Conservation Highlights May 2014 Since its launch in 2007 WWFs Earth Hour has become the worlds largest mass participation environmental initiative active in over 160 countries and is becoming a platform where people are mobilising action on climate and other global regional and local ID: 796409
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Slide1
Recent achievements and challenges in WWF’s work to protect biodiversity and reduce humanity’s footprint in priority areas of the global conservation programme
Conservation Highlights
May 2014
Slide2Since its launch in 2007, WWF’s Earth Hour has become the world’s largest mass participation environmental initiative, active in over 160 countries, and is becoming a platform where people are mobilising action on climate and other global, regional and local environmental priorities.
EARTH HOUR
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
Slide3Earth Hour 2014 set new records for global participation in March, with 162 countries and 7,000 cities celebrating the event. New crowdsourcing and crowdfunding initiatives enable people to use their voices or their money to support WWF conservation actions.
© Getty Images
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
Earth Hour 2014 event
Slide4WWF’s Earth Hour City Challenge recognized Cape Town as the Global Earth Hour Capital 2014. The South African city took bold steps to move away from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The competition attracted 160 cities from 14 countries to promote low carbon development and combat climate change.
© We love cities
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
Cape Town awarded Earth Hour Capital 2014
Slide5The idea of mobilizing the voices of the Earth Hour audience in support of environmental actions around the globe took off with Earth Hour 2014:
In China, Earth Hour took the theme “Blue Sky” on the need to stop pollution and smog, using a photo-based phone app
The #maketheswitch Earth Hour message in the UAE reached more than 5 million people, urging a switch to energy efficient lighting
For the 3rd year running, more than 100,000 Earth Hour fans in Russia joined an environmental petition, this time calling for increased protection for 5 threatened species including the Far Eastern leopard
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
Earth Hour 2014 launches crowdsourcing 1/2
Slide6Over 2,000 energy-efficient stoves were distributed in Madagascar, to reduce pressure on forests, and crowdfunding on the Earth Hour site raised funds for a further 500 stoves
In Finland, 20,000 people called for a fair subsidy policy for solar power. Helping drive the pledge #EarthHourSuomi was the most tweeted hashtag in the country
12,000 signatures on a petition against the proposed Ptolemaida V coal-fired power station in Greece will go to the government and KfW, the finance bank and sole investor
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
Earth Hour 2014 launches crowdsourcing 2/2
Slide7WWF has run many campaigns to focus attention on key issues and solutions. Current global campaigns include a call to shift investments away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, and an emergency campaign to address the threat of oil drilling in Africa’s prized Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Global campaigns
Conservation Highlights,
May 2014
Slide8WWF is campaigning to save Virunga – Africa’s oldest national park and most biodiverse protected area – from
oil
drilling
. Virunga is also a vital resource for local
communities
,
supporting
tens
of thousands of people. But this iconic place is under threat from irresponsible oil exploration. Some lines should not be crossed, and drilling for oil in Virunga is one of these.
VIRUNGA
Conservation Highlights,
May 2014
Slide9Allegations of human rights violations and breaching of environmental protection by UK oil exploration company Soco International PLC relating to its work in Virunga, are being investigated by an Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) agency. Announced in February, this follows a complaint from WWF that Soco has breached OECD global corporate responsibility standards.
OECD investigation of Soco
Conservation Highlights,
May 2014
© Brent Stirton / Reportage by Getty / WWF-Canon
Slide10Protests against Soco’s plans to start seismic testing for oil in Virunga voiced community concerns this will damage or destroy their livelihoods, and could reignite civil conflict. More than 675,000 people have joined WWF’s petition to demand that Virunga be protected from the damaging impacts of oil.
Opposition increases to Soco’s oil plans
Conservation Highlights,
May 2014
© Edgar Mbekemoja
Slide11French oil giant Total has confirmed it will not explore for oil and gas in World Heritage Sites (WHS). This was announced in February by the United Nations agency in charge of WHS. Total’s decision follows an earlier pledge to remain out of Virunga.
World Heritage Sites now ‘no-go’ for Total
Conservation Highlights,
May 2014
© Brent Stirton / Reportage by Getty Images / WWF-Canon
Slide12UK oil company Soco International PLC announced in June it will end its operations in Africa’s oldest national park and has committed to remain out of all other UNESCO World Heritage Sites. “Today is a victory for our planet and for good practices in business. This success is the work of government officials, activists within DRC and supporters worldwide who joined together to help remove the most immediate threat to Virunga,” said Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International.
BREAKING NEWS:
Soco agrees to pull out of Virunga!
Conservation Highlights,
May 2014
© Brent Stirton / Reportage by Getty / WWF-Canon
Slide13WWF’s Seize Your Power campaign to promote clean, renewable energy aims to mobilize key organisations investing in new energy sources to shift US$40 billion away from fossil fuels into clean renewable energy sources. This shift is crucial to rapidly move the world towards climate-safe energy.
Seize Your Power
Conservation Highlights,
May 2014
Slide14WWF welcomed the decision by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to phase out funding of coal-fired power stations, but called for effective implementation
. EBRD is the third major development finance body to move away from coal-based energy projects.
EBRD commits to step out of coal
Conservation Highlights,
May 2014
© WWF-Canon / Mauri RAUTKARI
Slide15A major UN report calls for a more than tripling of investments in clean energy solutions as the main measure to mitigate climate change. The April report, agreed by the IPCC, finds that investment in clean energy sources will have limited economic impact compared to the very significant costs of inaction.
Action to counter climate change must happen now
Conservation Highlights,
May 2014
© Kevin Schafer / WWF-Canon
Slide16WWF’s regional campaigns range from action on threatened species such as tigers and sharks, to specific challenges against environmentally-damaging development schemes such as dams.
Regional Campaigns
Conservation Highlights,
May 2014
Slide17As apex predators, sharks are crucially important to the health of the world’s oceans, but are being wiped out on a massive scale – an estimated 100 million killed annually, mostly for shark fin soup, an Asian delicacy. Sharks also breed slowly. WWF offices in the Asia-Pacific region are campaigning to get their countries to stop importing, selling and consuming shark fin.
SHARKS
Conservation Highlights,
May 2014
Slide18Key shark fin importing hubs, Hong Kong and Singapore, report reduced demand for shark fin following campaigns against
unsustainable shark killing. HK reported a one-third drop in shark fin imports in 2013 compared to 2012. In Singapore
shark
fin
sales to
hotels and restaurants also fell by one-third, and prices fell
similarly.
Progress on addressing the shark slaughter
Conservation Highlights,
May 2014
© NC Turner / WWF-Canon
Slide19The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation has donated $3 million for WWF to help double Nepal’s tiger population by 2022. WWF’s work with local agencies and communities has helped one tiger population almost triple to
50 tigers. Habitat destruction and poaching are the key
threats to the
3,200
remaining
wild tigers.
DiCaprio funds help Nepal’s tiger numbers double
Conservation Highlights,
May 2014
© Tom Munro/JBG Photo
Slide20WWF has a strong and successful track record of challenging development projects that will cause environmental and social damage. Current campaigns are running against ill-planned projects such as ports, roads and dams in conservation priority areas such as the Amazon, Mekong and Danube as well as World Heritage Sites such as the Great Barrier Reef and Doñana.
Challenging Damaging development
Conservation Highlights,
May 2014
Slide21A declaration opposing construction of the Xayaburi Dam in Laos on the main Mekong River has been issued by a consortium representing 39 NGOs and civil society groups including WWF. The dam threatens the huge Mekong fishing industry which supports 60 million people in the region with food and
livelihoods.
Dam threatens food security in the Mekong
Conservation Highlights,
May 2014
© WWF-Greater Mekong
Slide22WWF has joined a legal challenge launched in Australia to stop the dumping in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) of 3mill m3 of material excavated for development of a megaport for coal exports. The dumping is also opposed by tourism operators: tourism in the GBR generates $5 billion annually.
Development threats to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef
Conservation Highlights,
May 2014
© WWF-Canon / Martin HARVEY
Slide23Croatia has stopped a proposed scheme that would have canalized a 53 km section of the Danube River along the Croatia-Serbia border, and destroyed key natural sites including a renowned bird paradise.
Victories in Europe against destructive
development 1: Danube
Conservation Highlights,
May 2014
©
WWF-Canon / Anton VORAUER
Slide24A WWF campaign against construction of small hydropower in high conservation value rivers in Rumania has gained success with a government commitment to develop a hydropower policy in line with EU standards.
Victories in Europe against destructive
development 2: Rumania
Conservation Highlights,
May 2014
©
WWF-România
Slide25A 22-year battle to save the Acheloos River in Greece from a massive water diversion scheme has been won with a decision by the country’s supreme administrative court upholding the objections of WWF and a coalition of NGOs and municipal authorities against the diversion
.
Victories in Europe against destructive
development 3: Greece
Conservation Highlights,
May 2014
©
Nikoç
Metpou
Slide26Spain’s Coto Doñana is one of Europe’s most valuable
wetlands, sanctuary for millions of migratory birds. Purchase
of the land
in
1963
started WWF
on the path to protect
thousands of priority
places and species worldwide.
In this 50th anniversary of Doñana’s creation, WWF remains committed to ensure Doñana remains a vital stopover
for
migratory
birds.
Doñana
at 50 – a paradise still threatened
Conservation Highlights,
May 2014
©
Jorge
Sierra
/ WWF-Spain
Slide27WWF’s biodiversity meta-goal is to ensure the integrity of the most outstanding natural places on Earth. This includes the protection of biodiversity in high conservation priority areas, and restoring populations of those species with the highest ecological, economic and cultural value.
BIODIVERSITY
Conservation Highlights,
May 2014
Slide28WWF recognised Namibia’s communal conservancy programme as a Gift to the Earth. Wildlife & habitat have recovered and rural communities gain by managing their own environment. The 79
conservancies cover 16 million
hectares, help bring
half of Namibia under conservation management and involve
1 in 10
Namibians.
WWF recognises community conservation in Namibia
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
© John E. Newby / WWF-Canon
Slide29The 3 countries sheltering mountain
gorillas, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda, agreed to protect gorilla habitat spanning their shared borders and maximise
the value of tourism for local communities.
Gorilla-based
tourism
brings income
to local communities,
whose
support
is essential to protect the gorillas.
Community support vital to secure endangered
species 1:
Mountain gorillas
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
© WWF-Canon / Martin HARVEY
Slide30Anti-poaching action helped more than triple Saiga antelope populations in
Mongolia from 3,000 in 1998 to 10,000 in 2013, and
the species has expanded
into regions where
it
was wiped out decades ago.
Community support vital to secure endangered
species 2:
Saiga antelope
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
©
Wild Wonders / Igor
Shpilenhok
/ WWF
Slide31Eight south-east Europe countries, from Albania in the south to Slovenia in the north, have agreed regional cooperation on conservation
and to increase protected area by 13% including two new national parks. Conservation goals
will be included in
national development plans and
nature-based tourism promoted.
Regional conservation agreed in
south-east Europe
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
©
Wild Wonders / Ruben
Smit
/ WWF
Slide32The five countries host to polar bear populations committed
to ensure the future of this species as climate change hugely threatens its ice habitat. At a high level forum in Moscow in December,
Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia and US agreed to implement a circumpolar action plan for polar bear conservation.
Regional conservation agreed in
Europe
and Arctic
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
©
WWF / David Jenkins
Slide33Forty-six countries committed to “decisive and urgent action” at the London Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade in February with stronger enforcement
, reduced consumer demand and
sustainable
livelihoods for communities living alongside wildlife.
Poaching threatens wildlife, rangers and civil society by promoting criminality.
Governments commit to action on poaching crisis
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
©
James Morgan / WWF-Canon
Slide34Poachers killed 1004 rhinos in South Africa in 2013 -- a sharp increase from 668 lost in
2012. Recent conservation success in rebuilding rhino numbers is now at risk. South Africa
, home to about 80% of Africa’s
rhinos, is
working with key
countries
including
Viet Nam
to counter the illegal trade, through tougher
sentences and reduced demand.
Slaughter of SA rhino continues
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
© WWF-Canon / Martin HARVEY
Slide35WWF honoured the work of 9 organizations in Nepal with Leaders for a Living Planet
awards for having achieved zero poaching of elephant, rhino and tiger for a second 12 month period.
The
organizations, including protected area agencies, military and police units, show
poaching can be stopped, wildlife crime curbed, and tourism can benefit.
Nepal celebrates a year of zero poaching
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
© Akash Shrestha / WWF Nepal
Slide36WWF has been active in Latin America and the Caribbean since its creation, as this region hosts tremendous biodiversity riches including the world's largest tropical rainforest, the Amazon. To mark the holding of WWF's 2014 Annual Conference in Brazil, a selection of conservation highlights from the region is presented.
Focus on WWF in Latin America & Caribbean
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
Slide37Bolivia has committed to wisely manage the 6.9 million-hectare Llanos de Moxos wetland,
headwaters for the priority Madeira River – major
southern tributary of the Amazon River.
WWF
recognized this globally significant
action
as a Gift to the
Earth.
Bolivia leads the world with almost
15 mill ha of wetlands designated under
the Ramsar
Convention.
Bolivia takes leadership on freshwater conservation
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
©
WWF-Bolivia / Omar Rocha
Slide38For four consecutive years, numbers of migratory gray whales are up in the main coastal lagoons of Mexico’s Baja California. Researchers in one lagoon counted 2017 individuals in February compared to 1178 in 2013 – a 44% increase. Gray
whales congregate in the lagoons during the winter breeding season.
Increased sightings of gray
whales
in
Mexico
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
© WWF-Canon / Michel
Terrettaz
Slide39Successes of WWF’s five year partnership with the Carlos Slim
Foundation include 300,000 ha
of
protected areas
, better management of a further million ha, and reduced logging in the core zone of the monarch butterfly reserve. WWF
seeks to protect
the butterfly migration route across
North America – a major
natural wonder.
Protection of monarch butterfly habitat
in Mexico
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
©
WWF-Canon
/ Kevin Schafer
Slide40Creation by Chile of a new marine protected area (MPA) helps secure a local
blue whale population – the largest mammal on Earth – following
15 years of effort by WWF and other organizations to protect the area from salmon farming and
damaging
development. The
MPA
is a vital feeding and nursery area for blue whales and several other cetacean species
.
.
Chile acts on blue whale conservation
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
©
Naturepl.com
/ David Fleetham / WWF
Slide41Colombia has created a new coastal protected area to secure important nesting beaches for endangered leatherback and hawksbill turtles, in collaboration
with local community councils
Marine conservation in Colombia
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
© Nils Aukan / WWF-Canon
Slide42Almost one-third of the world’s beef is produced in Latin America and demand for beef drives forest loss in many
of WWF’s priority areas. WWF seeks implementation of the Global Roundtable on Sustainable Beef
principles to achieve less damaging
cattle ranching practices through improved
land-use and consumer demand.
Towards sustainable beef production in Latin America
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
©
Adriano
Gambarini/ WWF-Brazil
Slide43After several years of declining deforestation rates, Brazil’s annual deforestation rate has
risen 28 percent. Forests are cleared for reasons including illegal mining and soy production.
The Brazil Government stated its commitment
to reverse increased deforestation and eliminate illegal logging in the Amazon.
Deforestation rates in Brazil surge
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
© Brent Stirton / Getty images / WWF
Slide44Deforestation of the WWF priority Atlantic Forest in Argentina’s Misiones Province has decreased by 70% since new regulations in 2010 to stop rampant forest
clearance. The landuse law forbids clear-cutting and imposes other restrictions in the
remaining
forest, reducing annual forest loss from 18,000 ha to
5,300 ha.
Drop in deforestation in Argentina’s Atlantic Forest
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
©
WWF-Canon / Michel Gunther
Slide45WWF’s second meta-goal is to reduce humankind’s Ecological Footprint so that we live within the renewable resource limits of our planet. This builds on strong foundations and targets humanity’s carbon, commodity and water footprints which have the greatest impact on biodiversity.
FOOTPRINT
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
Slide46WWF is partnering with global fashion company H&M and the Mondi Group, one of the world’s largest pulp and paper producers, to implement water stewardship and support wise
water management in
priority
river
basins.
WWF develops key water stewardship partnerships
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
©
WWF
Slide47The European Parliament voted in October for measures to support sustainable fishing and against destructive practices along
lines proposed by WWF. A WWF pilot project shows
satellite
surveillance of fishing
activities
can promote
legal and transparent fishing operations – especially to counter illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Progress towards sustainable fisheries
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
©
Mike R. Jackson / WWF-Canon
Slide48Twenty-five of the world’s major pulp and paper manufacturers, with a combined annual output of 85 million tonnes, joined the WWF Environmental Paper Company Index
2013 and disclosed the footprints of 40 product categories, reporting on targets and performance. This industry
is key to conserving
forests.
Leading paper companies embrace transparency
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
©
Edward Parker / WWF-Canon
Slide49Atlantic salmon from Norway certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is now available for consumers in Japan, a major seafood consumer. Farmed fish now makes up half of all seafood and demand is growing.
ASC sets robust standards to minimise impacts
on
local communities and environments
ASC salmon available in key Japanese market
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
©
WWF-Canon
/ Jo BENN
Slide50WWF calls for continued pressure on Indonesia’s pulp and paper industry to ensure
recent commitments on responsible forest management and reduced deforestation are implemented. Companies such as APRIL and APP can
restore critical forest and wetland areas, reduce climate
emissions,
and compensate
affected communities.
Indonesian paper companies turning over a new leaf?
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
© Eyes on the Forest
Slide51Since 1994, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has certified 180 million
ha of forest across 81 countries worldwide as sustainably managed. WWF helped create the FSC to
mobilize market forces, including consumer choice, in support of responsible forest management that delivers social and environmental
benefits
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is 20 years old
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
© N.C. Turner / WWF-Canon
Slide52The climate crisis is perhaps the ultimate test of WWF’s ability to harness its strengths to leverage political commitment at the scale required by an issue that threatens the world as we know it.
CLIMATE
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
Slide53WWF has recognised as a Gift to the Earth Denmark’s inspiring leadership and
example addressing climate change with its highly ambitious commitments to reduce carbon emissions, phase out fossil fuels, and switch to renewable energy.
Denmark
has committed to achieve 100% clean renewable energy by 2050 with coal phased out by
2030
.
Denmark recognised for climate leadership
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
© National Geographic Stock/Sarah Leen/WWF
Slide54World leaders agreed a finance package to
provide funds for tropical forest nations which are reducing CO2 emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+).
This addresses
the
20%
of global
emissions
caused by forest
loss and is a major victory for the world’s tropical forests,
forest communities and our climate.
World leaders agree key mechanism to stop deforestation
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
© Brent Stirton / Getty Images
Slide55A UN climate impact report prepared by the world’s leading scientific authorities in the IPCC shows climate change is is
affecting the lives of people worldwide and
the
ecosystems sustaining
life.
The
report sets
a stark choice:
cut emissions and face challenging and barely manageable risks
- or do nothing and face a world of devastating risks and impacts.
IPCC report details clear evidence of climate change
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
© Juan Carlos Del Olmo / WWF
Slide56Perhaps WWF’s greatest strength is its people - the staff and officers who together with our partners strive for a living planet.
And there
are many leaders and champions playing key roles outside WWF to achieve conservation success and sustainable development. By highlighting these
environmental champions WWF
recognises their contribution,
profiles conservation
success
and inspires
others to take up the challenge to secure a living planet.
PEOPLE
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
Slide57Paul Polman, CEO of global consumer group Unilever, has been recognised by WWF for his global leadership in making sustainability a key issue within the global retail
sector with the 2013 WWF Duke of Edinburgh Conservation Medal. Polman led the drive to
reduce Unilever’s environmental
impact.
Unilever CEO awarded top WWF honour
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
© WWF / Jay Louvion Studio Casagrande
Slide58Nina Jensen, CEO of WWF- Norway has been recognised as one of 200 young global leaders 2014 by the World Economic Forum for her community involvement and
inspired leadership.WWF paid tribute to
former
South African President Nelson Mandela
who died in
December.
Mandela received
WWF’s Gift to the Earth award in 1998 for
creation
of Table Mountain National Park.
Inspirational environmental leaders recognised
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
© Getty Images
Slide59WWF announced the appointment of Dr Marco Lambertini as Director General of WWF International. With 25 years of global conservation leadership, Marco began as a
WWF youth volunteer in Italy.
Marco officiated
at the opening
in March of
the
new WWF-Korea office which will
focus on footprint issues such as climate
change, and sustainable fisheries.
New Director-General for WWF International
Conservation Highlights, May 2014
© Gemma Parkes / WWF
Slide60http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/successes/conservation_highlights_2014___may_edition/
Thank you
Conservation Highlights,
May 2014