The History of WWF International

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization
which was in existence for nearly 60 years. Its principal activity lies in the field of
preservation and conservation of wildlife and nature in order to create a balance ecosystem
for the humans all around the world to live in harmony with the nature.

WWF was founded on 29 April 1961 in Morges, Switzerland with the signing of a declaration
known as Morges Manifesto by 16 of the world’s leading conservationists including biologist
and African wildlife enthusiast Sir Julian Huxley, International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN) vice president Sir Peter Scott and director-general of the British Nature
Conservancy E.M. Nicholson. Morges Manifesto is the founding document that sets out the
requirement to raise funds to carry out conservation works to save the world’s wildlife
treasures as they are being threatened and destroyed at huge rates.

Over times, the organization grew stronger and opened offices in many other countries. It
began to expand its job scope to conserve the entire environment rather than focusing on
selected species. In this regard, the organization changed its name from World Wildlife Fund
to its present name to reflect the broader scope of duties and responsibilities towards the
nature. However, the old name was retained in countries like Canada and United States.

The organization’s first president was H.R.H Prince Bernhard of Netherlands while H.R.H
Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh was the first president of British office in 1961. The
headquarters of WWF is now located in Gland, Switzerland. The current president of the
organization is Mr Pavan Sukhdev. The organization uses black and white Panda as its logo
for the conservation movement. The inspiration came when a giant panda, Chi Chi from
China arrived at London Zoo in 1961. One of the WWF’s founder, Sir Peter Scott, wanted an
animal that is beautiful, endangered and loved by everyone in the world.

WWF is now the world’s largest and respected conservation charity organization with the
help of five million supporters and donors worldwide. It has offices in more than 100
countries across the globe, supporting around 3000 conservation and environmental
projects. In addition, it has invested over $1 billion in more than 12,000 conservation
initiatives since 1995. The projects and initiatives were funded largely by individuals,
followed by government, statutory bodies and corporation.

WWF’s conversation efforts are mainly centred in areas like species, forest, marine and
freshwater conservation, climate change, toxic chemicals and resource management.
Among its notable projects and campaigns achieved in the last 50 years were:
1-Research station in the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador to raise awareness about the
importance in preserving marine species.

2-College of African Wildlife Management in Tanzania.

3-Introduction and reintroduction of endangered species like southern white rhino, tiger,
whale and spectacled bear in many countries.

4-Coto Donana National Park as one of the world’s largest wetland and site for migratory
birds.

5-Tropical Rainforest campaign in Central and West Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin
America.

6-WWF pioneered the debt-for-nature swap concept as new mechanism for financing
conservation.

7-National giant panda conservation plan.

8-Community-based natural resource management project like the LIFE project which
empowered the rural Namibian communities to actively manage their natural resources.

9-Launched certification scheme called the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for harvesting
forest products.

10-Global efforts to curb carbon emissions. WWF helped design and played a pivotal role in
the ratification and entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol, the world’s first international
agreement to limit carbon emissions in industrialized countries.

11-First Living Planet Report-A biannual publication in collaboration with the Zoological
Society of London and the Global Footprint Network is the world’s leading science-based
analyses of biodiversity health and humanity’s pressure on nature, or Ecological Footprint.

12-Develop standards and a certification scheme for sustainable palm oil.

13-Earth Hour Campaingn.

The History of WWF Malaysia

WWF Malaysia is an affiliate of WWF International which works primarily on environmental

and conservation issues across Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. It was
established on 13 January 1972 and began operation as a two-person organization in a tiny
office in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. The first president was the late Tan Sri Khir Johari. The
first patron of the organization was the late, Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Azlan Shah.
While, the first ever project was to conduct survey on Pulau Gaya for the National Park of
Sabah which is now part of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park in Sabah.

In early days, WWF Malaysia focused mainly on issues pertaining to conservation of some
endangered species like tiger and turtle. It has now grown as one of the largest and
prominent national nature conservation organizations covering the entire environmental
issues in the country. It has adopted a name change to World Wide Fund for Nature from the
World Wildlife Fund in 1982 to reflect its broader spectrum of environmental conservation
efforts. It has staff force of 200 people with offices spread from Kedah to Sabah. It is also
known as Tabung Alam Malaysia which is governed by a Board of Trustees. It has more
than 70,000 supporters of individuals and corporation to provide financial and volunteering
assistance to carry out their diverse charity activities. To date, it has carried out more than
90 projects of conserving the environment.

Among the remarkable milestones of WWF Malaysia:

1-Education Campaigns – The Company, Bata, has sponsored WWF to conduct education
to school children about the wonders and benefits of our nature.

2-The first state Conservation Strategy was launched in Negeri Sembilan.

3-WWF has conducted join-survey with Sarawak Forestry Department to set-up and gazette
Lanjak-Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary.

4-Organised scientific expedition and survey on the Maliau Basin in Sabah.

5-Established the Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah which is one of the most
significant and largest conservation forest animals in Southeast Asia.

6-The Highland Forests Campaign was launched to create greater awareness of Malaysia’s
natural habitats on the highlands such as The Fraser Hill’s nature education centre.

7-Joint forces with the state governments resulted in the establishment of state forest
reserve parks, wetlands and animal sanctuaries in state namely Pahang, Perlis, Sabah and
Terengganu
8-Haze Alert Campaign during the El-Nino forest fires

9-Introduction and reintroduction of endangered species like Asean rhino, orang utan,
elephant, tiger and turtle.

10-The Water for Life programme to increase awareness among Malaysia on the importance
of freshwater and its usage.

11-The Royal Belum Park was gazetted by the Perak State Government.

12-Earth Hour Campaign

The above achievement in the past 4 decades was possible due to WWF’s strong
commitment and close collaboration ;and supports from various parties like individuals,
governments, corporations, and organisations who have mutual goal to conserve the
nature.