A PROFILE


The World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF-India), formerly known as the World Wildlife Fund-India, is a member of the WWF International family comprising 29 National Organizations all over the world. WWF's coordinating international secretariat is in Switzerland. Established as a charitable trust in 1969 under the Bombay Public Trusts Act, WWF-India is today the country's largest conservation Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with a network of 32 branches across the country. Its secretariat is in New Delhi.

WWF-India has come a long way since its establishment. It started life as a modest wildlife education centre and conservation organization with its focus on protecting specific species of wild fauna. Its perspective has since broadened to include the conservation of habitats and ecosystems, as well as support the management of India's network of protected areas.

India faces a variety of ecological problems: shrinking forests, disappearing wetlands, eroding soil, extinction of wild species of flora and fauna, and air and water pollution. To tackle these and influence public policy, WWF-India works closely with the government of India, professionals, and conservation groups. Its central goal: the conservation of India's biological diversity through community involvement.

The WWF-India mission has five broad programme components:


  • Promoting India's ecological security and restoring the ecological balance
  • Conserving biological diversity
  • Ensuring sustainable use of the natural resource base
  • Minimizing pollution and wasteful consumption
  • Promoting sustainable lifestyles.


WWF-India achieves these objectives through field programmes, public policy debates, research, campaigns, and education activities for target groups including youth, professionals and administrators. It is also involved in multi-media communication, networking with fellow NGOs in India, and mobilizing financial, scientific and technical resources.

1994 was a milestone year for WWF-India--it completed 25 years in the cause of promoting harmony between people and nature. To commemorate its silver jubilee, a National Conservation Congress was held in New Delhi. This was attended by the President of India as well as the President of WWF International, HRH Prince Philip. It included the participation of academics, concerned citizens, the media, political parties, trade unions and the government.

The Congress aimed at building partnerships among the various NGOs working in the field for India's ecological security. Biodiversity, population growth, the industrial pathway of economic development, and education were the subjects of analysis at the Congress. Its recommendations provide an agenda for action in the future.


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