World Wildlife Fund History

The World Wildlife Fund history is a testament to future generations as to what can be accomplished in nature preservation with a healthy combination of passion and commitment.

The environment is just one reason why people choose to volunteer

In the early 1960s, a small group of organizations both home and abroad existed to benefit nature and the animals that depended upon precious resources it provided. These included the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, and the Conservation Foundation. While these groups were well-meaning and organized, they were suffering from a severe lack of funding. Conservation and green living were not as hot topics in the 1960s as they are today, and such groups needed to work hard to raise even a slight bit of awareness and financial resources.

On September 11, 1961, a small group of European environmentalists holding various occupations from scientist to politician, founded the World Wildlife Fund in Switzerland. Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands was the first president of the organization. The WWF was designated to be an international fund raising group that would collaborate with conservation groups already in existence to fund their work and research. As the money was raised through national appeals and awareness campaigns, the WWF used the scientific advice provided by top groups to decide where the funding would be best directed.

WWF’s first call to raise funds was called the Morges Manifesto, which was signed by 1960s conservationalists. The message was simple – the world’s population had the resources and expertise to save the planet, but did not have the finances to do so. This justified the existence of this organization that would work on behalf of the environment without relying on government funding or dictation.

Since then, WWF has evolved to include many projects, committees and organizations. Here in the United States, WWF is an independent organization and continues to be instrumental in worldwide efforts. The organization regularly signs A Memorandum of Understanding, which contains an agreement on the implementation of activities within the network.

Beyond the beginning foundation, much has happened at the WWF in the past five decades.

• The British National Appeal of 1961 becomes the first organization in the WWF.
• In 1973, the WWF hires its first scientist as a project administrator. The job goes to Dr. Thomas E. Lovejoy.
• WWF gives a $38,000 grant to the Smithsonian Institution to study the tiger population.
• With help from WWF, the World Conservation Strategy is published in 1980.
• A 3700 acre farm in Columbia, Finca La Planada, becomes a nature reserve in 1983.
• The Primate Action Fund is established this same year.
• Also in 1983, an Africa program is established, further strengthening the group’s ability to help projects in this region of the world.
• In 1990, WWF continues to work to stop bird trading.
• The year 1991 brought the opening of an Eastern and Southern Africa office.
• The Forest Stewardship Council is established in 1993
• 44 million acres of forest are certified by the year 2000.
• In 2002, the Amazon Region Protected Areas program begins.
• The Climate Savers Computing Initiative is formed with big technology names such as Google, IBM, Dell and Intel. This happens in 2007 and continues to work and evolve today.

This is just the short list of achievements the WWF has made over the years to keep conservation up and give wildlife a fighting chance at survival. With the organization’s help and ability to equip others, the complete record of advancements made in all areas of environmentalism is long and varied.

You can visit WWF’s official website to learn more about all that is being done to protect the world’s resources – and the history making advancements still yet to come.

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