Push to save tigers leaps forward at Bali meeting
The 13 countries that have tigers in a critical meeting this week laid the foundation for world leaders to come together later this year at the Tiger Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia and agree to a historical global plan to double the number of tigers in the wild.
WWF delivers on 100 million hectares of wetlands pledge
Declaration of the high Andes home to two of the three species of Andean flamingos marks WWF’s delivery of a “crazy, unrealistic pledge” to deliver 100 million hectares of new protected wetlands in a decade.
Greece wins acclaim saying yes to clean energy, no to new coal and nuclear
Greece yesterday outlined an energy future of strong support for renewable energy, with development minister Kostis Hatzidakis ruling out investment in new coal-fired of nuclear power plants. The announcement was especially gratifying to WWF-Greece, founder with other partners of a “No-to-coal” coalition which has enlisted strong community support – particularly in areas proposed or suggested for new coal-fired plants.
Wetlands boost for green heart of Africa
A World Wetlands Day announcement that Gabon is to increase its protected Ramsar sites by more than a million hectares is a major boost to conservation in central Africa.
WWF plans next phase for sustainable aquaculture standards
The new body, modelled on the highly successful and world leading Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for wild-caught seafood, will be responsible for working with independent, third-party entities to certify farms that are in compliance with the standards.Comprehensive certification for sustainable aquaculture came closer to fruition today with an announcement by WWF that it would co-found the Aquaculture Stewardship Council to take eventual possession of the global standards for responsible seafood farming currently being developed by the WWF-supported Aquaculture Dialogue roundtables.
Mountain gorilla population increases despite war
The number of mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park has increased despite the war being waged in and around the area, according to the first count in 16 months.
Norwegians join push to ban oil exploration from fragile arctic coasts
Norwegian communities and conservationists have launched a campaign to ban oil exploration and development from parts of their Arctic coast, linking up with WWF-supported campaigns already under way in Alaska and Russia to protect vulnerable fisheries and communities.
Globally important site for endangered species discovered on the Mekong in Northern Cambodia
Between Kratie and Stung Treng towns, in northeast Cambodia, a remote 55km section of the Mekong River, that scientists have termed the ‘Central Section’, has been discovered to be of high biodiversity value both nationally and globally. Discoveries included one new species to science, 24 new species records for Cambodia and 36 fauna species that are globally threatened and listed under the “IUCN Red List”, including breeding populations of birds, primates and turtles.
Europe’s safety net extended to Romania and Bulgaria
An area larger than Austria has been added to the EU’s “safety net for nature". Most of the sites included in the Natura 2000 network are in Romania and Bulgaria and include many of Europe's greatest natural treasures.
Certified Chinese forest reaches million hectares
Forests owned by members of the Chinese chapter of WWF's Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN) and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) went beyond 1,000,000 hectares for the very first time late last year.
