WWF's mission is to conserve nature and ecological processes by:

• preserving genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity

• ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable now and in the longer term, for the benefit of all life on Earth

• promoting actions to reduce to a minimum pollution and the wasteful exploitation and consumption of resources and energy.

• WWF's ultimate goal is to stop, and eventually reverse, the accelerating degradation of our planet's natural environment, and to help build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. WWF is known as the World Wildlife Fund in the USA and Canada.

WWF is the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organization, with over 4.7 million supporters and a global network of 24 National Organizations, 5 Associates, and 26 Programme Offices.

WWF combines fieldwork and policy to achieve credible results on broad expertise and experience in all areas of conservation.

WWF provides high quality conservation services by using the best scientific information available, seeking dialogue to build bridges, and taking a responsible, long-term view.

WWF aims at all times to be trustworthy, transparent, and solution oriented.

The WWF Network, made up of more than 3,500 dedicated professionals, invested US$252 million in 1995 in its action-oriented conservation programme and support services in 96 countries. WWF draws its strength from being global in outreach and local in implementation.

• WWF's National Organizations carry out conservation activities in their own countries and contribute technical expertise and funding to WWF's international conservation programme.

• WWF's Programme Offices implement WWF's fieldwork, advise national and local governments, and raise public understanding of conservation issues. Two specialist offices work to influence the policies and activities of the European Union and international institutions based in the United States, such as the World Bank. In 1995, WWF strengthened its network by establishing Programme Offices in the Central African Republic and Peru, giving the organization an institutional presence in 53 countries.

• WWF International, the network's Secretariat, based in Gland, Switzerland, leads the network, develops joint policies and standards, coordinates activities, fosters global partnerships, and provides services to the National Organizations.

In addition, WWF's Associates are independent non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who work closely with WWF and promote shared conservation objectives, but who do not contribute to WWF's international conservation programme.

Seeking Partnership

Building partnerships with the public, community groups, other conservation organizations, corporations, governments, international institutions is essential to achieving lasting conservation results.

At grassroots

Whenever possible, WWF works through and with local community groups and environmental organizations. Where such structures do not exist, WWF helps to establish them.

Nationally

Wherever WWF works, it seeks approval from the government in place, as well as cooperating with national NGOs who share common conservation goals.

Internationally

In pursuing its aims of establishing, strengthening, or changing international treaties and agreements, WWF works with such bodies as the European Union, IUCN, the United Nations Environment Programme, UNICEF, and the World Bank, as well as other international NGOs.

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