Diversity And WWF
Our lives are closely bound up with the lives of all the species and ecosystems with which we share our world. Since its founding in 1961, the WWF family has been involved in over 10,000 projects. All aim to help people co-exist with nature, and to benefit both.
WWF projects operate at three inter-related levels:
- Local: Irian Jaya has some of Indonesia' s lushest tropical forests, and most beautiful marine life. WWF is working with local people to protect the region' s natural resources by setting up activities such as butterfly farms and fisheries, which can be managed on a sustainable basis. Through projects like this, it tries to help people devise ways of making the most of biodiversity, without destroying it.
- National: In 1987, WWF negotiated a deal between the Costa Rican government and its creditors to purchase a portion of the country' s debt burden at a discount and raise US$1 million for local conservation and education. The money is helping to protect the country' s rich biodiversity, and to show people how important it is.
By lobbying and advising governments, WWF is able to help people understand the links between biodiversity and sustainable development, and win official support for conservation activities.
- International: WWF was in Rio de Janeiro during the 1992 Earth Summit - trying to persuade the greatest possible number of countries to sign two conventions, one on biodiversity and the other on climate change. The organization will watch future developments closely, and work to ensure that those who ratify the treaties keep their promises.
WWF helps to set up international treaties and agreements on conservation issues, and supports institutions which monitor and regulate these agreements, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
WWF cares about both people and nature.
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