of Outreach Programme, the City of Cape agreement has been reached on a and valuable habitats for migratory Tanzania, with backing from WWF, Town and local Reconciliation and process for further designations once birds, turtles and seals. WWF brought wetland issues to the front Development Forums that led to the the government of Seychelles has recognized the declaration as a Gift to pages of both Swahili and English creation of the Edith Stephens ratified the Ramsar Convention. the Earth and a major contribution to language newspapers, as well as Wetlands Park. A fundraising campaign the WWF-supported China Action Plan radio and television. Two new was launched to secure conservation of Asia and the Pacific for Wetland Conservation. Ramsar sites were declared: Lake the Noordhoek Kommetjie wetlands – Natron Basin (224,781ha) and the the missing piece in the consolidation The significance of the Asia/Pacific Another Gift to the Earth, the 26,000ha Kilombero Valley Floodplain of the Cape Peninsula National Park region’s freshwater resources is Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in (796,735ha). In addition, the that will see the park attain World matched by the significance of the Malaysia, received legal protection government established a broad- Heritage status. problems facing them. Throughout the under the state of Sabah’s Land based wetlands working group with last year, WWF has concentrated on Ordinance in recognition of its members drawn from government, In West Africa, WWF’s Living Waters the establishment of new protected “outstanding” biological, cultural, and civil society organizations, and the Programme lent its expertise to the areas, wetland restoration, and economic importance. Kinabatangan international community. WWF is designation of a suite of new Ramsar management of river basins. provides a refuge for several also working with local NGOs on the sites in the River Niger and Lake Chad endangered species, among them conservation of Lake Manyara basins. New protected wetlands The year’s biggest conservation orang-utan, proboscis monkey, and wetlands. amounted to 500,000ha in Niger, achievement came with the Chinese Asian elephant, as well as a vital

Freshwater 27 Freshwater

Black darter covered in morning dew. WWF / Fritz Pölking

source of fresh water for over 200,000 restoration in China will continue to such as the rare and migratory Ayu agreement for the Murray-Darling and people living in Sabah. flourish. Other restoration efforts in the Plecoglossus altivelis, a relative of the Queensland-Darling headwaters. region include mangrove regeneration salmon. And an application to develop Further progress on river basin More good news came in June 2002 in India’s Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Lut Chau – a Site of Special Scientific management should increase once with the signing of the “Tri-national and management of wetland vegetation Interest comprising fish ponds with funding is secured for major Wetlands Initiative” between Australia, for waterbirds in Hong Kong. As a rich food sources for the thousands of programmes for the Mekong, and the Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. The result of these efforts in Hong Kong, migratory birds and nesting habitats for Sepik in Papua New Guinea. agreement commits the three nations to the endangered population of black- a number of species in the south of work together to achieve sustainable faced spoonbills has risen by 10 per Mai Po Nature Reserve – was rejected Europe and the Middle East management of 3 million ha of tropical cent since 1997, following a long by the Hong Kong Town Planning wetlands within three existing period of decline. There are only about Board on the advice of WWF. The EU Water Framework Directive – protected areas, Kakadu National Park 600 of the birds left in the world and a if implemented in a comprehensive and (Australia), Wasur National Park conservation plan for the species is Progress in wetland management at the timely manner – has the potential to (Indonesia) and Tonda Wildlife currently awaiting approval by the catchment level is a concept new to the deliver sustainable use of water across Management Area (PNG). The Hong Kong government. Asia/Pacific region and has been slow Europe. The importance of this piece initiative will greatly improve to develop. Despite this, meetings were of legislation makes it a prime focus management of these parks and WWF has also been successful in held with the Mekong River for WWF policy work in Europe over encourage the creation of further preventing incompatible or Commission and leading construction the coming year. The Directive, which protected areas. unsustainable development on company ABB in Indochina to discuss came into force in December 2000, wetlands in Hong Kong. For example, possibilities of a partnership. And in encourages transboundary river basin China again led the way with wetland a revision in land use strengthened the Murray Darling Basin in Australia, management and involves those restoration. Altogether, 1,650ha of protection for the ecologically sensitive WWF has been prioritizing wetland countries seeking accession to the EU, wetlands were restored at three sites, Tai Ho stream, one of Hong Kong’s sites and helping to develop a such as Poland and Romania, and even including Qinshan polder, where the few remaining medium-sized natural management plan and voluntary non-EU countries such as Norway, diversity of bird, fish and plant life has streams known for its diversity of conservation agreement at Lake Russia and Switzerland. It is, however, increased. With the advent of the new, freshwater and brackish-water fish. Dartmouth, as well as pressing the a complex piece of legislation. In the multi-million dollar funding under the Among 47 species of fish recorded Commonwealth and State governments past twelve months, WWF has been WWF-HSBC partnership, wetland there are some new for Hong Kong, to adopt a “free-flowing” rivers helping to develop the Directive’s

28 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Conserving ecoregions – freshwater wetlands in the Mediterranean

WWF is working in 33 river basins (also known as watersheds or catchments), demonstrating solutions to water management problems. A prime example is WWF’s freshwater work in the Mediterranean.

The pressures on fresh water in the Mediterranean are many and varied, not least from agriculture, tourism, and construction. Severe drought in the region, as the climate changes, have added to these pressures. To meet the growing demand for fresh water, a number of Mediterranean countries, such as Spain, Greece and Turkey, are developing plans to transfer water between river basins. Already, the diversion of water from the Segura River in Spain to irrigate fields and vast acreages of greenhouses has reduced the river to an ecological ruin, demonstrating the inadequacy of planning and overestimation of the water supply, and Common Implementation Strategy, putting local economies, human livelihoods and wildlife at risk. participating in technical working groups and developing guidance The Spanish National Hydrological Plan involves the building of 120 dams and 261 supporting documents on “best practice” for its infrastructures to aid transfer of water from the north of the country, mainly from the delta of the Ebro River, implementation in EU and accession to the south. Just over half of the water is earmarked for intensive agriculture, and the remainder for tourism countries, taking into account on-the- development. The total estimated cost is in excess of EUR22 million, of which the Spanish government is ground practicalities. seeking almost EUR8 million from the EU. Such developments are totally at odds with EU attempts to reduce agricultural subsidies to bring food prices closer to world market levels. In 2003, the European component of the Living Waters Programme will Transfer of water at the volumes proposed will reduce the quality of drinking water for one million people in launch the “Water and Wetland Index the Valencia region, and threaten the local fishing industry at the mouth of the Ebro, especially the port of – Phase 2”, the follow-up to the index Tarragona, as a result of reduced freshwater flows and increased sedimentation. From a wildlife point of first released in 2000 which rates view, the Ebro delta, a Ramsar site, is one of the most important areas for breeding birds in the countries on their freshwater Mediterranean and the third most important wetland in Spain. management performance. The new index will include Mongolia, Morocco WWF has taken an active stand against the and Russia. development, both in Spain and across Europe, and is pressing hard for EU funds to be spent instead on social, economic and environmental WWF continues its action against the improvements that are both balanced and Spanish National Hydrological Plan, a sustainable. These include environmental conglomeration of 120 dams and 261 actions that are in line with EU priorities, such other supporting infrastructures being as improved monitoring of water quality and built to transfer water from the north promoting reductions in water consumption. of the country – mainly from the Ebro Delta – to the south. The plan is likely to have disastrous consequences for The Riba Roja dam on the Ebro River. the delta and its human and wildlife WWF-Spain inhabitants. WWF is pressing the EU

Freshwater 29 Freshwater Protecting the Morava-Dyje floodplain

The Danube is the second longest river in Europe and the source of drinking water for 20 million people. More than 80 per cent of the original Danube floodplain has been lost to engineering projects for navigation, irrigation and power generation. Pollution is also a major problem. WWF has been supporting the “Lower Danube Green Corridor” scheme, combining protection of 935,000ha of wetlands and restoration of 225,000ha and helping to reduce pollution, support freshwater fisheries, develop ecotourism opportunities, and conserve the river’s biodiversity.

One example is the tri-national initiative for the Morava-Dyje floodplain, lying across the to reject the Spanish government’s borders of Austria, the Czech Republic and the application for up to EUR8 billion to Slovak Republic, by WWF’s Danube- finance the scheme. WWF sees the Carpathian Programme and three partner plan in its current form as clearly NGOs. At the heart of this project lies the contradicting EU laws, including the sustainable use and conservation of the natural Habitats Directive and the Water and cultural heritage of the floodplains of the Framework Directive. WWF has Morava and Dyje rivers. This riverine published a socio-economic critique of landscape is one of the last regions in Europe the plan and a report giving where traditional land use has secured a rich alternatives to it, and will continue to biodiversity. WWF and its partners brought raise public awareness across Europe together the Environment Ministries of the in attempts to halt the project (see three countries to establish a body of expertise previous page). consisting of ministry representatives, water management institutions, national Ramsar The 8th Conference of Parties to the committees, and NGOs to ensure collaborative Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, held management. In recognition of this in Valencia, Spain in November 2002, achievement, WWF’s Danube-Carpathian Programme was a co-recipient of the 2002 brought the opportunity to raise Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award. WWF’s European freshwater issues, including partners in the project are DAPHNE in the cross-border cooperation on protected Slovak Republic, Distelverein in Austria, and areas and the protection in particular Veronica in the Czech Republic. of scarce alpine wetlands. Protected areas are also a focus in the Danube- Morava-Dyje Floodplains, for which a Memorandum of Understanding was The lower Morava River, close to its confluence signed by Austria, Czech Republic and with the Danube on the Slovak-Austrian border. Slovakia for designation of the M Cierna / DAPHNE-Centre for Applied Ecology floodplains as a trilateral Ramsar site –

30 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 potentially the third such initiative in address the problems facing wetlands expected if proposed infrastructure geological depression located on the Europe after the Wadden Sea is growing, as are the number of projects go forward, and the impacts upper Pastaza River in Peru. Many rare (Denmark, Germany and The freshwater protected areas and Ramsar that they would have on the Orinoco’s and threatened aquatic species, Netherlands) and Prespa Lake sites that WWF has helped to resources and the communities that including river otter, pink dolphin, and (Albania, Greece and FYR establish. depend on them. Amazonian manatee, thrive in this Macedonia). The Morava-Dyje area. Numerous species of fish that floodplains support freshwater habitats, In Bolivia, WWF developed a means In Central America, WWF is helping make up an important part of the diet such as wet meadows and seasonally of identifying key wetlands within the communities in the Mosquitia to of local communities are also present flooded forests, that were once catchments so that management efforts form a Water Board to protect in large numbers. As a result of efforts common along European rivers but could concentrate on the most catchments important for drinking by WWF and partners, this year over now sadly confined to a few remaining important components of freshwater water. In Nicaragua, three new Ramsar 3.8 million ha of this ecoregion were areas (see opposite). biodiversity. Applying the approach to sites have been designated. And in designated under Ramsar. the Bolivian Pantanal, WWF was able Colombia, WWF and its local partner, Latin America and the to produce a map and a report on the ADC (Asociación del Campesino), In Brazil, WWF and other NGOs Caribbean Correreca sub-catchment which helped local communities to stop the played an important role in blocking eventually led to the declaration of construction of a dam in the La Cocha infrastructure projects along the With over 30 per cent of the world’s more than 3 million ha of the Bolivian Ramsar site. The site’s high Andean Paraná-Paraguay River system. available freshwater and some of the Pantanal as a Ramsar site. Another 1.4 paramo wetlands are among the most However, the cumulative impacts of world’s most biologically diverse million ha were declared a Ramsar site unique and threatened wetlands in the minor improvement plans in navigation rivers, the Latin America and in the Chaco region. world. WWF also played a significant still pose threats in some places. WWF Caribbean (LAC) region holds role in the development of new published a report drawing attention to tremendous opportunities for In Venezuela, WWF is working with national wetland conservation policies erosion problems in riverbanks along freshwater conservation. River basin, its associate FUDENA to develop a in Colombia. the waterway caused by the impact of or catchment, management is the most river basin model for the Orinoco, one large barges transporting grain and effective way to conserve freshwater of the six most biologically diverse Within the Amazon River and Flooded minerals. wetlands, so it is not surprising that it rivers in the world. The model will be Forest ecoregion, WWF has identified is a key component in WWF’s LAC used to demonstrate the changes in several priority sub-regions. One of Several major activities for freshwater freshwater strategy. Our capacity to flooding and flow patterns that can be these is the Abanico de Pastaza, a conservation in the LAC region for the

Freshwater 31 Freshwater Floodplain management the answer to flooding

As floodwaters rose in Europe and other parts of the world in 2002, WWF named climate change as one of the leading causes of the extreme weather events occurring more frequently around the globe. The way freshwater ecosystems are managed also plays a crucial role.

During the last 150 years, as rivers have been put into straightjackets of dams and dykes, floodplains have been drained coming year are underway. WWF will North America on a massive scale to make way for agriculture and development. continue to carry out technical studies for the designation of new Ramsar During the year, WWF stepped up New housing, roads and infrastructure are constructed on the very sites in the Amazon River and Flooded efforts to conserve the vast, areas which store floodwaters and help to reduce flood damage. As Forest ecoregion. In Colombia, the 200,000km2 Canadian Arctic the natural capacity of rivers and adjoining wetlands for flood control organization is proposing the wilderness known as the Central grows ever smaller, so severe bad weather channels more water establishment of new freshwater Barrens. Part of this process involved into unnaturally small spaces, leading to higher and more damaging protected areas in the Chocó, Paramos securing the Thelon Game Sanctuary flood peaks. Floods are also worse where overgrazing and (northern Andes) and Llanos. A river Management Plan, for which approval deforestation in the watershed allows rainwater to run off faster into basin management programme is still awaited. between Colombia and Venezuela is rivers. Forests and wetlands act as sponges, and when they are working to mitigate or eliminate In the US, work continued with absent in times of heavy downpours, there is no absorption provided negative environmental impacts posed government agencies and NGOs to by nature to even out river flows. WWF is arguing that floods are by development projects in two improve water quality and fish passage best managed by working with nature, not fighting it. catchment areas of the Andes and the on streams in the Klamath-Siskiyou Llanos. Stopping the construction of ecoregion, including funding the The enormous economic and social cost of flooding could be the Guamez dam will protect rare removal of eight small dams on Sucker mountain wetlands in the northern Creek, a tributary of the Illinois River prevented by recognizing the importance of floodplains and the Andes. In Peru, WWF will continue to in south-west Oregon. In the South need for sustainable management – as well as restoration – of focus on road construction policies and Florida ecoregion, WWF worked with these areas. The need for floodplain management has never been practices as a major component of the Everglades Coalition to ensure full higher. WWF called on leaders gathering in Johannesburg for the catchment management in the implementation of the historic World Summit on Sustainable Development in August to agree to Marañon watershed, part of the Everglades restoration legislation, better manage river basins as the key to ensuring freshwater Southwest Amazon ecoregion. This which provides for a 30-year, US$8 resources and coping with floods. This went hand in hand with development is likely to lead to billion plan to restore the Everglades. deforestation and subsequent WWF successfully convinced the WWF’s call for world leaders to agree on effective measures to sedimentation and loss of water within governor of Tennessee to place a combat climate change and to provide a sustainable energy future. key wetlands. moratorium on gas-fired steam

32 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Channeling of rivers and urban development in floodplains, allied to climate change, are the main factors behind increasingly severe floods in many parts of the world. WWF-Canon / Martin Harvey

WWF’s Global Conservation Programme Expenditure on Freshwater Conservation FY 2001

generating plants, which consume flowing through the cave. 16,000 millions of gallons of freshwater daily, 14,426 returning only a fraction to rivers and In the Chihuahuan Desert, WWF and 14,000 streams. the Alliance for Rio Grande Heritage

held the first multi-stakeholder 12,000 Working with an alliance of cavers and workshop to develop a vision for the environmental NGOs, WWF’s restoration of the heavily degraded Rio Southeast Rivers and Streams Grande/Rio Bravo. In addition, WWF 10,000 ecoregion office funded a scientific launched a strategic planning process study of the unique biodiversity of with the managers of six protected 8,000 Rumble Falls cave, the second largest areas on the Rio Grande which should 5,781 cavern in the US. National media result in improved management for 6,000 coverage of the cave’s discovery wildlife in over 1 million ha of river resulted in a halt to plans to discharge basin wetlands in the US and Mexico. 3,737 4,000 treated waste-water into the stream 3,085

1,492 1,881 2,000

544 0 Africa Asia Europe Latin North Conservation Campaigns America America Policy

Freshwater 33 Oceans and Coasts

SIMON CRIPPS, Director of the Endangered Seas Programme, highlights some of WWF’s marine conservation efforts in 2002 and looks ahead to 2003.

he ocean is the natural Within a generation we aim to stop reviewed its Common Fisheries Policy Situated on the sea-floor at depths of environment for millions of overfishing and ensure that all (CFP). To influence the debate, in 850 and 1,700 metres, the two sites species, but an array of exploitation of fish stocks is February 2002 WWF launched a high- contain hydrothermal vents – chimney- Thuman activities, including sustainable. We are also working profile campaign – the “Stop like structures which eject seawater overfishing, insensitive coastal towards establishing networks of well- Overfishing” campaign – calling for superheated to 350˚C – hosting a unique development, pollution and climate managed and ecologically far-reaching reforms to safeguard the and fragile fauna in extreme change, are causing a deepening crisis. representative marine protected areas future of fish stocks and fishing environments. They play an important Today, more than three-quarters of our covering at least ten per cent of the communities. It drew much political role in regulating the temperature and seas are overexploited, threatening the world's oceans, including the deep and public attention to the CFP and chemical balance of the oceans. Their long-term sustainability and survival of seas. Over the last year, good progress won extensive media coverage of the protection is the first in a proposed coastal communities across the entire has been made in this direction. reform process. network of deep-sea MPAs in the north- globe. east Atlantic and sets an important About 75 per cent of the word's most WWF has welcomed the adoption by precedent for future work on important To restore the balance in the use of valuable fish species are either the world’s shipping nations at the offshore and deep-sea sites lying marine and coastal areas, the overfished or fished to their limit. Too International Maritime Organization outside national jurisdiction. In Endangered Seas Programme is many boats are chasing too few fish, (IMO) of a convention to eliminate addition, the management plan for the focusing on human activities fish stocks are being mismanaged, and the dangerous chemicals used in Azores sites will serve as a blueprint for threatening the oceans. We are harmful subsidies are being paid to paints on ships’ hulls from the future deep-sea MPAs. helping to create new market oversized fishing fleets. This abuse of marine environment (see page 64). incentives and penalties, influencing the marine environment will ultimately Batangas Bay, in the Philippines, legislation and leadership, and destroy the fishing industry, the fish The Regional Government of the provides food security and income for applying pressure when appropriate. stocks and the environment itself. The Azores received a WWF Gift to the many fishing communities and, home We are also encouraging industries to European Union has one of the world's Earth certificate in recognition of its to one of the largest and most diverse adopt practices which are both largest fishing fleets, which it outstanding achievement to protect two coral reefs in the country, is a prime profitable for industry and beneficial subsidizes with about EUR1.4 billion deep-sea sites – made possible in large ecotourism site. It is also, however, the to the marine environment. each year. During 2002, the EU part due to intense lobbying by WWF. site of two major oil refineries. An oil

34 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 WWF’s “Stop Overfishing” campaign called for far-reaching reforms to safeguard the future of fish stocks and fishing communities. WWF-Canon / Kevin Schafer

Targets and examples of progress in 2002

Protected areas: By 2020, the establishment and implementation of a network of effectively managed, ecologically representative marine protected areas covering at least 10 per cent of the world’s seas.

■ The establishment of globally significant MPAs, including hydrothermal vents in Portugal (Azores), coral reefs in Mozambique, and the brackish Baltic waters of Finland ■ Creation of the world's largest MPA at Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve in Australia ■ A commitment from the United Nations to look into the potential of creating MPAs in waters that lie spill in these waters would bring outside national jurisdiction. immediate and long-lasting suffering to the people and the environment in Sustainable fisheries: Maintain the status of all fish stocks that are currently exploited sustainably and, by and around the bay. A viable solution to the quick containment of oil is seen 2020, halve the number of fish stocks that are overexploited or depleted, as currently categorized by FAO. as oil spill response teams comprised of local people. As part of efforts to ■ As a key player in the EU fisheries policy reform process, WWF helped create media awareness, raise address the issue of toxics in the public interest, and develop a political climate essential for the success. The reform proposal now marine environment, WWF organized includes the ending of three of the most damaging subsidies: those for modernization, new vessels, and the first ever community-based oils export of capacity outside EU waters spill management training course. The ■ The WTO committed to reform harmful fishing subsidies course helped to broaden community ■ The world's largest wild salmon fishery in Alaska was certified by the Marine Stewardship Council understanding of the issue and ■ emphasized the need to work together. The government of Mauritania has asked for greater environmental safeguards and fairer access rights Similar courses are planned in other in the fisheries agreement negotiated with the EU. regions of the world.

Oceans and Coasts 35 Oceans and Coasts

At the WSSD in Johannesburg, some at a local level. This work will be Eastern Africa and Western Indian and patrolling are now being progress was made with respect to the supported by several initiatives, such Ocean Marine ecoregions. In addition undertaken by members of the marine environment. In particular, as the Commonwealth Seas Initiative to advancing Ecoregion Action Plans Community Action Committee and participants agreed to reduce catches in which the international president of for all three, WWF continued its artisanal miners’ associations. and restore heavily depleted fish stocks WWF, Chief Emeka Anyaoku is support to key protected areas within by 2015. Although this decision was calling on the premiers of coastal each of the ecoregions Efforts by WWF and partner less encompassing than the WWF Commonwealth countries to pledge organizations in Mozambique resulted target on fisheries, it contained exactly greater protection and better Building on Gift to the Earth events in in the declaration by the government of what WWF had been lobbying for management of the marine Senegal, Guinea Bissau, and the Bazaruto Archipelago National during the run-up to the Summit. The environment. The European Fisheries Mauritania in 2001, WWF is working Park, together with a new marine and draft agreement even contained the Campaign (mentioned above) will with IUCN and FIBA (Fondation terrestrial protected area in Quirimbas precise wording from several WWF reach its climax in efforts to reduce Internationale du Banc d’Arguin) to (see opposite). The task for WWF now briefings on fisheries. A commitment environmentally harmful subsidies and strengthen management of MPAs and is to support the government in to establishing MPAs including will be stepped up at the WTO (see fill the gaps in the current network of managing these two globally representative networks was also page 41). WWF will also be seeking to protected waters in the Western African outstanding areas effectively – both lie reached, in line with WWF’s target on influence an agreement on fairer Marine ecoregion. In the Western within the Eastern African Marine protected areas. access to fisheries, particularly Indian Ocean, WWF is helping to ecoregion. Other marine conservation between the EU and African countries, maintain three MPAs in Masoala and is areas within the ecoregion in which In 2003, the Endangered Seas as well as assisting the Marine working to increase the number of WWF plays a crucial support role are Programme will be working with the Stewardship Council to continue its marine sites in Madagascar’s protected Menai Bay in Zanzibar, Kiunga in WCPA and the US National Oceanic successful certification of key area system. Kenya, and Mafia Island in Tanzania. and Atmospheric Administration to fisheries. complete guidelines for effective Under the Mafia Island Marine Park The Menai Bay Conservation Area management of protected areas. WWF Africa and Madagascar project, WWF is helping the Tanzanian project is helping to conserve natural will also take the opportunity currently government and especially the Mafia resources in partnership with the local provided by the high profile of coral WWF’s marine conservation work in Island people and other interest groups community through actions to curb reefs and the high seas to move these Africa and Madagascar is focused to conserve the island’s unique marine illegal fishing and restore traditional issues forward both internationally and primarily on the Western Africa, and terrestrial biodiversity. Monitoring management of fisheries. Following

36 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Conserving ecoregions – the seas of eastern Africa

From the coastal waters of Sodwana in South Africa to Chisamayu, some 4,600km to the north in Somalia, the Eastern African Marine ecoregion harbours a wealth of tropical species and habitats and provides for the livelihoods of millions of coastal people. The major conservation issues in the ecoregion are over- harvesting of fish, molluscs, crustaceans, and sea cucumbers, damage to coastal and mangrove forests and coral reefs, partly as a result of climate change, and pollution, particularly in and around major towns and river mouths. Populations of turtles and dolphins are declining as a result of both deliberate and accidental capture, as are dugongs, which are at serious risk of disappearing altogether.

During 2002, WWF made very good progress, in conjunction with partner organizations and local official declaration of the Conservation communities, on the development of an Ecoregion Action Plan structured around coastal habitats, species, Area, the government has enacted and fisheries. Twenty-three conservation targets were identified, including halting the loss of quality of reefs legislation to enable 70 per cent of and coral communities, protecting at least 100,000ha of mangrove forests and their wildlife, and increasing revenues raised there to be retained for the number of dugongs. conservation purposes. WWF is helping to train project staff in radio In Mozambique, protection of two globally outstanding areas within the ecoregion was strengthened and communication, scuba-diving for celebrated by WWF as Gifts to the Earth: declaration of the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park in late 2001 marine surveys, seamanship and provides much needed protection for dugongs, while the newly created Quirimbas National Park provides a coastal navigation, as well as in means of securing the livelihoods of revenue collection. In addition, a new local fishermen through improved law-enforcing patrol boat financed by fisheries management. In other WWF has significantly reduced activities to safeguard the future of incidence of illegal fishing. the ecoregion, WWF has signed a formal agreement with the United In Kiunga, an artisanal fishing zone Nations Environment Programme has been established and WWF is (UNEP), presented the Ecoregion supporting its management. Action Plan to international meetings of scientists, conservation Communities around the reserve have practitioners and policy-makers, and intensified patrols and surveillance continued to build the skills and against illegal fishing practices and are expertise of local people and non- participating in the monitoring of fish governmental organizations. catches and mangrove harvesting. The project has also contributed to the development of new legislation in Kenya that makes the use of scuba- diving equipment to catch lobsters Loggerhead turtle. illegal and requires the use of Turtle WWF-Canon / Michel Gunther Excluder Devices (TEDs) by trawlers.

Oceans and Coasts 37 Oceans and Coasts

Activities to strengthen sustainable complemented by projects with Asia and the Pacific enforcement, and management resource management on Mafia Island artisanal fishing associations and by a practices, as well as the introduction of included issuing more than 1,000 major study on illegal, unregulated and WWF’s work on conservation of the user fees, which generate valuable identity certificates to local fishermen, unreported fishing. marine environment in the Asia-Pacific revenues for conservation delineation of a fishing zone in Chole region is growing fast, thanks in part to management. Partially as a result of Bay, and training in marine In South Africa, WWF has been a 50 per cent increase in funding over these efforts, populations of fish in surveillance and natural resource involved in several marine research the past year. Much of the work has Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sulawesi management for more than 40 village projects, the results of which are being focused on protected area Seas are rising. Delineation by WWF and ward officers. WWF also advised used to develop guidelines for species establishment and management, and of the boundaries of the Sulu Sulawesi on the preparation of an environmental conservation and to control negative sustainable fisheries. Sea ecoregion, which touches the education programme and a survey of impacts of recreational activities on coasts of Indonesia, Malaysia and the villagers’ awareness and understanding seabirds and sharks. The studies A major achievement came with the Philippines, paved the way for new of marine conservation issues. included an investigation of the impacts designation of the 16 million ha marine management areas, including of long-line fisheries on southern ocean Macquarie Island Marine Park in sanctuaries and no-fishing zones, while In West Africa, there is growing albatrosses which revealed a high Australia as a marine protected area. the identification of ocean “corridors” evidence that large-scale commercial number of mortalities to foraging birds This was followed, in late 2001, by the linking the Sulu and Sulawesi Seas has fishing by both national and distant- during the incubation and early guarding establishment of the 270ha Tung Ping given WWF a pioneering role in water fleets has seriously depleted fish phase of their reproductive cycle. The Chau Marine Park in Hong Kong. marine corridor management in the stocks, with impacts too on the marine data suggest that some 20,000 Another proposed park in Hong Kong region. environment, local fishing albatrosses and 10,000 other seabirds are – Soko Island – has still to be communities and even national killed annually by tuna-fishing vessels in approved. Successful lobbying by WWF led to economies. WWF is helping the Sub- the seas south of Africa. The results the revoking of a permit for a pearl Regional Fisheries Commission and have contributed to the formulation of In Indonesia, the local government farm in the Riung protected area in the other partners to reach a regional the Agreement on the Conservation of agreed to a management plan for north of Flores in Indonesia’s Nusa consensus on access agreements to Southern Hemisphere Albatrosses and Cendrawasih Bay Marine National Tenggara (Lesser Sundas). WWF has fisheries by both local fishing interests Petrels under the Bonn Convention, Park. In the Philippines, conservation been working in the area since 1999, and foreign, commercial fleets. In the which will have far-reaching of 128,000ha of coastal habitats has strengthening the capacity of local coming year, this work will be implications for seabird conservation. improved through better planning, people and institutions in managing the

38 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Flocks of bar-tailed godwits and spoon- billed sandpipers wintering in the Banc d’Arguin National Park, Mauritania. WWF-Canon / Siegfried Woldhek area’s rich marine resources. In 2002, of effective law enforcement attracted ever undertaken in the Philippines. The Policy, the continued development of these efforts began to pay off. Most national attention and WWF hopes it government has now indicated its networks of marine protected areas, local fishermen have stopped using will be replicated in other marine parks willingness to hold discussions on and the commitments given to an destructive fishing practices, and in Indonesia. fisheries trade policy with the private ecosystem approach at the fifth North increased awareness of marine sector and, significantly, with non- Sea Ministerial Conference. conservation among villagers resulted Following certification of New governmental organizations such as in the district leader allocating funds Zealand’s hoki fishery, the Marine WWF. Publication of the Commission’s first for mapping and restoration of marine Stewardship Council is now well package of proposals for the reform of habitats. WWF was appointed as an established in the country as a means Sustainable fisheries also progressed in the CFP in May 2002 was advisor. of promoting sustainable fishing Hong Kong with the drafting of a encouraging, with the conservation of practices. In Indonesia, a new fisheries management strategy, commercial fish stocks and fleet Collaboration between local certification group comprised of licensing system, and a proposal for reduction given as the major priorities. organizations and businesses in the government agencies and NGOs the creation of a Fisheries Protection The Commission stated that its aim Banda Flores Sea has led to the looked first at aquarium products Area. In Thailand, WWF is working on was “a move towards an ecosystem- development of a code of conduct. derived from coral reefs; WWF and the an amendment to the Marine National based approach to fisheries Drawn up by 25 dive operators, the Marine Aquarium Council also signed Parks Act to accommodate sustainable management” and “to incorporate Water Sports Association, and the an accord to work together on fishing by small-scale fishermen, as environmental concerns into fisheries Indonesian Diving Association, work is certification and monitoring issues. In well as promoting policies and laws to management, in particular by now underway to give the code legal India, WWF was involved in site eliminate destructive fishing gear and contributing to biodiversity status. Recognizing the efforts of all selection and pre-assessment for the reduce fishing fleets. protection”. This was very much in those involved, the provincial certification of a crab fishery. line with WWF proposals. However, government and planning boards WWF’s Southeast Asia Policy Europe and the Middle East dissention to major changes by France, assigned Bali Barat and Bunaken Programme is carrying out a study on Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, and Marine Parks as models of “best the impact of trade on the Philippines’s WWF’s most significant advances in Spain has slowed the process and a practice” for MPA management. fisheries sector. Although in its initial marine conservation in Europe over the decision on the reforms is now Regular patrols in both parks resulted stages, the project has already last 18 months centred around the expected in December 2002. in the capture and conviction of eight prompted a multi-stakeholder European Commission’s approach to cyanide-bomb fishermen. This example discussion on trade policies – the first the reform to the Common Fisheries Despite delays, implementation of the

Oceans and Coasts 39 Oceans and Coasts

EU Habitats Directive in the marine government has pledged to expand Latin America and the increased runoff and sedimentation environment is making good progress. existing and create new marine Caribbean caused by land-based activities such as A number of European states have now National Parks and the government of deforestation, coastal construction and agreed to the designation of sites the Azores has designated the first The marine and coastal systems of the mining. Several organizations, with the between 12 and 200 nautical miles two deep-sea MPAs in the NE LAC region support a complex support of WWF, have joined forces to offshore. Germany has already Atlantic, the Lucky Strike and Menez interaction of habitats and plant and guarantee the long-term financial introduced the necessary legislation Gwen hydrothermal vent fields animal life, and are among the most sustainability of efforts to conserve the and the UK is under way and has (described on page 34). These productive in the world. Several of the 700km long Mesoamerican Caribbean committed to protecting the deep, cold- developments have all resulted world’s largest estuaries are found here, Reef, the second largest barrier reef in water coral reefs of the Darwin directly from WWF advocacy. WWF such as the Amazon and Plata Rivers the world. As well as providing Mounds off the north-east coast of is now looking at threats to MPAs on the Atlantic coast and Fonseca on livelihoods to innumerable coastal Scotland. The Darwin Mounds are a from industry sectors such as offshore the Pacific. The coastal waters of communities through fishing, tourism novel geographical formation lying on oil and gas, and shipping. Argentina and Uruguay are home to the and other marine-related activities, this the sea-floor at around 1,000m. The world’s fastest-growing fishery. In Peru vast reef system also protects the field contains hundreds of individual Also as a direct result of lobbying by and Chile, an upwelling of nutrient-rich coastline and hosts a vast biodiversity, mounds typically 5m high and 100m in WWF, North Sea states have waters generates one of the top five including one of the few remaining diameter that support coral committed to introducing an ecosystem commercial fisheries in the world. The spawning sites for reef fish in the communities and a diversity of seabed approach to the management of human Humboldt current drives these waters Caribbean. To sustain existing and new invertebrates and deep-water fish. They use of the North Sea. The north to the Galápagos where they meet conservation efforts, environmental are under immediate threat from commitments include environmental the warm tropical currents from the and donor groups have come together trawling and are under consideration assessments and development of better western Pacific, producing an to create a conservation plan for the by the UK government as an offshore planning controls for the North Sea. astounding assemblage of marine reef that will contribute to its Special Area of Conservation (SAC) These steps are fundamental to the habitats and species on the equator that protection and rational management. under the Habitats Directive. successful creation of networks of include penguins as well as tropical MPAs and the restoration and future fish. Fisheries throughout the region, that All North Sea states have committed management of fish stocks. WWF is have traditionally provided to have in place by 2010 networks of encouraging such an approach in all An estimated 29 per cent of the employment and income for coastal well-managed MPAs. The Finnish European marine ecoregions. region’s reefs are at risk from residents, are at great risk. In recent

40 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Fishing Subsidies and the WTO

In 1997, WWF began an international campaign to eliminate government subsidies that drive overfishing. A critical goal of that campaign since 1998 has been to achieve binding and effective new rules under the World Trade Organization to discipline fishing subsidies. In an important victory for WWF, trade ministers meeting in Doha, Qatar in late 2001, agreed to include negotiations on fishing subsidies in the new round of WTO trade talks. Thus, WWF’s first phase of work has succeeded in getting the issue into the formal WTO rule-making process.

The outcome in Doha presented a unique opportunity for the creation of new international laws aimed at reducing and reforming harmful fishing subsidies – laws that could have a fundamental impact on the economics of the world’s fisheries. Moreover, the WTO talks on fishing subsidies open a new field of play for activists and policy-makers concerned with globalization more generally, and with the need to reform the WTO. For the first time, a piece of the multilateral trading system is to be explicitly focused on the sustainability of a vital natural resource. And for the first time, a significant trade negotiation has grown out of pressures brought by environmental NGOs rather than by private commercial interests. Thus, on several fronts the WTO talks will break new ground.

WWF’s success to date at moving the fishing subsidies ahead in the WTO and elsewhere was the result of four years of research, communications, and policy advocacy that reflected:

■ WWF’s strength in the field (drawing on experiences with the impacts of fishing subsidies) combined with a capacity for strong and sophisticated policy advocacy in national capitals and in international fora (including FAO, the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, UNEP, and the WTO), and ■ WWF’s ability to work with governments and international bodies in a constructive, solutions-oriented manner, without losing the ability to use hard-hitting public communications when necessary.

Through this multifaceted work WWF has been able to put the fishing subsidies issue on the international political map, prompt a group of countries called the “Friends of Fish” to push the issue in the WTO, provoke a significant shift towards reform in the European Union, and attract a broad coalition of governments from developed and developing countries in support of WTO action.

To capture this momentum, WWF will build upon successful policy advocacy in and around the WTO, in Europe, key developing countries, and the US. The aim will be to influence the fishing subsidies negotiations and to advance the broader objective of seeking concrete reforms in national policies on fishing subsidies, and in fishing industries. Success in the WTO talks will also require the participation of a broad array of stakeholders – not only in the negotiations themselves, but also in following up on the results at national and international levels. Both the equity and the effectiveness of the mechanisms ultimately adopted by the WTO will depend on drawing a wider circle of voices into the process.

WWF activists at a demonstration for reform of the Common Fisheries Policy at the EU Fisheries Council in Luxembourg. LUXPRESS / Jean-Claude Ernst

Oceans and Coasts 41 Oceans and Coasts

decades, a steady increase in the size and the Central American Fisheries Galápagos species and to offer tasty underway to secure the first marine of fishing fleets has led to the Organization (SICA/OSPESCA) alternatives to over-harvested species park in Argentina – the Monte Leon overexploitation of some 35 per cent of organized a high-level meeting in like lobster and bacalao. National Park – and establish a large the region’s stocks. This has had Panama City to discuss access MPA for Jardines de la Reina economic repercussions on local agreements with distant-water fishing A major problem for marine areas in archipelago in Cuba. communities which depend on fleets and their effect on fishing general is lack of adequate protection. fisheries. These pressures have led to capacity in the eastern Pacific. WWF is working with governments Once established, there is a need to problems of by-catch as fishermen and a range of partners to create new ensure that MPAs are working. WWF struggle to identify alternative species, WWF has also been working on MPAs and strengthen the management and the WCPA are jointly defining such as turtles, for harvesting. WWF is fishery certification. Lessons learned in of existing ones. Working with the guidelines for assessing management working with member governments of spiny lobster certification in Mexico Scripps Institute of Oceanography, practices in MPAs. Using a series of the Interamerican Tropical Tuna are being applied to projects in Central WWF in Mexico has proposed a goals, objectives and indicators, the Commission (IATTC) and regional America, including the development of network of marine reserves in the Gulf new guidelines will be tested in the organizations to promote measures to fisheries regulations in the Gulf of of California ecoregion, one of the Upper Gulf Biosphere Reserve, Loreto reduce overfishing and by-catch in the Honduras for lobster, conch, grouper largest and most diverse semi-enclosed Bay and Sian Ka’an in Mexico, Hol eastern Pacific Ocean. With the and snapper and the protection of key bodies of water in the world. Over the Chan Marine Reserve in Belize, and on financial support of the Packard spawning aggregation sites in Gladden next few years, WWF will work to the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador. The Foundation, WWF is leading this effort Spit and Northern Ambergris Caye. have these priority areas declared and lessons learned will be built into the through a regional fisheries officer managed as protected areas so that manual to be published at the World stationed in Central America, where In Ecuador, WWF released a they may continue to protect Parks Congress in September 2003. some of the tuna fleet is growing colourfully illustrated publication threatened and endangered species as fastest. In addition, WWF and the FAO containing recipes provided by world- well as support the local fishing Unsustainable tourism development presented a fleet capacity management renowned chefs for relatively stable industry. Already, San Pedro Mártir along the Yucatan coast is spilling paper to the IATTC, marking the first fish species found in the Galápagos Island has been declared a Biosphere southwards and posing a major threat time the FAO has provided technical reserve. The guide is designed to Reserve and plans are underway to to conservation of the Mesoamerican input into a document prepared by an inform local fisherman, restaurant secure declarations for San Lorenzo Caribbean Reef. Efforts to reduce the NGO for a regional fisheries owners, chefs and the general public of Archipelago and Espíritu Santo and “footprint” of new and existing organization. In other moves, WWF the conservation status of a variety of Partida Islands. Plans are also facilities are required to prevent future

42 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Imraguen fishermen with a catch of yellow mullet, Banc d’Arguin National Park, Mauritania. WWF-Canon / Mark Edwards

environmental degradation. WWF is ecoregion. And a new 3-4 year encouraging the tourism sector to initiative has started to establish and adopt environmental standards in its manage a system of MPAs in the operation, which accounts for some 12 Canadian part of the Beaufort Sea. per cent of the region’s Gross Domestic Product. This will be a focus WWF worked with commercial and for WWF’s work in the coming year. recreational fishermen, NGOs, and government officials to secure North America approval of the Tortugas marine reserve, the largest no-take marine In Canada, National Marine reserve in the US, located in the South Conservation Area legislation, once Florida ecoregion. The reserve approved, will enable Canada’s Parks includes coral reefs, seagrass beds, and agency to protect and manage a spawning grounds for marine life. network of MPAs, including a number of key WWF sites, such as Gwaii In the western Bering Sea, WWF Haanas (British Columbia) and Lake succeeded in creating a new, Superior (Ontario). Parks Canada 60,000km2 coastal protected area; accepted recommendations for the Nalychevo Park Marine Zone establishment of Lake Superior Marine encompass a 5km band of coastal Conservation Area, a protected area waters in northern Avachinsky Bay, an covering more than 10,000km2. A map area renowned for its marine mammals depicting different marine habitats in and seabirds. Also in the western both the Canadian and American Bering Sea, WWF’s pilot project with portions of the Gulf of Maine was Russian government agencies in completed and will be used by WWF fisheries enforcement has resulted in to develop a proposal for a network of more than 300 arrests and revoked MPAs in that part of the Grand Banks permits, representing as much as

Oceans and Coasts 43 Oceans and Coasts

Melting sea ice in Bull Seal Bay, St Matthew Island, Alaska. WWF-Canon / Kevin Schafer

WWF’s Global Conservation Programme Expenditure on Marine Conservation FY 2001

8,000

7,000 6,628

6,000

4,829 5,000

3,960 4,000

3,165 US$1.5 million in losses for those number of follow-up steps. 3,000 violating fisheries regulations. 2,610 WWF has been working with Whole 2,086 2,000 Discussions with community leaders Foods and the Marine Stewardship from the Bering Sea’s Pribilof Islands, Council to promote a nationwide 858 in collaboration with The Nature consumer campaign about the MSC 1,000 Conservancy of Alaska, may lead to and its first certified American product the development of a marine – wild Alaska salmon, which reached 0 conservation zone around the islands. store shelves in June 2001. Africa Asia Europe Latin North Conservation Campaigns America America Policy WWF is currently working on a

44 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Species

SUSAN LIEBERMAN, Director of the Species Programme, summarizes WWF’s approach to species conservation and highlights recent and forthcoming work.

uccessful conservation of key of other species subject to illegal or ecologically important wildlife, Marine turtles are another good species benefits not only the unsustainable harvesting and trade, such WWF’s Species Programme is able to example of how WWF looks to protect thousands of lesser known as toothfish, sharks, and big-leaf maximize its conservation impact, as populations of wildlife while taking an Splants and animals with which mahogany. To achieve these goals, well as gain the support necessary to ecoregional approach to conservation. they co-exist but also human WWF engages with governments, finance this work. Our “flagship” Wide-ranging, highly migratory ocean- communities that depend on these industries and communities in both site- species are thus the giant panda, going animals, turtles are found in a species and habitats for their based conservation and international African and Asian elephants, African large number of ecoregions. Marine livelihoods. By adopting this approach treaties, in particular CITES (the and Asian rhinos, tigers, the great apes turtles are truly in the global commons throughout its 41-year history, WWF Convention on International Trade in such as gorillas and orang-utans, and are not native to any one country. has a proven track record in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and whales, and marine turtles. The Canary Current and Mesoamerican sustainable development, providing Flora). Caribbean Reef ecoregions, for other organizations, governments and To preserve individual species WWF instance, harbour six of the world’s communities with working examples New species are being discovered all has adopted a landscape – or ecoregion seven species, which form an integral of how to achieve development goals the time, yet at the same time species – approach, ensuring that as well as part of the complex pattern of marine without cost to biodiversity. are disappearing at a faster rate than protecting core populations of life that make the ecoregions so ever. In June 2002, two monkey threatened animals, their habitats are important in a global context. In the Two major threats to sustainable species new to science were found in also protected. One such landscape is West Madagascar marine ecoregion development are illegal, unsustainable, Brazil's Amazon rainforest. The Tesso Nilo, an extensive tract of WWF is promoting turtle conservation or unregulated wildlife trade and habitat scientists responsible for the discovery tropical forest in Sumatra, which WWF as an essential part of sustaining loss. Addressing these threats forms the say there are likely to be other species hopes will soon be declared a National coastal community life. Monitoring of core of WWF’s Species Programme within the rainforest that are unknown Park by the Indonesian government. A turtle populations over a long period activity. WWF is working to stop the to science. This find highlights the focus on the development of healthy, has shown rising numbers of nesting commercial overexploitation of some of urgent need to save the Earth’s most secure elephant populations, as well as leatherbacks and loggerheads. WWF is the world’s most threatened animals, biologically diverse ecosystems. By tigers and rhinos, has driven the now looking to involve tourists and including tigers, rhinos, and marine continuing efforts to secure a future for implementation of sustainable tourism operators in conservation turtles, and to ensure the conservation some of the most inspirational and landscape management. activities, develop educational

Species 45 Species

programmes, train sea turtle specialists, and improve local law Targets and examples of progress in 2002 enforcement. Flagship species: By 2010, populations of key species of global concern are stabilized or increased and Much of the work of the Species their critical habitats safeguarded. Programme is designed to reach fruition by 2010. Stepping stones in ■ Agreement with the Chinese government to establish Qinling Panda Reserve 2003 will consist mainly of new ■ Training programmes to mitigate human-elephant conflict in Africa precedents for the international ■ Increases in African populations of black rhinos and white rhinos fisheries and timber trades through the ■ At the 2002 International Whaling Commission WWF helped ensure pro-whaling nations were unable to CITES listing of at least one fish (e.g. resume commercial whaling toothfish and/or basking or whale ■ Relocation of shipping lanes in Canada’s Bay of Fundy to reduce risk of right whale/ship collisions shark) and one tree (e.g. big-leaf ■ WWF’s successful campaign to encourage Pacific island nations to declare their Exclusive Economic mahogany) of economic importance. A Zones (EEZ) as whale sanctuaries lot of this work hinges on the ■ Finalization of a new strategy for reduction in cetacean by-catch November 2002 CITES meeting in ■ Development of national legislation to protect marine turtles in Latin America and the Caribbean Chile, where other priority issues will ■ Finalization of a new Action Plan for the conservation of tigers. be fisheries and CITES, hawksbill turtles, elephants and ivory trade, and Wildlife trade: By 2010, at least ten species of global concern are no longer endangered by whales. Elsewhere, law enforcement actions will be pursued to eliminate overexploitation. illegal trade in at least five species of ■ global concern, including tigers, snow WWF was instrumental in the commissioning of CITES Appendix II listing proposals for whale shark and leopards, Asian and African elephants, toothfish submitted by proponent countries for the November 2002 CITES meeting, and the successful Asian and African rhinos, Tibetan submission of an Appendix II listing proposal for big-leaf mahogany ■ antelope, and musk deer. The Species Led advances relating to CITES and marine fisheries ■ Programme will also lead the Through CITES, raising awareness of poaching of snow leopards. development of a major global

46 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Black rhinos, here in Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania, increased to over 3,000 across Africa in 2001. WWF-Canon / Michel Terrettaz campaign on marine turtle already in place for rhinos, elephants, conservation. Another goal is to stop and apes, with turtles in preparation. forest loss and conversion in Tesso Nilo and to secure its future as a The WWF African Rhino Programme National Park. And work will be is committed to the protection and undertaken in both Africa and Asia to management of the continent’s reduce conflict between people and endangered populations of black rhinos elephants. and white rhinos and to strengthening stance by senior politicians strongly National Black Rhino Conservation national and international measures for supportive of wildlife-based land uses Strategy for Namibia, in collaboration Nurturing WWF’s reputation as an their conservation. The programme in the conservancies, but with with Namibia’s Ministry of international centre of species focuses principally on Kenya, resource-sharing to support the Environment and Tourism and the conservation expertise is part of the Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, invading families. This firm SADC Rhino Programme. Overall, the Species Programme’s endeavour. The while WWF has also joined a recognition of conservancies, after populations of the black rhino and the programme draws on the knowledge consortium to implement the SADC some years of conflicting official white rhino have shown healthy and experience of WWF offices and (Southern Africa Development attitudes, gives encouragement that the increases. Intensive conservation ecoregion programmes around the Community) Rhino Conservation objective to increase rhino numbers efforts have helped the black rhino to world to provide a solid base for the Programme. will not be compromised through increase from an estimated 2,704 in conservation of species in an major loss of habitat, despite a certain 1999 to 3,100 in 2001. The number of increasingly competitive and complex During 2002, WWF continued its amount of subsistence cultivation white rhinos rose from 10,405 in 1999 world. support to rhino conservancies in starting in some sections of the to some 11,600 in 2001. These are Zimbabwe, despite the ongoing conservancies. The situation remains encouraging trends but there is still Africa and Madagascar political instability that has impacted unstable. much work to be done, especially with considerably on the work. Politically the small endangered population of Africa hosts four of WWF’s “flagship” motivated invasions by squatters into Significant conservation achievements northern white rhinos. species groups: black and white rhinos, conservancies led to widespread included completion of Kenya’s African elephants, four of the world’s snaring and disruption of conservation National Black Rhino Strategy, in WWF’s African Elephant Programme six species of great apes, and marine activities. One positive development collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife was established in 2000 and supports turtles. Conservation programmes are during this crisis, however, was the Service, and development of a seven projects (see overleaf). In

Species 47 Species WWF’s African Elephant Programme

Building on 41 years of experience in elephant conservation, WWF launched a new African Elephant Programme in 2000. Its objective is straightforward: to guarantee a future for this most spectacular of mammals.

By June 2002, there were seven projects underway:

■ Conservation of forest elephants in the Mont Nlonako-Makombe-Ebo forest block, south-west Cameroon – WWF is working with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to survey elephant populations and addition, WWF has continued to assist establish new protected areas. a number of protected areas which harbour large populations of elephants, ■ Mitigating human-elephant conflict in the Mara ecosystem, Kenya – the Durrell Institute of Conservation including Comoé and Tai National and Ecology, with Kenya Wildlife Service, is testing methods for mitigating human-elephant conflict in Parks in Côte d’Ivoire, Korup and Lac communities bordering the Masai Mara. Lobeke National Parks in Cameroon, Dzanga-Sangha Reserve in the Central ■ Exchange visits between West, Central and Southern African range states to share experiences in African Republic, Minkebe Forest and elephant conservation and management – WWF is working with the Zimbabwe Department of National Gamba Protected Area Complex in Parks & Wild Life to enhance the exchange of ideas, approaches and lessons learned between range Gabon, Selous Game Reserve and states. Tarangire National Park in Tanzania, and Gashaka Gumpti National Park in ■ Nigeria. Assessing domestic ivory markets in West Africa – TRAFFIC is conducting a study on three domestic ivory markets in West Africa to assess their impact on elephant conservation. WWF has been working with partner organizations to develop the African ■ Using modern methods and tools to mitigate human-elephant conflict in selected sites in Africa – IUCN’s Great Apes Programme (see page 51) African Elephant Specialist Group is training wildlife managers and local communities in human- which got underway in mid-2002. One elephant conflict mitigation around ten WWF project sites. long-standing project that forms part of the new programme is the ■ The conservation of elephants in a new protected area in Mozambique – WWF provides equipment and International Gorilla Conservation training for elephant anti-poaching operations in the proposed Quirimbas National Park, and trains staff Programme (IGCP) which conserves and local communities in human-elephant conflict mitigation. mountain gorillas in DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda. WWF support has helped ■ to increase the population by 11 per Supporting the development and implementation of the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS) – cent over the last 12 years – a TRAFFIC is developing an analytical framework for assessing the data and information in ETIS, and is significant feat given the civil unrest training Tanzanian wildlife managers in its application. in the region during this time. The

48 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Young bull African elephant – WWF seeks to ensure a future for the species. WWF-Canon / Martin Harvey

Virungas Environmental Programme the highest number yet recorded for Asia and the Pacific Indonesia’s Ujung Kulon National Park around Virunga National Park in DRC leatherbacks in the survey area. appears to have ceased altogether – has run an education programme on Monitoring, anti-poaching which is good news for the four young mountain gorillas and has also helped Amongst other highlights, four turtle enforcement, provision of alternative rhino calves found in August 2001. to resettle families away from the breeding sites have been identified income schemes such as ecotourism, New initiatives, such as the pilot gorillas’ Sarambwe forest home. Other along 200km of coast in Gabon. developing conservation action plans community-based monitoring and WWF projects are conserving habitats Protecting places such as these from for flagship species, and investigations patrolling programme in Pingwu, for western lowland gorillas (e.g. in the poachers will form a central part of the into wildlife trade and consumption China, are aimed at enhancing long- Dzanga-Sangha, Lobeke, Nouabale- new programme, along with research were the main areas of WWF’s work in term species conservation. Australia is Ndoki, and Minkebe protected areas) into turtle nurseries. the Asia/Pacific region during 2002. also involving indigenous communities and chimpanzees (e.g. in Tai and Following efforts by WWF and in species conservation, for example Gashaka-Gumpti). In DRC, WWF has Complementing two other turtle TRAFFIC, the government of Laos through an Aboriginal Rangers also helped Milwaukee Zoological conservation networks along the agreed to work towards CITES Conference for green turtle Society to conduct surveys of bonobos Atlantic coast of Africa, a new regional membership. This leaves Bhutan, management. and other large mammals, train park network – “Tortues Marines d’Afrique Solomon Islands, and Cook Islands as staff in survey techniques, and carry de l’Ouest” – has been formed by the region’s only remaining non- Significant headway was also made for out public awareness activities. representatives from the six countries CITES countries. In Thailand, 60 turtle conservation in Indonesia where, covered by the Western African Marine CITES and customs officials received by the start of 2002, the taking of turtle While preparing the new conservation ecoregion: Cape Verde, Gambia, training in preventing illegal wildlife eggs was reduced by 25 per cent, and programme for Africa’s marine turtles, Guineau Bissau, Guinea, Mauritania, trade, while Nepal established a CITES trade in the species reduced by more WWF has continued to support efforts and Senegal. unit within its Department of National than half; annually over 20,000 turtles to slow the decline in turtle numbers. Parks and Wildlife Conservation. used to be traded in Bali, the heart of This has been particularly successful In the coming year, special emphasis Indonesia’s turtle trade. Much of this along the coast of northern KwaZulu- will be placed on conservation actions Increased anti-poaching efforts are success is due to enforcement of laws Natal and southern Mozambique, in the Western African Marine and bearing fruit. In Bhutan, the illegal on domestic consumption and sale of where recent counts of egg-laying Eastern African Marine ecoregions, taking of musk deer, pheasants, fish, turtle meat and eggs, and support for turtles revealed 437 loggerheads and and in the Western Indian Ocean, and medicinal plants has gone down by turtle conservation from community 126 leatherbacks; the latter figure was especially Madagascar. half. Poaching of Javan rhinos in and religious leaders and traditional

Species 49 Species

Protecting rhinos – game guards on patrol in Royal Bardia National Park, Nepal. WWF-Canon / Soh Koon Chng

villagers. A further fillip came in course. Indonesia has also signalled its second phase. The translocation of January 2002 when the Indonesian intention to follow suit. rhinos continued in Nepal with a total Hindu High Council declared the use of 25 rhinos now moved from Chitwan of turtles in religious offerings as not Species Action Plans have been National Park to Bardia National Park obligatory, and called on Hindus to developed by WWF for tigers, Asian and Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve. respect turtle protection laws. This elephants, Asian rhinos, and giant The translocations, started in 1986, followed efforts started in 1996 by pandas, and WWF-Indonesia and have helped in the revival of the one- WWF with religious leaders, including WWF-Malaysia are developing one for horned rhino. Asian elephants, a signature campaign in which many orang-utans. The plans look at the however, have not fared as well over Hindu high priests and traditional underlying causes of species loss and the past 18 months. Reports were leaders declared their support for turtle offer solutions to overcome them. A received of elephants killed in NGOs to strengthen local enforcement. conservation in Bali. Elsewhere, the new project in the Qinling Mountains, Cambodia for their tusks and other A decree issued by the governor of first Turtle Conservation Trust Fund a critical area for panda conservation, parts, and in Assam, India, where in a Jambi province, for instance, requires was established in Thailand with is looking at ways of establishing and matter of 70 days, 31 elephants were district authorities to control the private funds. managing “corridors” linking forested found poisoned to death. The latter areas which have become fragmented hunting and trading of tigers. incident is a critical example of the Whales received a big boost when as forests have been cleared. The Conservation efforts received a further need to solve human-wildlife conflicts several island nations in the Pacific project hopes to identify and secure boost in March 2002 when Thailand’s – increasingly rife across Asia as designated their Exclusive Economic new panda reserves between which Ministry of Health refused permission people fight with animals for living Zones (EEZ)) as whale sanctuaries. pandas can roam freely, allowing for 30 companies to sell 78 different space. An “e-petition”, run through The Cook Islands were the first to take genetic exchange between different traditional medicines containing tiger WWF’s on-line Panda Passport, helped action, followed in May 2002 by groups of animals. bone and other endangered species. initiate a meeting between WWF and Papua New Guinea, Niue, French This was a significant achievement for Assam’s Chief Minister at which Polynesia, and Samoa. The total area Although killing tigers is illegal under WWF Thailand’s “Wildlife Trade actions were agreed to find those of EEZ whale sanctuaries in the Pacific Indonesian law, the number of Awareness” campaign. responsible for the poisoning. is now close to 12 million km2. More Sumatran tigers, estimated in 1999 at Pacific countries are expected to fewer than 500, continues to dwindle. In 2002, the Asian Rhino and Elephant One of the greatest threats to the long- designate whale sanctuaries in due WWF has been working with local Action Strategy (AREAS) entered its term conservation of species is human

50 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 WWF’s African Great Apes Programme

Africa is home to four of the six species of great apes: eastern gorilla, western gorilla, chimpanzee, and bonobo. All four are listed by IUCN as Endangered. Two subspecies of gorilla are listed as The subject of renewed conservation Critically Endangered: the mountain gorilla (about 650 individuals efforts – a mountain gorilla in Virunga surviving in two populations) and the cross river gorilla (probably National Park, Democratic Republic less than 250 in eight fragmented populations). of Congo. WWF-Canon / Martin Harvey Africa’s great apes face a number of threats: poverty. Increasingly, conservation and frequent marine developments. ■ Illegal hunting and trade – the precise levels of hunting are planning therefore identifies alternative Another critically endangered dolphin, unknown but between 3,000-6,000 apes may be killed each year income sources, such as ecotourism the North Island Hector’s dolphin of in Africa to provide meat. development. A community-based New Zealand, has suffered a setback ecotourism scheme in China’s after making some gains. A ban on set- ■ Habitat degradation and fragmentation – logging in West and Wanglang Reserve won acceptance netting imposed by the New Zealand Central Africa continues to reduce ape habitat. In addition, the from the local community as a key government in the dolphin’s known presence of loggers and logging roads increases poaching. source of income, proving that panda range would have significantly reduced conservation and social and economic the accidental capture of dolphins. ■ Disease transmission – apes are susceptible to many of the development can go hand in hand. A However, the decision was overturned same viruses and parasites as humans and have suffered as a similiar initiative is underway in by a judicial review instigated by the result. For example, in Gombe National Park in Tanzania human Indonesia's Ujung Kulon National fishing industry. WWF is pressing the diseases such as scabies, pneumonia and gut parasites caused Park, and in Bhutan WWF has drafted government for adequate measures to an almost 40 per cent decline in a chimpanzee population. a national ecotourism strategy. WWF protect the world’s smallest and rarest has also contributed to tourism plans marine dolphin. ■ Human-ape conflict – with increasing human expansion, people for Bardia, Chitwan and Kanchenjunga and apes are coming into conflict more regularly. Many apes raid National Parks in Nepal. Europe and the Middle East crops and are sometimes killed as a result.

Not all ecotourists are lucky enough to WWF’s work on illegal wildlife trade To address these threats, WWF has launched a new African Great encounter wildlife close up. Imagine in Europe is led by TRAFFIC Europe, Apes Programme. Its goal is to improve the conservation status of the excitement, therefore, when the joint WWF-IUCN programme at least two populations each of eastern gorilla, western gorilla, participants in a WWF-Hong Kong which specializes in combating illegal chimpanzee, and bonobo. Activities include protection and dolphin tour witnessed the birth of a wildlife trade. management, capacity building in range states, gaining community Chinese white dolphin. Only about 150 support for ape conservation, policy and legislation, trade, and of these dolphins are found in Hong One of the best-known products that education and awareness. In addition, WWF will continue to provide Kong waters, where they face threats TRAFFIC focuses on comes from a support to ongoing ape conservation projects (see under Africa and from pollution, reduced food large prehistoric fish: the sturgeon. Madagascar). abundance resulting from overfishing, Sturgeons can grow to 6m in length,

Species 51 Species

weigh up to 1,200kg and live for 150 contained wording to make the system and important coastal areas such as threatened by increasing maritime years. The largest populations of the operational. WWF is hoping for a Piltun Bay. In conjunction with other traffic and pollution. The new research fish live in Russia and some positive response. Work on the ground NGOs, WWF succeeded in curtailing is part of the “Cap Ligures” scientific neighbouring countries. The product, by TRAFFIC Russia includes seismic surveys by two oil companies programme launched in 1999. One of highly prized all over the world, is provision of information and training that were shown to be driving the its primary objectives is to better caviar. Dubbed “black pearls”, caviar for local authorities and businesses whales away from feeding areas. The understand the behaviour of comprises the unfertilized eggs of along the Caspian Sea and the Amur proposal is being considered by both Mediterranean whales. Information sturgeons. The main exporting River, the border between Far Eastern federal and regional governments. from the study will help to shape countries are Russia and Iran, and the Russia and China. proposals for managing the sanctuary. main importers are France, Germany Also in the Russian Far East, WWF, and Switzerland. Since the opening up WWF and TRAFFIC also carry out together with the Wild Life Latin America and the of Russia’s markets, illegal harvesting work to protect plants. Another Foundation, instigated the first Russian Caribbean of caviar has increased dramatically. proposal for the CITES conference regulations for ecological corridors in Today, TRAFFIC estimates that a aimed at better protection for tropical the region of Khabarovsky Kray. The Habitat loss remains the greatest threat reduction of catches by 80 per cent hardwood trees such as big-leaf regulations restrict land use in to the survival of plant and animal would be needed to stabilize sturgeon mahogany. The proposal includes territories where it is difficult to species in Latin America and the populations and secure a future for the development of easy-to-use recognition establish protected areas. The Caribbean. As well as its work to fish. systems to enable customs authorities Maiminsky ecological corridor links ensure the survival of forest, to differentiate between internationally two key habitats of the Amur tiger, freshwater and marine habitats, WWF To combat illegal trade in caviar, protected tree species. enabling the tiger to migrate freely. is concentrating on two species of TRAFFIC has been drawing up a regional importance – marine turtles labelling system that extends from the In other work, WWF has drafted a In the Ligurian Whale Sanctuary in the and mahogany. At the same time, processing plant to retail outlets. proposal to establish a marine Mediterranean Sea, WWF undertook initiatives are also underway to protect TRAFFIC was looking for a move by protected area for a population of electronic tagging of whales using other threatened species such as the CITES to make the labelling system a around 100 grey whales off north-east satellite and radio-transmitters. The monarch butterfly and the vaquita legal requirement. After lobbying hard Sakhalin in the Sea of Okhotsk in the area is an important feeding ground for porpoise. to convince the main players, the draft Russian Far East. The reserve will 18 species of whale. Despite the resolution put to CITES members protect the whales’ feeding grounds sanctuary, however, the cetaceans are Big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia

52 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Mahogany ‘Swietenia macrophylla’ in the rainforest of Manu National Park, Peru. WWF-Canon / André Bärtschi macrophylla) represents one of the through a Gift to the Earth campaign most important economic resources – will go a long way to ensuring the originating in the forests of Latin genetic viability of maintaining stands America. With the goal of ensuring the of mahogany. On the forest long-term stability of mahogany, WWF management side of the issue, has joined with Conservation significant achievements are expected International, IUCN and TRAFFIC to in northern Guatemala and set an agenda for mahogany Amazonian Peru that would expand conservation from the standpoint of the coverage of FSC-certified forests forest management and international over the natural range of the species. trade. WWF has played a key role in Such a move will increase the flow of discussions with the timber industry in certified mahogany into the markets Brazil regarding ways to resolve illegal of North America and Europe. On the logging, much of which targets demand side, focus will fall on mahogany. In Peru, WWF has legislation concerning procurement advanced the cause of sustainable policies that favour certified wood forest management by successfully over non-certified wood. Such implementing the Peruvian forest law legislation is currently being in Madre de Dios and Ucayali. The considered in New York City, which law requires management plans based consumes large quantities of tropical on 40-year logging rotations and hardwoods, particularly mahogany 5,000-50,000ha concessions, many of and Guyanese greenheart, in its city which hold the last commercially constructions. With an eye to the viable populations of mahogany in the CITES meeting in Chile, WWF Americas. played a key role in helping Nicaragua submit a proposal for the In 2002, plans to expand protected inclusion of mahogany on CITES areas in the Peruvian Amazon – Appendix II.

Species 53 Species

Some of the world’s largest and most turtle conservation strategies under pristine nesting beaches for marine the newly formed Interamerican turtles are located within the LAC Convention on Sea Turtles. region, the oceans of which contain six of the seven species. The issues At a local level, in Peru WWF and circumstances surrounding marine undertook an aggressive environmental turtle conservation are diverse, which education and communications is why WWF has drawn up a regional campaign among the local Pisco Mexico. Despite the recent massive is approaching the governments of marine turtle action plan. Part of this Paracas population and restaurant mortality of an estimated 250 million Canada, Mexico and the US for plan involves local users and owners. Nationally, WWF played a key monarch butterflies as a result of support. Mexico has so far communities in efforts to protect role in setting up a working group for storms in the Sierra Chincua and El contributed US$250,000. turtle habitats. WWF is also marine turtle conservation and in Rosario wintering colonies, addressing threats such as the illegal moving forward legislation to protect significant advances have been made. Also in Mexico, WWF and a group of harvesting of green turtles in the Gulf turtles. In Colombia, WWF is The WWF-designed Monarch Mexican and international NGOs, of California and Galápagos, and supporting the development of a Butterfly Conservation Fund government agencies and academic hawksbill turtles in the Caribbean, for national strategy for marine turtle compensated landowners in the institutions launched a campaign to meat, eggs and shells, and the conservation. The greatest efforts have Monarch Butterfly Reserve for the save the highly endangered vaquita incidental death of turtles caught in come in the Guyanas where WWF has cancellation of logging permits. This porpoise. Only 567 individuals are commercial fishing nets. In 2002, led the development of a five-year new scheme will provide economic thought to remain in the upper Gulf WWF and many partners throughout Comprehensive Marine Turtle incentives to gradually transform of California. Excellent coverage of the Caribbean argued against a Conservation Program, which includes land use and the economy of the area the campaign in national newspapers proposal before CITES to reopen protection of the largest concentration from one based on unsustainable and on radio and television news international trade in hawksbill shells of leatherbacks in the world. logging to one of conservation and prompted a call to WWF from the and their products. If approved, this sustainable forest management, Mexican Environment Minister would result in a major setback of WWF is committed to protecting ensuring the integrity of the butterfly offering his assistance. By mid-2002, global efforts to ensure the survival of monarch butterflies and the population in a 54,000ha reserve. the campaign had raised more than the species. In addition, WWF and biological phenomenon of their Some US$15 million are still needed 9,000 letters sent to President Fox other NGOs are working to influence migration to overwintering sites in to secure the programme and WWF calling for action.

54 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Monarch – some US$15 million are needed to secure the conservation programme for the butterfly. WWF-Canon / Kevin Schafer

North America reduce turtle by-catch.

A successful proposal by WWF and WWF-Canada and WWF-US joined WWF’s Global Conservation Programme others submitted to the IMO to move forces to develop a bi-national the shipping lanes in the Bay of Fundy conservation programme for some of Expenditure on Species Conservation FY 2001 is expected to reduce collisions the most intact prairie ecosystems of between right whales and ships – the the Northern High Plains. As well as single biggest threat to this critically supporting a number of unique and 16,000 endangered species – by as much as 80 recently discovered plant communities, per cent. the region is also important for declining species such as mountain 14,000 In the first study anywhere in the plover, sage grouse, swift fox, black- world of leatherback turtles in tailed prairie dog, and black-footed 12,000 temperate waters, satellite-tagging of ferret. WWF is working with the 9,939 males, which do not show up on Northern Plains Conservation 10,000 tropical nesting beaches, will help to Network, consisting of more than 20 7,609 7,779 reveal their patterns of movement and NGOs, to develop a conservation plan 8,000 behaviour. It is hoped that the for the region. information gained will aid efforts to 6,000

4,000 2,902 2,280 1,513 2,000

0 0 Africa Asia Europe Latin North Conservation Campaigns America America Policy

Species 55 Climate Change

JENNIFER MORGAN, Director of the Climate Change Programme, provides an overview of WWF’s recent efforts to fight climate change and the challenges that lie ahead.

he impacts of climate change and industry, mobilizing the public to foundation for the deeper reductions in its focus away from the United on biodiversity threaten take action, and documenting the carbon dioxide emissions over coming Nations’ climate negotiations towards much, if not all, of WWF’s impacts of climate change and decades needed to prevent the worst implementing cuts in carbon pollution Tmission. Scientists warn that mitigating those impacts. projected impacts from becoming by policy-makers, business and the increase in temperatures, coupled reality. industry, and the financial sector. The with more intense weather events, are Against the odds, 2001 ended with the Climate Change Programme is now placing coral reefs, arctic and montane successful conclusion of the Kyoto WWF’s first task in 2002 was to working to ensure that industrialized areas, and forests at very serious risk. climate treaty, due in no small part to ensure Kyoto was turned into nations make substantial reductions in

WWF’s Climate Change Programme is dogged campaigning over four years international law. The “Go for Kyoto” their domestic emissions of CO2, the working across the world to reduce by WWF. The outcome was all the campaign needed to persuade a “hit- main global warming gas, by 2010, that risk by leveraging commitments more remarkable in that it was list” of up to 25 industrialized nations and to promote the use of energy from governments, business and achieved in the face of opposition by to ratify the treaty. The campaign efficiency and clean renewable industry, the financial sector and the the US administration and the oil, coal combined direct lobbying and the energy in the developing world. A public to bring about deep cuts in the and car industries. WWF believes that mobilization of WWF’s global network major effort is concentrated on

emissions of greenhouse gases that the treaty provided a small first step in of activists to call on prominent reducing CO2 emissions from cause global warming. combating climate change. Its entry government leaders to discharge their electricity generation – the single into force, even without the United responsibilities. This was especially largest cause of global warming and There are four components which States, will send a clear signal to the true in Japan, the European Union and the sector where emission reduction together form an unprecedented global market and policy-makers that Russia. By mid-2002, entry into force options are most readily available and international programme working in binding climate action is required. This looked likely, with the eyes of the cost effective. over 30 countries and internationally to will also bring pressure on the US to world focused on the Russian save the planet from climate change: join the rest of the world. The treaty Federation following a promise by WWF offices are working nationally to pressing for positive changes to contains mandatory commitments President Putin that Russia would achieve aggressive policies, while the international and national policies, requiring most of the industrialized ratify the treaty. programme is assessing where pressure heightening the awareness and world to start cutting back on global can be applied internationally for improving the performance of business warming pollution. It also lays a With Kyoto on course, WWF shifted emissions reductions. Success depends

56 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Targets and examples of progress in 2002

Emissions reductions in industrialized countries: By 2010, a 10 per cent reduction below 1990 emissions in industrialized country carbon dioxide emissions.

■ Finalizing the Kyoto Protocol and setting it well along the pathway of entry into force ■ Lafarge, Nike, and The Collins Companies join the Climate Savers programme ■ Launch of a website with Ben and Jerry’s that gave people in the US, western Europe and Japan the opportunity to pledge to take on ensuring that effective power sector In June 2002, WWF adopted a new action to reduce their own carbon footprint and send a political policies are introduced, that decisions tack with the start of a campaign to message to politicians ■ by business and industry and by promote clean, “green” electricity to Support for renewable energy in the EU (Renewable Energy Directive) and the US (renewable portfolio standard in the US financial institutions lead to lower businesses and public institutions in Senate energy legislation). carbon emissions, and that consumers the five nations that together account use their spending power to benefit for three-quarters of the European Solutions in developing countries: By 2010, initiatives should be power companies pursuing a low- Union’s power production: France, underway in thirty developing countries to implement solutions leading carbon future. WWF is aiming for an Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK (see to a significant reduction in carbon intensity, in particular from the international agreement to increase the page 60). combustion of fossil fuels. share of new renewable energy to 10 ■ per cent by 2010; this would send a Influencing investment decisions is Sustainable energy trade mission to the EU by the Philippines Minister of Energy and a delegation of companies, organized by clear signal to markets that renewable pivotal to curbing rising carbon WWF, which helped to raise investment support for renewable energy is a serious source for today emissions. In response to the Kyoto energy projects in the Philippines and raised the international profile and the future. treaty’s Clean Development of the country as a destination for sustainable energy investors. Mechanism, which offers credits to WWF’s “Climate Savers” programme industrialized countries that set up National impacts management plans and strategies: By 2010, fifty continues to grow. Working with pollution-reduction projects in countries are implementing adaptation strategies in key companies that agree aggressive developing countries, WWF ecoregions/biomes and sectors of their economies on the basis of commitments to reduce their established a new scheme to ensure national plans for the reduction of vulnerability to climate change. emissions, Climate Savers that the market favours sound and ■ First field test of adaptation strategies begun in American Samoa demonstrates that climate business is effective projects. In leading through a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency. The good business. Six companies have industrialized countries, WWF is project aims to discover what role freshwater river basins, through now joined – IBM, Johnson & engaging fund managers to ensure that nutrient runoff, and protected area status might have on limiting Johnson, Nike, Collins Pine, Polaroid, governments are aware of the financial bleaching of coral reefs and Lafarge. Our work to garner risks of investing in projects with high ■ Research in the north-west Pacific to determine if floodplain business support for the Kyoto climate carbon emissions and to steer them protection and condition can offer salmon protection from warming treaty was also highly successful, with towards low- and zero-carbon Pacific waters. more than 180 companies enlisting. investment options.

Climate Change 57 Climate Change

City traffic, such as here in the streets of Bangkok, Thailand, contributes to the 23 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere every year. WWF-Canon / Martin Harvey

WWF continues to lead the field in for field conservation professionals, to intact floodplain habitat. The study will documenting and publicizing the be combined with a series of pilot examine data gathered over many impacts of climate change on projects. years, focusing primarily on the US biodiversity. A new analysis by WWF states of Oregon and Washington, and revealed that habitat changes resulting Our first field test of adaptation the Canadian province of British from global warming could lead to a strategies began in American Samoa Columbia. catastrophic loss of species in one-fifth through a grant from the US of the world's most vulnerable nature Environmental Protection Agency. The Asia and the Pacific areas, ranging from the equator to the project will examine the role that land- poles. Another study showed that based watershed condition (through WWF’s work on climate change in global warming is taking a dramatic nutrient run-off) and protected area Asia and the Pacific revolves around impacts of climate change. A rapid toll on the Arctic and the polar bears status have on limiting the scope of pressing countries to reduce CO 2 response team is on standby waiting to that live there. The website linked to coral bleaching. These studies may emissions, for example from the the study (www.panda.org/polarbears) demonstrate that it is possible to offer burning of fossil fuels such as coal, document mass bleaching of reefs with was recommended by leading media some protection to coral reefs from the and encouraging the development of the aim of understanding the organizations in the UK and the US. deleterious effects of coral bleaching national plans to cope with the impacts phenomenon and raising awareness by creating marine protected areas of climate change. among local governments, Publicizing the impacts of global and/or protecting watersheds. And in communities, and the media of the warming remains a key element of the north-west Pacific, WWF is Low-lying countries will be affected need to take preventative action. WWF’s work. However, because the working with University of most by sea-level rise caused by global world is committed to significant Washington researchers to determine if warming. At particular risk are coral Similarly in the South Pacific, WWF is levels of warming over the coming floodplain protection/condition can reefs in the South Pacific, Indonesia working to strengthen Pacific Island decades, WWF is developing a new offer salmon any protection from and the Philippines which are countries’ understanding of the impact area of work aimed at reducing the warming Pacific waters. Using El Niño vulnerable to “bleaching” – so-called of climate change on biodiversity. vulnerability of nature and economies years as a proxy for long-term changes because large areas of coral die and There is already wide political and to the inevitable impacts of climate in North Pacific temperature regimes, turn white. In Indonesia, WWF is public acknowledgement that climate change. The first step involves the we are examining the success of using such occurrences as an indicator change is having an impact, so the preparation of an adaptation manual salmon from streams with and without of the ecological and economic focus here is to help governments

58 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Working with business and industry

Changes in corporate practice are essential to achieve measurable progress in tackling global warming, moving to renewable energy systems and clean technologies, phasing out toxic chemicals and ensuring sustainable use of commodities such as timber, fish and agricultural products. Although corporations are often part of the problem, they should undoubtedly be part of the solution. According to the Institute of Policy Studies (1995), of the world’s top 100 economic entities, 51 were corporations and only 49 were countries.

WWF believes that corporate engagement is a key to transforming markets, to changing domestic and international law and to adopting and promoting a shift of the sector to sustainable development and to best practice. develop appropriate adaptation measures and ensure that the Pacific WWF’s policy is to enter into business and industry relationships which deliver conservation on the ground voice is heard in global fora. Of and contribute to the attainment of the organization’s mission, while endeavouring to protect and enhance particular concern in the region is the the WWF brand, independence and integrity. WWF will work with most companies when the company refusal by some industrialized demonstrates a real commitment to the principles of sustainability. Three of the most important of WWF’s countries, such as Australia, to ratify own guiding principles for engagement are mutual respect, transparency and WWF’s right to criticize; WWF the Kyoto climate treaty and cut back and the corporate partner will not agree on all things all the time. Agreeing to disagree in a transparent framework has been a key factor in sustaining relationships that are beneficial to both partners. on CO2 emissions.

WWF is acknowledged by the WWF’s approach to working with business is constructive and solutions-oriented. It is both collaborative in Japanese government as an opinion its methods and challenging in its objectives. And it is always forward-looking; WWF works with companies leader on climate change. As such, the to help them change the way they do business. organization was invited to participate in the drafting of a National Emission WWF International’s Business and Industry Unit aims to encourage and facilitate a coordinated and Scenario as a member of the strategic approach by the global WWF Network to business and industry relations by: government’s Study Committee. India, ■ a major emitter of greenhouse gases, is supporting the development and implementation of global programme-led partnerships ■ supporting the development of the network’s capacity to address business and industry issues and being encouraged by WWF to look at encouraging engagement in an informed and coordinated way (e.g. risk assessments), and its obligations under the Kyoto treaty. ■ developing innovative, strategic partnerships with a wide With this in mind, WWF met with range of influential actors to help achieve WWF’s global government officials, policy-makers, conservation targets. economists, and environmentalists in a workshop in May 2002 to draw up policy recommendations for limiting climate change impacts. In Nepal, Under the Conservation Partnership with WWF, Lafarge, a world leader in WWF signed an agreement with the building materials, has made a major commitment to reducing its carbon Ministry of Population and dioxide emissions by 10 per cent below 1990 levels, by 2010. Environment for closer collaboration

Climate Change 59 Climate Change

Reef fish – increasingly at risk where corals die from bleaching caused by global warming. WWF / Catherine Holloway

on urban and pollution issues; to establish itself as a regional leader identify those companies willing to polluting vehicles in the Kathmandu in renewable energy technology. This champion actions against climate Valley have already been banned. included a study tour to Europe led by change and prompt change within the the Philippine Energy Secretary. industry. Much of WWF’s climate change work in the region is taking place in China, Europe and the Middle East WWF is currently gathering support where the focus is on greater use of from EU member states for the renewable energy. Studies of In addition to successfully promoting Emissions Trading Directive. This renewable energy options and training ratification of the Kyoto climate treaty offers the potential for both a viable for renewable energy enterprises, by European countries, in particular alternative to the flawed Kyoto including a study tour by Chinese the EU which ratified the treaty in emissions trading system and a strong COGEN Europe, the European Trade industry leaders to Europe, have been June, WWF’s efforts in Europe have incentive to cut CO emissions 2 Association for the Promotion of undertaken. A campaign to promote focused on measures to improve the domestically in the EU. WWF is Cogeneration based in Brussels. WWF “green” electricity is at the planning environmental performance of the working to get the Directive agreed by hopes that the first draft of the stage and will include engaging the power sector. Globally, WWF plans to the European Parliament by mid-2003. Directive will go before the European media to make the link between water assess the 10-15 largest power Council and Parliament before the end shortages and climate change. In companies in Western Europe, Eastern The Climate Change Programme has Thailand, WWF is helping to reform Europe and Russia, North America, entered into a working relationship of 2003. the power sector, promoting policies Australia, and key countries in Asia. with leading construction company and economic incentives that The performance of these companies ABB. With ABB support, WWF is In cooperation with other encourage energy saving and efficiency (e.g. carbon dioxide emissions, nuclear working on a draft Directive on co- environmental NGOs, WWF has and renewable sources of energy power, renewable energy generation) generation of power in the EU. WWF established the European Green generation. will be used to generate “scorecard” views co-generation, combining Electricity Network (EUGENE) with ratings of power sector companies. natural gas-fired power stations with the objective of defining an eco- In addition to assessing impacts of WWF will also be sending open letters solar and other energy sources, as a standard for “green” electricity. Under coral bleaching on Tubbataha reef in to companies inviting their support for cost-effective means of reducing the scheme, electricity generated from the Sulu Sulawesi Seas, WWF in the WWF’s “Clean Power Agenda” or greenhouse gas emissions. WWF is renewable sources would carry an Philippines is also helping the country parts of it. This will help WWF to collaborating on the proposal with ecolabel and will be available to

60 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Conserving ecoregions – the forests of New Guinea

During 2002, WWF released a new analysis revealing that habitat changes resulting from global warming could lead to a catastrophic loss of species in one-fifth of the world's most threatened nature areas, ranging from the equator to the poles. In addition to working to reduce greenhouse gases, WWF is developing a new area of work aimed at reducing the vulnerability of nature and economies to the inevitable impacts of global warming. The first step involves the preparation of a manual advising nature conservation managers on how to adapt management regimes to a changing climate. By looking ahead, the effects of climate change may be reduced and hard-won conservation achievements saved. This is particularly important for the Global 200 ecoregions, such as the Forests of New Guinea.

New Guinea is the world’s largest and biologically richest tropical island, supporting the largest remaining intact block of tropical rainforest in the Asia/Pacific region. These forests, and their extensive freshwater systems, are the lifeblood for 6.5 million people, more than four-fifths of whom live a village-based subsistence lifestyle. The forests host an extraordinarily diverse and unique wildlife, including some 25,000 plant species, most of them unique, almost 800 bird and 147 mammal species, many found nowhere else. Most recognizable are the fabulously colourful birds of paradise, as well as many other organisms which reach their greatest diversity here, including orchids, tree-dwelling marsupials, pigeons, and reef fish.

New Guinea is divided politically between the nation of Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the east and the Indonesian province of Papua (formerly Irian Jaya) in the west. Almost all land in PNG is held in customary ownership while state control of land in Papua is now recognizing some communal ownership of resources. Taken together, this is one of the poorest regions on Earth, with desperate needs for improved health, education and income options. Under the UK Department for International Development’s (DfID) poverty alleviation programme, and in partnership with local communities and organizations, WWF is helping to deal with these issues by shaping new economic options that protect the environment, supporting conservation areas and encouraging a more integrated approach to decision-making on resource management that respects community values.

Of the seven Global 200 ecoregions in New Guinea, WWF is focusing on the great river basins of the Sepik, Mamberano, Kikori, Fly and Digul Rivers as well as the Birdshead peninsula of Papua. Building on the successes of earlier work across the TransFly savannahs ecoregion linking PNG, Indonesia and Australia, a process of ecoregional planning across the whole island of New Guinea was begun in 2001. With a range of partners, WWF is helping to spearhead a more integrated and expansive approach to conservation and resource management which has already resulted in:

■ a new resource centre – the Pacific Ecoregions Centre – for large-scale planning in Madang, PNG ■ signing of a Tri-National Wetlands Agreement for cooperation between PNG, Indonesia and Australia ■ commitments to river basin management in PNG ■ endorsement by the PNG government of ecoregions as the basis of large-scale resource planning ■ a multi-stakeholder process to sustainably manage and capture revenue from the valuable trade in gaharu – large evergreen trees prized for their fragrant wood and oil ■ high-level exchange visits between PNG and Papua on ecoforestry.

Climate Change 61 Climate Change

companies and consumers wanting to River and Flooded Forests or Valdivian switch to cleaner, renewable sources. Temperate Rainforests ecoregions), WWF is promoting environment there is a need to build more friendly electricity to businesses and understanding of the subject and the public institutions in five countries – capacity to address it, both within and France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the outside the organization. As well as UK – that together account for three- making the necessary investments, quarters of the European Union’s over the next year and beyond WWF power production. will be studying the possibilities of forming alliances with other NGOs, Latin America and the research institutes, and business and Caribbean industry, participating in regional networks, and preparing Clean Awareness continues to grow in Latin Development Mechanism projects. America and the Caribbean regarding current and potential future impacts of North America climate change, and the Kyoto climate treaty, particularly the Clean Over the last year, WWF’s climate Development Mechanism. Climate team, in partnership with Canadian change is also becoming an integral NGOs, looked at the barriers part of WWF’s conservation activities preventing Canada’s ratification of the in the region. For example, in Brazil it Kyoto climate treaty. This included is one of the variables taken into comparing the US and Canadian account in the planning of new energy-efficiency programmes to protected areas. However, before challenge the notion that non- WWF can move forward with pilot ratification by the US would have a projects that address climate change in harmful effect on the Canadian entire ecoregions (such as the Amazon economy, as well as exploring the

62 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 A new report supported by WWF named climate change as the main threat to polar bears as their Arctic home melts. WWF / Fritz Pölking likely benefits to Canada of ratifying the bears have on the ice to hunt, the treaty, particularly where forests leading to greater mortality, especially and agricultural lands are concerned. among cubs. A new WWF website – WWF’s Global Conservation Programme www.panda.org/polarbears – contains In other work, WWF supported a study extensive information about polar Expenditure on Climate Change FY 2001 of climate change impacts on polar bears and their Arctic domain, and bears, seals and ice edge in Hudson includes satellite-tracking of two 1,918 Bay, part of ongoing research into female bears as they roam the ice pack 2,000 ways of mitigating the effects of in search of prey. climate change on the Arctic. The report, Polar Bears at Risk, reviews Two new North American companies, 1,750 the threats faced by the world’s 22,000 Nike and The Collins Companies, polar bears and highlights climate joined the Climate Savers programme, 1,500 change as the main threat to their increasing its credibility as a means of 1,195 survival. As Arctic temperatures rise, reducing greenhouse gas emissions 1,250 longer ice-free periods limit the time from business and industry.

1,000

750

500

274 226 250

34 21 0 0 Africa Asia Europe Latin North Conservation Campaigns America America Policy

Climate Change 63 Toxics

CLIFTON CURTIS, Director of the Toxics Programme, summarizes WWF’s work over the last year to curb the spread and use of dangerous, life-threatening chemicals.

ver the last 50 years, ratification during the past year. WWF elsewhere, this evidence will aid in using, selling and marketing organotins evidence has been mounting will continue to champion that effort in WWF's efforts during 2003 to promote – giving a clear message that these on the threat posed by 2003 and work to ensure effective the enactment of environmentally chemicals are no longer acceptable – Osynthetic chemicals to the implementation, including adequate sound chemicals management the "2003 Group" provides an health and well-being of wildlife and funding for developing countries and strategies and to engage companies to opportunity for the shipping industry to people. Wherever scientists look, they transitional economies. In addition, the reduce their use of hormone disrupting adhere to the spirit of the new find the impact of toxic chemicals. No Toxics Programme is enhancing our chemicals. convention and stop using organotins person, species, or region of the Earth outreach to business and industry to before the convention is due to become can escape the reach of these insidious secure their commitment to reduce and Already, WWF has achieved a historic legally binding in 2003. pollutants. Contamination from eliminate POPs. success when, at the IMO in October persistent synthetic chemicals is a 2001, the world's shipping nations The international community has made pervasive problem that will take Benefiting from WWF's ground- adopted a new global convention on significant progress in addressing toxic enormous effort, resources, and breaking role in bringing attention to chemical anti-fouling paints. The chemicals issues, but much more needs creativity to address effectively. hormone-disrupting chemicals, many chemicals – organotins such as to be done to protect life on Earth from scientists have concluded that synthetic tributyltin (TBT) – are used on ships' these dangerous compounds. The WWF's Toxics Programme is meeting compounds have already harmed many hulls to prevent barnacles and other pervasive and global nature of the the toxics challenge head on at national wildlife populations and humans by marine organisms from attaching and threat underscores the urgency of and international levels. Having interfering with the development of the are among the most toxic ever continued and heightened action in successfully challenged governments body, including the brain, and by deliberately released into the marine addressing toxic chemicals-related to adopt the Stockholm Persistent undermining the ability to learn, to environment. At the same time, WWF issues. With projects underway in Organic Pollutants (POPs) Convention fight off disease, and to reproduce. announced the creation of the "2003 locations around the world, from in 2001, we are pressing those same WWF scientists in Canada, the US and Group", which involves Bering Sea communities to Colombia's decision-makers to ratify that global the EU have been alerting people to environmentally responsible ship northern Andes, and from Pakistan's agreement expeditiously, enabling its the threats they pose, helping decision- owners whose fleets are already Indus River Delta to the Florida early entry-into-force. Excellent makers to appreciate and respond to organotin-free. With the IMO Everglades, WWF will continue to be progress has been made in promoting these contaminants. In the EU and resolution urging industry to stop actively engaged, using science-based

64 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 The WWF-initiated Africa Stockpiles Programme is gaining momentum to rid the continent of 50,000 tonnes of dangerous, out-of-date pesticides. Pesticide Action Network-UK initiatives to inform and drive policy UNEP, the African Union, Pesticide reforms at all levels of governance. Action Network and others, are Targets and examples of progress in 2002 enabling the development of a Africa and Madagascar comprehensive, effective programme. Nonetheless, to ensure the long-term Elimination: By 2007, eliminate or reduce at least 30 of the most An innovative, on-the-ground success of the project, substantial hazardous industrial chemicals and pesticides, with special partnership to address threats from funds still need to be raised, leveraging emphasis on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and endocrine obsolete pesticide stockpiles in Africa GEF support with that of government is gaining momentum. The WWF- aid agencies and others. disrupting chemicals (EDCs). initiated Africa Stockpiles Programme (ASP) brings together the resources Asia and the Pacific ■ Progress toward ratification and entry into force of the Stockholm and talents of intergovernmental (POPs) Convention organizations, international aid WWF in Pakistan is leading the agencies, environmental NGOs and the organization’s work to eliminate the ■ The decision by the International Maritime Organization to phase pesticides industry. Designed to clean production and use of toxic chemicals out organotin anti-fouling paints. up existing stockpiles and prevent their in the Asia/Pacific region, where a future recurrence, the project is number of advances have been made estimated to cost US$250 million over over the last 18 months. Informed decision-making: By 2007, scientific, educational and 15 years, contributing to poverty regulatory initiatives will be firmly in place, enabling decision-makers alleviation as well as a more In Indonesia, WWF convinced a large (governments, industry, consumers) to make informed choices about sustainable development for national mining company to be openly toxic chemicals and their alternatives. and local economies. Clean-up responsible over the impact of mine operations in several countries are set tailings on the vegetation and wildlife to begin in mid-2003. Financial of a mangrove forest. WWF also ■ Introduction in the United States of the “Hormone Disruption support from the GEF and the persuaded the company not to dump Research Act of 2003” Canadian government, with toxic material into local river systems. ■ contributions of time and further In the Philippines WWF joined with Development of a European Union Chemicals Strategy. resources by WWF, the World Bank, industry leaders, shipping owners,

Toxics 65 Toxics

resort owners, national and local system for 750 households in a low- The new legislation, when completed, WWF work on this process is also government agencies, and other NGOs income urban area – a model which will help with phasing out the setting a benchmark for how risk to sign a Memorandum of will be replicated in other urban areas. production and use of persistent assessment of chemicals can be done Understanding committing all parties organic pollutants and other harmful in a precautionary way. to cooperate in mitigating oil spills and Europe and the Middle East bioaccumulative substances throughout their effects in Balayan Bay. Among Europe, along with chemicals with Latin America and the the signatories were Shell, Caltex, the The EU is beginning to take on global endocrine-disrupting properties. WWF Caribbean Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine responsibility for chemicals has played a key role in lobbying for Ports Authority, and Friends of management and legislation by trying “global responsibility” with respect to As industrialization and urbanization Balayan Bay, a resort association. A to produce a far-reaching strategy, the toxic chemicals, but the battle is far have become more widespread in Latin GIS-aided oil spill response system for principles of which can be used around from won; the US and the Far East America and the Caribbean, so the the area was also successfully piloted. the world, to reduce currently (along with certain EU states) are not issue of toxics has grown in uncontrolled exposures to toxic yet totally supportive of the new consequence. WWF’s work to reduce In other efforts, WWF continued to chemicals. In this, WWF is keenly policy. the harmful effects of toxics on human advise on management of solid waste supporting the Directorate General for and wildlife populations is also and pollution. In Sagarmatha and Environment in the European WWF is the only environmental NGO gathering pace in the region. Kanchenjunga National Parks in Commission and working hard in the currently pressing to ensure that new, Nepal, for example, where waste expert/technical drafting groups. WWF low-dose studies on the impact of the In Colombia, WWF has been studying management is a major component of is also lending support to Members of endocrine disrupter Bisphenol A on toxics issues that may affect the tourism plan, clean-up efforts the European Parliament who are wildlife are properly considered in the biodiversity conservation in the resulted in the collection and disposal backing the initiative. At the same EU’s review of this chemical. A major Northern Andes. The organization is of 1,000kg of rubbish. A competition time, WWF will highlight the industrial chemical, Bisphenol A is a also looking at threats posed by aerial organized for high schools in Thimphu, inadequacies of the current law, the proven endocrine disrupter that has fumigation of illicit crops and has Bhutan, saw the collection of 11,300kg resulting dangers posed by chemicals been shown to affect wildlife influenced US foreign policy regarding of plastic waste and 15,000kg of that have not been tested for their development at low levels. The present environmental impact analyses. In biodegradable waste. And in Pakistan, safety, and the irresponsible behaviour review could potentially restrict its use Guyana, as part of the Guayanan WWF developed a community-based of the chemical industry in putting in the EU, encouraging the Forests Environmental Conservation municipal solid waste management humans and wildlife at risk. development of safer alternatives. The Project, WWF is working with local

66 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Conserving ecoregions – North-East Atlantic Shelf

WWF’s Toxics Programme is working to reduce the number of toxic chemicals threatening the world’s ecoregions, for example combating chemical runoff from land-based activities which enter Common seals hauled out on a sand coastal systems and oceans, affecting coral reefs and fisheries. In beach in the Wadden Sea, Netherlands – the North-East Atlantic, WWF is collaborating with OSPAR, the a species at risk from toxic pollution in Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the the North-East Atlantic. North-East Atlantic, to phase out highly persistent polybrominated WWF / Jan van de Kam biphenyl ethers (PBDEs) – fire-retardant chemicals added to plastics in a wide range of products – which build up in body tissues. communities to monitor the this is so is unknown. It is important, environmental and health impacts of therefore, to gain a clearer The North-East Atlantic Shelf ecoregion is a collection of highly mercury used in artisanal goldmining. understanding of how the world’s most productive marine ecosystems of critical importance for people and Preliminary results show significantly dangerous chemicals, such as POPs wildlife. The seas, including the shallow Wadden Sea, the North high levels of mercury in local and EDCs, which continue to be used, Sea, the Irish Sea, and the deeper waters of the Celtic Sea, are rich inhabitants and fish sampled in both are affecting the region’s biodiversity, in marine wildlife – sharks, seals, whales, dolphins, and sea-birds – Suriname and Guyana. including human life. For this reason, as well as commercially important fish stocks. There are highly WWF is exploring ways to integrate a productive plankton and bottom-dwelling communities, kelp forests, Following the Jessica oil spill that toxics component into future work. An sea grass beds and even cold water coral reefs. Millions of polluted some of the waters around the early step will be a region-wide migratory waterfowl and waders depend on feeding and breeding Galápagos Islands in 2001, WWF has assessment, or assessments focused on grounds along the sea coasts. developed and is promoting adoption individual ecoregions, to identify the by the Ecuadorian authorities of the most significant threats to biodiversity Despite its size, this fragile marine environment is at risk. Once “Galápagos Energy Blueprint”. The posed by POPs and EDCs, and how highly productive fisheries face collapse, shipping lanes are some of blueprint aims at transforming they relate to commercial and the most congested in the world, demand for non-renewable marine polluting energy systems currently in industrial processes. resources such as oil, gas and minerals continues to grow, and the use in the archipelago to clean, adjacent coasts support some of the most concentrated urban and sustainable technologies. North America industrial developments in the world. WWF’s North-East Atlantic Complementing two energy-related Programme aims to protect and, where necessary, restore initiatives already being implemented WWF has led the campaign for biodiversity and maintain the natural productivity and status of the by the Ecuadorian government, WWF reform of Canada’s pesticide marine environment. Its special focus is on the land-sea interface hopes the blueprint will help prevent legislation. Alliances with farmers, a and land-based activities which affect the sea. By working with future man-made disasters that could successful court case which intergovernmental organizations, such as OSPAR, WWF has threaten the biological wealth of the entrenched the right of municipalities obtained commitments to keep the ocean clean and to “green” Galápagos Islands. to ban the use of pesticides locally, fisheries policy. Recent WWF successes include the protection of and strong messages aimed at the hydraulic vents in the Azores (see page 34) and action to save the While it is clear that toxics affect public and politicians culminated with harbour porpoise. ecoregions, the full extent to which the introduction of amendments to

Toxics 67 Toxics

Canada’s Pest Control Products Act. In the Yukon-Kuskokwim region of In the US, WWF continues to press western Alaska, WWF worked with the government to ratify the five native communities to collect and WWF’s Global Conservation Programme Stockholm Convention on persistent analyse sediment samples close to a organic pollutants. former military airfield that has a long Expenditure on Toxics FY 2001 history of toxic spills and dumping of Based on evidence of endocrine chemical contaminants. The US Air

disruption, or the need for Force allocated US$650,000 for the 16,000 precautionary action in the absence of study which was used to develop the such evidence, WWF has been research design, train community pressing the US Environment technicians to collect biological 14,000 Protection Agency to encourage samples, and analyse the data. Another stricter controls on endocrine- WWF study, on the impact of POPs 12,000 disrupting pesticides, including and EDCs on the health of wildlife in 9,939 atrazine, lindane, endosulfan, and 2- the territory of Nunavut, blends 10,000 4D. WWF is also gearing up its work traditional knowledge with scientific 7,609 7,779 on toxics issues with the business analyses and has received strong 8,000 community. community-level support.

6,000

4,000 2,902 2,280 1,513 2,000

0 0 Africa Asia Europe Latin North Conservation Campaigns America America Policy

68 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Financial overview WWF NETWORK INCOME AND EXPENDITURE FY 2001

Income US$329 million Expenditure US$351 million

Individuals Conservation 49% 54%

Governments and WF relies on the benefit marketing” relationships aid agencies generosity of include licensing WWF’s panda logo Education individuals as its major to companies in exchange for royalties. 22% 9.1% W source of funding. In Companies engaging in this practice 2001, 49 per cent of the organization’s benefit through a visible link with the income came from this source. world’s most recognizable Legacies 12% Legacies and donations from trusts and conservation organization, while the Fundraising foundations amounted to 18 per cent. natural world benefits from the funds 14.5% raised. A substantial part of WWF’s income is Financial income derived from government grants and Established in 1971 by HRH Prince 1.5% $ aid agencies. Often, these funds – Bernhard of the Netherlands, WWF’s which in 2001 amounted to 22 per cent 1001: A Nature Trust comprises 1,000 Administration – are provided either as “matched” individuals who have made substantial Royalties 7.2% funds made available only when WWF financial contributions to WWF over 5% itself raised a specific amount, or as the years. The interest from the trust, “restricted” funds for use on one the capital of which is currently more specific project or in a particular than CHF18 million, helps meet WWF Trusts and foundations country. International’s basic administration 6% Awareness costs. When vacancies occur in the 10.2% WWF also works in creative and trust, new members are invited to join innovative ways with business and for a contribution of USD25,000 Corporations industry to raise funds and spread the (CHF37,500). 3% conservation message. These “mutual Conservation policy 5% Other $1.5% Financial overview 69 WWF around the world

WWF International Senior Programme Staff The WWF Network

Director General Eastern Europe/Central Asia Programme INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT BOLIVIA Claude Martin Hartmut Jungius Ave du Mont-Blanc, 1196 Gland, Switzerland P.O. Box 1633, Santa Cruz Tel: +41 22 364 9111 Tel/Fax: +591 3 3115041 Programme Director Western Europe Fax: +41 22 364 5358 Representative: Mr Roger Landivar Chris Hails Dr Georg Schwede President: Chief Emeka Anyaoku BRAZIL Forests for Life Programme Latin America/Caribbean Programme AUSTRALIA SHIS EQ QL 6/8, Conjunto E - 2° andar Chris Elliott Dr Guillermo Castilleja GPO Box 528, Sydney NSW 2001 71620-430 Brasilia Tel: +61 2 9281 5515 Tel: +55 61 364 7400 Living Waters Programme International Policy Fax: +61 2 9281 1060 Fax: +55 61 364 7474 Jamie Pittock Gordon Shepherd President: Mr Robert Purves President & Chairperson: Chief Executive: Dr David Butcher Mr José Roberto Marinho Endangered Seas Programme Governments and Aid Agencies Chief Executive: Dr Garo Batmanian Simon Cripps Timothy Geer AUSTRIA Postfach 1, 1162 Vienna CANADA Species Programme Programme Services and Evaluation Tel: +43 1 488 170 245 Eglinton Ave East, Suite 410 Susan Lieberman Peter Dickinson Fax: +43 1 488 1729 Toronto, Ontario M4P 3J1 Chairperson: Dr Helmut Pechlaner Tel: +1 416 489 8800 Climate Change Programme Programme Audits Chief Executive: Dr Günther Lutschinger CEO Fax: +1 416 489 3418 Jennifer Morgan Sheila O’Connor Fax: +1 416 489 3611 BELGIUM Chairperson: Mr Michael de Pencier Toxic Chemicals Programme Boulevard Emile Jacqmain 90, 1000 Brussels Chief Executive: Mr Monte Hummel Clifton Curtis Tel: +32 2 340 09 99 Fax: +32 2 340 09 33 CAUCASUS Africa/Madagascar Programme President & Chairperson: Mr Guido Ravoet M. Aleksidze str. 11, 380093 Tbilisi Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu Chief Executive: Mr Xavier Ortegat Republic of Georgia Tel: +995 32 33 0154/55 Asia/Pacific Programme BHUTAN Fax: +995 32 33 0190 Isabelle Louis Post Box 210, Chubachu, Thimphu Representative: Dr Giorgi Sanadiradze Tel: +975 2 323 528/316 Europe/Middle East Programme Fax: +975 2 323 518 CENTRAL AFRICA Magnus Sylven Representative: Mr Kinzang Namgay Immeuble Panda, Bastos B.P. 6776, Yaounde, Cameroon

70 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003 Tel: +237 221 70 83 EUROPEAN POLICY HUNGARY Washington, DC 20037-1175 Fax: +237 221 42 40 36, Avenue de Tervuren - B12 Németvölgyi út 78/b, 1124 Budapest Tel: +1 202 778 9752 Representative: Mr Laurent Magloire Somé 1040 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +36 1 214 5554/212 3041 Fax: +1 202 293 9211 Tel: +32 2 743 88 00 Fax: +36 1 212 9353 Representative: Dr David Reed CENTRAL AMERICA Fax: +32 2 743 88 19 Representative: Dr Ferenc Markus Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación Representative: Mr Tony Long MADAGASCAR y Enseñanza, Turrialba INDIA B.P. 738, Antananarivo 101 7170 Catie, Costa Rica FINLAND 172-B Lodi Road, New Delhi 110 003 Tel: +261 20 22 34885 Tel: +506 556 1383/ 1737/ 2528 Lintulahdenkatu 10, 00500 Helsinki 50 Tel: +91 11 469 17 60 Fax: +261 20 22 34888 Fax: +506 556 14 21 Tel: +358 9 774 0100 Fax: +91 11 462 6837 Representative: Mr Jean-Paul Paddack Country Representative: Ms Sylvia Marin Fax: +358 9 774 02139 President: Mr Jamshyd N Godrej President & Chairperson (Board): Chief Executive: MALAYSIA CHINA Mrs Elisabeth Rehn Mr Ranjit C Nag, ad interim 49 Jalan SS23/15, Room 901, The Gateway, No.10 Yabao Road, Chief Executive: Mr Timo Tanninen 47400 Petaling Jaya , Selangor Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020 INDOCHINA Tel: +60 3 7803 3772 Tel: +86 10 856 36538 FRANCE International PO Box 151 Fax: +60 3 7803 5157 Fax: +86 10 856 15731 188, Rue de la Roquette Hanoi, Vietnam Chairperson: YM Tengku Datuk Zainal Adlin Representative: Mr Jim Harkness 75011 Paris Tel: +84 4 733 8387 Chief Executive: Dato’ Dr Mikaail Kavanagh Tel: +33 1 55 25 84 84 Fax: +84 4 733 8388 COLOMBIA Fax: +33 1 55 25 84 74 Representative: Mr Eric Coull MEDITERRANEAN Carrera 35 #4A-25 Fernándes Benítez President: Mr Daniel Richard Via Po 25/c, 00198, Rome, Italy San Fernando, Cali, Valle Chief Executive: Mr Cedric du Monceau INDONESIA Tel: +39 06 844 97227 Tel: +57 2 558 2577 PO Box 5020 JKTM 12700, Jakarta Fax: +39 06 841 3866 Fax: +57 2 558 2588 GERMANY Tel: +62 21 576 1070 Representative: Mr Paolo Lombardi Representative: Ms Mary Lou Higgins Postfach 190 440 Fax: +62 21 576 1080 60326 Frankfurt/Main Chairperson: Mr Haroen Al Rasjid MEXICO DANUBE/CARPATHIAN Tel: +49 69 79 14 40 Chief Executive: Mr Agus Purnomo Ave. Mexico No. 51, Col. Hipodromo Mariahilferstrasse 88a/3/9 Fax: +49 69 61 72 21 Condesa 1070 Vienna , Austria Chairperson: ITALY 06170 Mexico, D.F. Tel: +431 52 45 470 Mr Carl-Albrecht von Treuenfels Via Po 25/c, 00198 Rome Tel: +525 286 5631/5634 Fax: +431 52 45 470 70 Chief Executive: Dr Peter Prokosch Tel: +39 06 844 9 71 Fax: +525 286 5637 Representative: Fax: +39 06 853 00 612 Representative: Mr Miguel Jorge, ad interim Mr Jonathon Hornbrook, ad interim GREECE President: Mr Fulco Pratesi 26 Filellinon Street, 105 58 Athens Chief Executive: Mr Michele Candotti MONGOLIA DENMARK Tel: +30 10 331 4893 c/o Hydrometeorological & Environmental Ryesgade 3 F, 2200 Copenhagen N Fax: +30 10 324 7578 JAPAN Dorjgurhem, Monitoring Agency Tuyachimeg Tel: +45 35 36 36 35 President: Mr Thymio Papayannis Nihonseimei Akabanebashi Bldg. Khudaldaany Street 5, Ulaanbataar 46 Fax: +45 35 24 78 68 Chief Executive: Mr Demetres Karavellas 3-1-14 Shiba, Minato-ku Tel: +976 11 311 659 Chairperson: Mr Johan Schroeder Tokyo 105-0014 Fax: +976 11 310 237 Chief Executive: Mr Kim Carstensen HONG KONG Tel: +81 3 3769 1711 Representative: Ms Junain Chimeg GPO Box 12721, Hong Kong Fax: +81 3 3769 1717 EASTERN AFRICA Tel: +852 2526 1011 Chairperson: Mr Teruyuki Ohuchi NEPAL PO Box 62440, Nairobi, Kenya Fax: +852 2845 2734 Chief Executive: Mr Michio Hino Post Box 7660, Kathmandu Tel: +254 2 577 355 Chairperson: Mr Markus Shaw Tel: +977 1 410 942 Fax: +254 2 577 389 Chief Executive: Ms Winnie Sek MACROECONOMICS FOR Fax: +977 1 438458 Subregional Representative: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Representative: Dr Chandra Prasad Gurung Dr Samuel Kanyamibwa 1250 24th St NW

WWF around the world 71 NETHERLANDS RUSSIA Fax: +46 8 85 13 29 WESTERN AFRICA Postbus 7, 3700 AA Zeist From Europe: Chairperson (Board): Dr Lennart Ahlgren 08 B.P. 1776, Abidjann 08, Côte d'Ivoire Tel: +31 30 6937 333 WWF Russian Programme Office Chief Executive: Prof Lars Kristoferson Tel: +225 22 44 87 86 Fax: +31 30 6912 064 Account No: WWF 232 Fax: +225 22 44 87 74 Chairperson: Dr Hans Wijers P.O. Box 289, Weybridge SWITZERLAND Subregional Representative: Chief Executive: Mr Hans Voortman Surrey KT 13 8WJ, UK Postfach, 8010 Zürich Mr Souleymane Zeba From the US: Tel: +41 1 297 21 21 NEW ZEALAND WWF Russian Programme Office Fax: +41 1 297 21 00 WWF Associates PO Box 6237, Wellington Account No. WWF 232 President: Dr Hans Hüssy Tel: +64 4 499 2930 208 East 51st Street, Suite 295 Chief Executive: Dr Christoph Imboden ARGENTINA Fax: +64 4 499 2954 New York, NY 10022, USA FUNDACION VIDA SILVESTRE Chairperson: Mr Paul Bowe Tel: +7 095 727 0939 TANZANIA ARGENTINA Chief Executive: Ms Jo Breese Fax: +7 095 727 0938 PO Box 63117, Dar es Salaam Defensa 251, 6° Piso, Dto.K Representative: Dr Igor Chestin Tel: +255 22 27 00077 C1065 Buenos Aires NORWAY Fax: +255 22 27 75535 Tel: +54 11 4343 4086 / 4331 3631 Postboks 6784, St Olavs plass, 0130 Oslo SOUTH AFRICA Representative: Dr Hermann Mwageni Fax: +54 11 4331 3631 Ext. 24 Tel: +47 22 03 65 00 Private Bag X2, Die Boord President: Dr Héctor Laurence Fax: +47 22 20 06 66 Stellenbosch 7613 THAILAND Chief Executive: Mr Javier Corcuera Chairperson (Board): Dr Jorgen Randers Tel: +27 21 888 2800 P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang 12120 Chief Executive: Mr Rasmus Hansson Fax: +27 21 888 2888 Tel: +66 2 524 6129 ECUADOR Chairperson: Mr Ton Vosloo Fax: +66 2 524 6134 FUNDACION NATURA PAKISTAN Chief Executive: Mr Tony Frost Representative: Dr Robert Mather Casilla 17-01-253, Quito PO Box 5180, Lahore 54600 Tel: +593 2 2503 385 Tel: +92 42 586 2360 SOUTHERN AFRICA TURKEY Fax: +593 2 2503 385 Fax: +92 42 586 2358 P.O. Box CY 1409, Causeway P.K.971, Sirkeci 34436, Istanbul President: Ms Andrea Mantilla President: Brig Mukhtar Ahmed Harare, Zimbabwe Tel: +90 212 528 20 30 Chief Executive: Mr Xavier Bustamante Chief Executive: Mr Ali Hassan Habib Tel/Fax: +263 4 703902 Fax: +90 212 528 20 40 Subregional Representative: President: Mr Okan Tapan NIGERIA PERU Dr Harrison O Kojwang Chief Executive: Mr Tansu Gurpinar NIGERIAN CONSERVATION Casilla Postal 11-0205, Lima 11 FOUNDATION Tel: +51 1261 5300/5301 SOUTH PACIFIC UNITED KINGDOM PO Box 74638, Victoria Island, Lagos Fax: +51 1463 4459 PMB, GPO Suva, Fiji Panda House, Weyside Park Tel: +234 1 2642 498 Country Representative: Mr Edgar Maravi Tel: +679 331 5533 Godalming, Surrey GU7 1XR Fax: +234 1 2642 497 Fax: +679 331 5410 Tel: +44 1483 426 444 President: Chief Isoma P C Asiodu PHILIPPINES Representative: Mr Dermot O'Gorman Fax: +44 1483 426 409 Chief Executive: Dr Muhtari Aminu-Kano LBI Building, # 57 Kalayaan Avenue Chairperson: Diliman, 1101 Quezon City SPAIN The Honourable Mrs Sara Morrison VENEZUELA Tel: +632 433 3220-21-22 Gran Vía de San Francisco 8 Chief Executive: Mr Robert Napier FUDENA Fax: +632 426 3927 28005 Madrid Apartado Postal 70376, Caracas 1071-A Chairperson: Mr Jaime Zobel de Ayala Tel: +34 91 354 05 78 UNITED STATES Tel: +58 212 238 2930/1761/1793 Chief Executive: Mr Jose Ma Lorenzo Tan Fax: +34 91 365 63 36 1250 24th St. NW. Fax: +58 212 239 6547 President: Prof Dr Francisco Díaz Pineda Washington, D.C. 20037-1193 President: Mr Enrique Sanchez POLAND Chief Executive: Mr Juan Carlos del Olmo Tel: +1 202 293 4800 Chief Executive: Mrs Deborah Bigio ul. Kaliska 1 m. 9, 02-316 Warsaw Fax: +1 202 293 9211 Tel: +48 22 659 5540/659 2270 SWEDEN Chairperson (Board): Fax: +48 22 824 0053 Ulriksdals Slott, 170 81 Solna The Honorable William Reilly Representative: Mr Ireneusz Chojnacki Tel: +46 8 624 74 00 Chief Executive: Ms Kathryn S Fuller

72 WWF’s Global Conservation Programme 2002/2003