Helicopter Carrying 7 WWF Staff Crashes in Nepal

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 • VOLUME 28, NUMBER 6
FOCUS
1
CONTENTS
PAGE 2 !
PAGE 3 !
PAGE 4 !
Snake Species
Discovered
in Borneo
Science Update
WWF:
Protecting
Nature’s
Masterpieces
Helicopter Carrying 7 WWF Staff Crashes in Nepal
WWF MOURNS DEATHS OF
CONSERVATION HEROES
More on the Web
Get the latest updates and
share your condolences at
worldwildlife.org
Dr. Jill Bowling
Dr. Chandra Gurung
Dr. Harka Gurung
Jennifer Headley
Biographies and
tributes to these staff
members can be
found on WWF’s Web
site (worldwildlife.org)
and will be in the
January/February
issue of FOCUS.
Yeshi Lama
Matthew Preece
WWF NEWS
Introducing WWF’s Holiday Catalog
Honor your friends and family this holiday by helping WWF safeguard
Earth’s most precious treasures. WWF’s new holiday gift guide offers a sampling of over 160 great gift ideas that can be found online. A sample is included in this issue of FOCUS.
Among the unique gift options are the following:
•Gift Adoptions: Symbolically adopting any
of the 38 animals in the catalog is
a fun way to help WWF protect some of the
world’s most threatened animals. Adoptions of
$50 or more come with a free plush animal of
the species you adopt.
•Gift Memberships: As WWF members,
your friends and family can become full participants in the conservation of Earth’s most
important natural habitats. They’ll receive
great WWF premium items along with their
memberships.
•Extraordinary Gifts: Through a targeted
higher-level gift, you can recognize someone
important to you by supporting a specific
conservation program in a particular region.
Opportunities range from tracking sea turtles
in the ocean to protecting tigers from poachers to improving the lives of
indigenous people.
There are many options from which to choose and it’s easy to give. Make
your gift choice by perusing the full catalog online at worldwildlife.org/give or
by calling toll free 1-800-CALL-WWF (800-225-5993).
Mingma Norbu Sherpa
Over 6 Million
Acres Protected
in Amazon
LATEST STEP IN WWF’S VISION
TO SAVE AMAZON
WWF helped achieve another conservation breakthrough for the planet’s
largest rain forest when the Brazilian
government announced the creation of
new protected areas in the Amazon Basin
totaling approximately 6.2 million acres.
“This announcement constitutes a
huge victory for WWF and its allies in
our efforts to save this extraordinary
region,” said Carter Roberts, WWF president and CEO. “The Amazon has long
been acknowledged as a keystone to
dedication that the seven amazing conservationists from WWF and our deeply
valued partners brought to their work.
They are conservation heroes and will
be sorely missed by all of us.”
Also on board the helicopter were
high-ranking government officials, representatives of other agencies, journalists, and Russian crew members.
The Shree Air helicopter was on its
way back around noon local time from
Ghunsa village, near the foot of
Kanchenjunga, the third-tallest mountain in the world. The helicopter was due
to land in Taplejung 20 minutes later, but
failed to arrive. Severe weather hampered rescue efforts, and a search team
on foot found the wreckage two days
later, just over a mile from Ghunsa. The
crash is under investigation.
As FOCUS went to press, Carter
Roberts and Ginette Hemley, WWF’s
managing vice president of Field
Programs and Species Conservation,
were in Kathmandu with the families
and friends of the victims. WWF held a
memorial service there on September
28, which was declared a national day of
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 ➤
biodiversity conservation, and we’re
now mobilizing an international commitment equal to the region’s importance.”
The world’s largest river basin, the
Amazon provides one-fifth of the Earth’s
freshwater and houses one-third of its
species, including the world’s highest
diversity of birds and freshwater fish. In
recent decades, however, the region has
been seriously depleted by illegal logging, slash-and-burn agriculture, and
other human activities that are destroying forests at an alarming rate.
These threats prompted WWF in 2002
to join the Brazilian government, the
World Bank, Global Environment
Facility, German Development Bank,
and Brazilian Biodiversity Fund in
launching one of the world’s most ambitious conservation projects, the Amazon
Region Protected Area (ARPA) program.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 ➤
CONSERVATION NEWS
WWF Expedition Makes Discoveries in Amazon
A team of conservationists, biologists and journalists participated in a
WWF-led expedition into Brazil’s Juruena National Park. They covered almost
250,000 acres of the park and found species that have never before been seen
in this part of the world. See page 7.
WWF and our partners aim to preserve 122 million acres of Amazon rain forest.
© WWF-Canon/Nigel Dickinson
© WWF-Canon/Neyret & Benastar
W
WF is mourning the tragic loss
of seven staff members and 17
others who died September 23
aboard a helicopter that crashed in the
remote mountainous region of northeastern Nepal. The helicopter crashed
following a ceremony in which Nepal’s
government handed over
BREAKING
to local communities the
NEWS responsibility for managing the park around the Himalayan
mountain of Kanchenjunga.
The WWF staff on board included Dr.
Jill Bowling, conservation director, WWFUK; Dr. Chandra Gurung, country representative, WWF-Nepal; Dr. Harka Gurung,
advisor, WWF-Nepal; Jennifer Headley,
coordinator for Himalayas/South Asia
program, WWF-UK; Yeshi Lama, senior
program officer, WWF-Nepal; Matthew
Preece, program officer, Eastern
Himalayas program, WWF-US; and
Mingma Norbu Sherpa, managing director, Eastern Himalayas program, WWFUS. Biographies and tributes to these staff
members can be found on WWF’s Web
site (worldwildlife.org) and will be in the
January/February issue of FOCUS.
“The tragic event marks the single
greatest loss of life in WWF’s 45-year
history,” said Carter Roberts, president
and CEO of WWF. “I am humbled by the
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006
FOCUS
ON THE WEB
HOLIDAY SHOP AT WORLDWILDLIFE.ORG
Our Gifts to the Earth
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
A
s our boat paused off the coast of
Mozambique, WWF staffer Peter Bechtel
suggested now might be a good time to get our
dinner. So we threw out an anchor into the 20
feet of water, combed through seemingly endless sea grass beds, and harvested oysters the
size of silver dollars.
That impromptu supper came during a tour of one of the greatest conservation success stories I’ve ever seen: Quirimbas National Park. The
park’s marine reserve, the largest protected area in African waters, uses
a combination of harvest and no-harvest zones to safeguard turtles,
whales and other marine life while ensuring more fish for the thousands
of people who live within park borders.
I saw firsthand some of the results: dozens of right whales breaching
around our boat, coral reefs teeming with life, a sea-grass trail left by one
of the 150 dugongs thought to remain in Coastal East Africa. Local fishermen are already reporting larger
fish catches than ever before, and
other Mozambique communities are
clamoring for marine reserves of
their own.
Quirimbas is a testament to WWF’s
amazing and passionate staff, including Aida Safire, a quiet, strong,
devout woman who was the primary
architect behind the marine reserve. She worked without pay for more
than a year and a half because she wanted to leave behind a legacy. In
essence, it’s the legacy we all want to leave: ensuring that the Earth’s
most extraordinary places survive and flourish long after we’ve gone.
And that’s just what WWF is doing. From the vast array of our field
operations, we have now identified 19 places where we can make a large
near-term impact. Over the next 10 years, in tandem with our global network of affiliates, we will be applying all our know-how, our vision, and our
passion to preserving these exceptional places for future generations.
Our goal, as always, is to make a difference, which is something our
members do every time they send a contribution. WWF is unique among
conservation groups in recognizing Gifts to the Earth, extraordinary acts
by governments and peoples that change the face of conservation. And
whenever you give to WWF, you make your own gift to the Earth.
This holiday season, we are introducing a new and exciting way to
give. Enclosed in this issue of FOCUS is our new WWF holiday gift guide.
By symbolically adopting animals, by providing gift memberships, and by
directly supporting specific conservation programs, you’ll be a part of
WWF’s on-the-ground projects — in Mozambique and around the world.
The catalog offers you the opportunity to spread the message of conservation to your family and friends, while leaving behind your own legacy
for future generations. It’s hard to find a better gift than that.
Sam Kittner
Browse the online gift center at
worldwildlife.org/give to find unique
ideas for your family and friends this
holiday season. Choose from an animal
adoption, an extraordinary gift, or the
gift of WWF membership, and help protect the future of nature.
When you give an animal adoption
gift online, you support WWF’s efforts
to protect pandas, tigers, sea turtles,
gorillas and other threatened creatures
around the world. Your gift recipient
will receive free screensavers, desktop
images, instant messenger icons and a
personalized adoption certificate, in
addition to the items they’ll receive in
the mail. Reach out to your friends and
family this holiday season with a gift to
support WWF and help protect wildlife.
New Snake Species Found in Borneo
Snake Has Ability
to Change Colors
© WWF-Germany/Mark Auliya
“Our goal,
as always,
is to make a
difference…”
The Kapuas mud snake was found in
the wetlands and swamped forests.
Scientists in Borneo recently discovered a new species of snake that
has the ability to change colors. The
species, the newly named Kapuas
mud snake, was discovered by a
German researcher in the Heart of
Borneo, a mountainous region that
is home to a wealth of animal and
plant species.
LAOS
PHILIPPINES
Sea
THAILAND
ina
CAMBODIA
Ch
VIETNAM
ut
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So
M A L AYS I A
Pacific Ocean
BORNEO
SUMATRA
IRIAN JAYA
SULAWESI
JAVA
Indian
Ocean
PAPAU NEW GUINEA
I
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I
“I put the reddish-brown snake in
a dark bucket. When I retrieved it a
few minutes later, it was almost
entirely white,” recalled Dr. Mark
Auilya, reptile expert at the
Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum
Alexander Koenig in Germany and a
WWF consultant.
The ability to change colors is
common in reptiles such as the
chameleon, but highly unusual in
snakes. Scientists speculate that
changing colors helps the snake control its temperature. Like chameleons,
snakes are darker during the day to
attract the sun’s warmth, but turn to
a creamy color in darkness.
The snake belongs to the genus
Enhydris, which includes 22 other
species, only two of which are widespread. Borneo is home to 160
known species of snakes, including
the world’s most dangerous snake,
the Russell’s viper.
In the last 10 years, more than 360
new animal and plant species have
been discovered on the island of
Borneo. Through the Heart of Borneo
initiative, WWF is working with the
island’s three nations — Malaysia,
Indonesia, and Brunei—to conserve
the rain forest, which is severely
threatened by deforestation.
A
SPECIES SPOTLIGHT
Carter S. Roberts
FOCUS
President:...............................Carter S. Roberts
Editor:........................................Jennifer Seeger
Contributors:...............................Sarah Janicke
...............................Diane Querey
............................Patricia Sullivan
Copy Editor:...................................Alice Taylor
Proofreader:.................................Ruth Franklin
Production:...............................Lee Freedman
Member Services: ....................800-960-0993
Email: [email protected]
Jaguar (Panthera onca)
World Wildlife Fund
1250 24th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037
202-293-4800
www.worldwildlife.org
Published bimonthly
World Wildlife Fund is the leading U.S. organization working worldwide to preserve the
abundance and diversity of life on Earth. WWF
is affiliated with the international WWF Network,
which has representatives in more than 50
countries and an international office in Gland,
Switzerland. All contributions are tax-deductible.
Unless otherwise noted, all material appearing in
FOCUS is copyrighted and may be reproduced
with permission.
Volume 28, Number 6 (ISSN 0774-3315)
FOCUS is published bimonthly by World
Wildlife Fund, 1250 24th Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20037. Annual membership
dues are $15.00. Nonprofit postage paid at
Washington, DC and additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
FOCUS, World Wildlife Fund, 1250 24th Street,
NW, P.O, Box 97180, NW, Washington, DC
20090-7180.
The largest cat in the Americas and third
largest in the world, the jaguar gets its
name from an Indian word meaning ”he
who kills with one leap.” Once found
from the southwestern United States
to northern Argentina, today it inhabits
only the rain forests of Central
and South America.
Since jaguars require large areas
of natural habitat to survive,
WWF scientists are radio collaring the cats— and other wideranging species—in the southwestern Amazon to develop a better
picture of their habitat needs. The data will help us determine what
conservation measures are needed to ensure their future.
Habitat: Jaguars are found in the rain forests of Central and South America.
Diet: They can both climb trees and swim in search of food, which can
be birds, fish, lizards and mammals as large as capybaras (the largest
rodents) and peccaries (wild pigs).
Threats: Jaguars are threatened by hunting and habitat loss.
Interesting Fact: During most of the year, the jaguar lives alone;
only in August or September do males and females get together
for mating.
Visit worldwildlife.org/species to learn more.
© WWF-Canon/Michel Gunther
2
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006
3
FOCUS
CONSERVATION NEWS
DEBT-FOR-NATURE SWAP
Congo Basin
SHAHTOOSH SMUGGLING RING BUSTED
SCIENCE UPDATE
FIELD SURVEY IN TANZANIA REVEALS
160 ANIMAL SPECIES
Findings Include New Species of Frog
T
© WWF-Canon/Martin Harvey
he first field surveys of the
Rubeho Mountains in Tanzania
revealed more than 160 animal species,
including a new species of frog and 11
endemic species. The findings underscore the importance of protecting
this ecologically rich region, which
is threatened by deforestation and
poaching.
“We’ve documented some destruction already under way, so protecting
this mountain range is an urgent priority not just for the unique wildlife,
but also for the people and economy
of Tanzania,” said Dr. Neil Burgess,
African conservation scientist at
WWF and coauthor of the findings
published in the African Journal of
Ecology. “The Eastern Arc Mountains
catch and gather water that generates about 50 percent of Tanzania’s
total electricity through hydropower.”
For 112 days over two years, an
international team of scientists from
Tanzania Forest Conservation Group,
Oxford Brookes University, and the
Zoological Museum of Copenhagen
conducted surveys using a variety
of methods including tracking,
camera traps and audio recordings.
Researchers recorded the calls of two
species of galagos, small nocturnal
primates with large, round eyes commonly known as bush babies. Some
people believe “bush baby” refers to
the animal’s cries, which sound similar to the cries of human babies.
In one small valley, Nike Doggart of
the Tanzania Forest Conservation
Group discovered a new species of
frog — Arthroleptis nikeae — hiding
among the leaf litter under the forest
canopy. The smooth-skinned, brownpatterned frog measures about 2.25
inches from snout to bottom.
“Surveying just one section of the
Eastern Arc, we discovered a little
frog no one knew existed,” said
Doggart, a lead author of the article.
“Imagine what other wildlife we may
discover if we can help preserve the
entire mountain range.”
For 112 days, an international
team of scientists surveyed part
of the Eastern Arc Mountains.
They recorded calls of galagos
(left), small primates commonly
known as bush babies for their
human baby-like cries.
Debt-for-Nature Swap Protects
Africa’s Congo Basin
Historic Agreement Invests $25
Million in Cameroon’s Forests
I
ntense lobbying by WWF led France
and Cameroon to sign the first-ever
Central African debt-for-nature swap,
which will see at
least $25 million
over the next five
years invested in
protecting parts
of the Congo River
Basin, the world’s
second largest
rain forest and
The Congo is home home to some of
to the Ba’Aka.
Africa’s most spectacular wildlife and indigenous groups
such as the Ba’Aka.
A debt-for-nature swap relieves a
government’s foreign debt burden in
exchange for the government’s commitment to spend a certain amount of
its local currency to safeguard its natural resources. The Central African
agreement requires Cameroon to earmark funds for four different sectors:
education, health, infrastructure and
natural resources. The agreement was
initiated by France’s Debt Development
Contract under the Heavily Indebted
Poor Countries initiative — a joint program of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
Cameroon’s forests are teeming with
wildlife, from gorillas and chimpanzees
to forest elephants and bongos. But the
country’s forests are severely threatened by illegal logging and an underdeveloped infrastructure. As a solution,
the agreement calls for the government
of Cameroon to work with logging companies to develop management plans and
create a demand for certified, environmentally friendly products. Employing
12,000 people, the forest sector is
Cameroon’s largest private employer and
the second largest source of export revenue after oil. However, forest sector
employment has dropped in recent
years, so funds also will be used to
reestablish two national forestry schools
to train new recruits.
WWF pioneered the concept of using
a country’s debt to help fund conservation and the first debt-for-nature swap
was successfully executed in Ecuador
in 1989. Since then, WWF has played a
vital role in the implementation of debtfor-nature swaps around the world.
The debt swap will help protect
Cameroon’s species, including the forest elephant.
© WWF-Canon/Martin Harvey
A single shahtoosh shawl can mean the
death of five Tibetan antelopes.
Nations Wildlife Enforcement Network
(ASEAN-WEN), which includes the
Royal Thai Police, the Thai Department
of Natural Resources, and contributions
from WildAid and TRAFFIC, the trade
monitoring network of WWF and the
World Conservation Union.
Other wools can be harvested by
shearing or combing, but shahtoosh,
which means “the king of wools,” can be
obtained only by killing Tibetan antelopes.
The animals live almost exclusively in
the remote Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.
Poaching has drastically slashed the
antelope population because shahtoosh
shawls can command high prices on the
black market. In 1900, around 1 million
Tibetan antelopes lived in the wild;
today there may be as few as 50,000.
“These are highly organized criminals
who have operated in Thailand with little fear of capture or penalty,” said
Crawford Allen, deputy director of
TRAFFIC North America. “The bust is
testament to the value of ASEAN-WEN,
which is the world’s biggest wildlife law
enforcement network and has allowed
authorities to create a united front
against wildlife smugglers.”
GOOD NEWS FOR WORLD’S RAREST RHINO
Discoveries Signal Javan Rhino is Breeding
F
or the first time in three years, scientists have found signs of four Javan
rhino calves in Indonesia—exciting news
for the endangered species, which may
have fewer than 60 individuals in the
wild. Signs of the calves were discovered
in Indonesia’s Ujung Kulon National Park
by a team of biologists, including WWF
staff, park rangers and local people
checking on the rhinos after the July
earthquake on the island of Java.
“Javan rhinos are probably the rarest
large mammal species in the world, and
they are on the very brink of extinction,”
said Arman Malolongan, director general
of forest protection and nature conservation at Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry.
“To discover that this population is
breeding—and even slowly growing—
gives us hope for the species’ future.”
Javan rhinos are the rarest of the
world’s five rhino species. Between 28
and 56 Javan rhinos live in Ujung Kulon.
The only other known population is in
Cat Tien National Park in Vietnam,
where no more than eight rhinos likely
survive.
The team found the first sign of a calf
in August: a small footprint along with a
larger footprint belonging to the mother. One day later, another set of mother
and calf footprints of slightly different
size was found in a different area. Both
signs were estimated to be three days
old or less. On the same day, a second
team came face-to-face with another
calf, a female, and her mother. And the
following day, the team found a fourth
small footprint in a different location.
“The distance between the four areas
where the tracks were found, as well as
differences in the sizes of the footprints,
tells us that there are four different
calves,” said Matthew Lewis, program
officer for WWF’s Species Conservation
program. “We hope to monitor the
calves’ progress by capturing photos of
them on one of the many motiontriggered camera traps that we have set
up around the park.”
© WWF-Canon/Mike Griffiths
© WWF-Canon/Ronald Petocz
WF and TRAFFIC provided information from a covert investigation
that led Thai police to bust a smuggling
ring dealing in the illegal trade of shahtoosh, a fine wool that can be obtained
only by killing the endangered Tibetan
antelope. During a raid on three Bangkok
stores in July, police seized over 250 purported shahtoosh shawls, which are
known in the fashion world for their
exceptional quality. A single shawl retails
for as much as $15,000 and requires the
fine fur from three to five dead antelopes.
The raid comes after four months of
undercover work by members of the
new Association of Southeast Asian
© WWF-Canon/Martin Harvey
W
Brian Day
Thai Police Seize Shawls Worth $2 Million
WWF hopes to monitor the calves with
motion-triggered camera traps.
4
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006
FOCUS
Protecting Nature’s Masterpieces
Nineteen Priority Landscapes Drive WWF’s New Strategy
WWF/Steven Morello
Northern Great Plains
Chihuahuan Desert
U.S. Southeast Rivers and Streams
© WWF-Canon/Roger LeGuen
© WWF-Canon/Anthony B. Rath
Bering Sea
© WWF-Canon/Kevin Schafer
such endangered species as tigers, African and Asian elephants, Indian rhinos,
whales and other marine mammals, great apes and giant pandas.
WWF, along with its global network of affiliates, is working in these 19 places to
address the most serious threats, ranging from unsustainable farming to the burning of fossil fuels. We call this local-to-global. WWF bridges our extensive on-theground presence with our ability to navigate the big global institutions.
“We have long recognized that our planet is a delicate and complex set of relationships between species, people, habitats, governments and global market forces,”
said Roberts. “We know that meaningful conservation can’t take place without
addressing all those factors.
“We know we have set large goals for ourselves. But we are confident that, with
the continued support of our members, we can make measurable progress toward
preserving these priority areas for future generations.”
© WWF-Canon/Kevin Schafer
B
uilding on the landmark Global 200 framework, WWF has ramped up our
global conservation efforts with an innovative and comprehensive new strategy anchored around 19 of the world’s most important natural places.
“We’ve determined that the most effective way to make a lasting difference is to
focus on those places where we can make the greatest difference. These are globally important ecoregions where the conditions are right to deliver results, both locally and globally,” said WWF president and CEO Carter Roberts. “Our goal now is to
conserve these vitally important regions by 2015 and to significantly alter the market forces that drive natural consumption.”
The list of 19 places —selected by leading scientists, biologists and policy
experts— includes the world’s largest and most intact tropical rain forests, the most
diverse freshwater systems, the most varied coral reefs, the most biologically significant deserts and the most productive fishery. The list also includes the habitats of
Gulf of California
Mesoamerican Reef
© WWF-Canon/Edward Parker
Congo Basin
Amazon
© WWF-Canon/James Frankham
Galápagos
Namib-Karoo
© WWF-Canon/
Homo ambiens/
R.Isotti-A.Cambone
© WWF-Canon/John E. Newby
Valdivia
© WWF-Canon/Edward Parker
Going Global
A
Forestry. The cutting of trees and the
unsustainable management of forests
claim nearly 36 million acres of natural
forests every year — an area bigger
than the state of New York.
Agriculture. Unsustainable farming
causes erosion and pollution,
decreases crop production and
drives the conversion of
wildlands to farms.
© WWF-Canon/Edward Parker
© WWF-Canon/André Bärtschi
s part of our commitment to
protect the world’s most
extraordinary lands and waters,
WWF and our partners are working
to transform the larger regional and
global forces that threaten people
and nature everywhere.
Fishing. The market forces driving the
global fishing industry have destroyed
coral reefs and other marine environments and have left at least 75 percent
of the world’s fisheries either fully
exploited or overfished.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006
FOCUS
Amazon: largest tropical rain forest on Earth
and source of one-fifth of the world’s freshwater
A Track Record of Success
A 45-year history of results, a solid foundation in science, and a global network of affiliates
and partners leave WWF uniquely equipped to save nature on a grand scale.
Amur-Heilong: vast forests, longest river in
the Eastern Hemisphere, last refuge of the
Siberian tiger and Amur leopard
Our singular method of linking on-the-ground conservation with policy work and privatesector engagement produces lasting conservation successes. And our attention to the lives of
indigenous peoples allows us to build a sustainable balance between humans and nature.
Bering Sea: among the world’s most productive marine ecosystems, icy waters providing
more than 50 percent of the U.S. fish catch
With a reach that extends to more than 100 countries and that embraces every field from
international development to disaster relief, WWF is able to coordinate efforts at every level,
working with local and international governments, multinational corporations and individual
communities to reduce threats to habitats, animals and people.
© WWF-Canon/Michel Gunther
© WWF-Canon/Vladimir Filonov
Amur-Heilong
Coral Triangle
© WWF-Canon/Elizabeth Kemf
© WWF-Canon/Jürgen Freund
Mekong
© WWF-Canon/Martin Harvey
Gulf of California: highly productive waters
that are the source of 60 percent of Mexico’s
annual fish catch and home to more than 25
species of whales and dolphins
Borneo and Sumatra
© WWF/Cede Prudente
Madagascar: world’s fourth-largest island,
with 98 percent of its land mammals —
including lemurs—found nowhere else on Earth
Mekong: home to one of the world’s great
rivers, over 60 million people, and nearly 100
distinct ethnic groups
Mesoamerican Reef: Western Hemisphere’s
most diverse coral reef, critical habitat for the
sea turtle, manatee and whale shark, the
largest fish in the sea
WWF’s 19 Priority Landscapes
Namib-Karoo: unique desert system containing 3,500 plant species, about half of which
exist only here
WWF Network Presence
Terrestrial Areas
Northern Great Plains: prairie grasslands
where millions of bison once grazed; only
native habitat of North America’s most endangered mammal, the black-footed ferret
Regions highlighted are not to scale
U.S. Southeast Rivers and Streams: holds
some of the richest freshwater biodiversity in
the world, rivaling that of the Mekong Delta
and Amazon Basin
Wildlife Trade. The killing of endangered wildlife for money and food is
the most pressing threat to elephants,
tigers, gorillas and many other species.
Valdivia: world’s second-largest temperate
rain forest and the only one in South America,
with hundreds of endemic species
© WWF-Canon/Michel Terrettaz
International Lending. Large
amounts of money are invested in
development projects that may have
ruinous impacts on species, people and
the environment.
Carbon Use. The global warming triggered by the burning of fossil fuels
threatens to extinguish countless
species and to destroy some of the
world’s most precious places.
Congo Basin: immense rain forests, home to
indigenous peoples like the Ba’Aka and to
wildlife like mountain and lowland gorillas and
forest elephants
Galápagos: isolated archipelago where virtually all the reptiles and mammals exist nowhere
else on Earth
Coastal East Africa
Marine Areas
Coastal East Africa: a tapestry of natural
wealth, from colobus monkeys in the mountains to elephants roaming vast woodlands to
dugongs in coastal waters
Eastern Himalayas: a mosaic of naturerevering cultures, religions and ethnic groups,
with landscapes ranging from lush forests to
snowcapped mountains
Eastern Himalayas
Madagascar
Chihuahuan Desert: one of Earth’s three
most diverse deserts, with nearly a quarter of
the world’s cactus species
Coral Triangle: the world’s most abundant
variety of coral reef plants and animals, including hundreds of commercially important fish
species
Yangtze
© WWF-Canon/Martin Harvey
© WWF-Canon/Martin Harvey
© WWF-Canon/John MacKinnon
Borneo and Sumatra: tropical forests containing an estimated 15,000 plant species and
the endangered Asian elephant and orangutan
Yangtze: rivers that provide water to one-third
of the Chinese population and forests that are
the sole wild refuge of the giant panda
5
MARKETING
Helicopter Crash
The Kanchenjunga Conservation
Area is known for its rich biodiversity, spectacular scenery, and vibrant
cultural heritage. The WWF staff
who perished were instrumental in
the government’s decision to turn
over the area to local communities.
“The colleagues we have lost had
dedicated their lives to conserving
the extraordinary natural resources
of Nepal and of the Earth. Their
deaths are a huge blow to conservation efforts in Nepal and worldwide,” said James Leape, WWF’s
director general. “They will be
greatly missed.”
Continued from page 1
mourning by the Nepal government.
“Many people have asked how
they can help. We will talk with the
families of our colleagues to understand how we can best support
them. And we will also talk with
them on how we can best honor and
recognize the legacy of their work,”
Roberts said.
PARTNERSH\IPS
Business has an important role to play in achieving spectacular conservation results. The following companies support World Wildlife Fund by raising environmental awareness as well as important funds for conservation.
BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP®
Introducing Snow Leopard, the seventh and newest
friend in the Build-A-Bear Workshop series. This
endangered species— native to Central and South
Asia’s high altitude areas — is facing habitat degradation,
loss of prey, pelt trading and conflict with herders. For
each Snow Leopard sold, one dollar goes to WWF to
protect and conserve wildlife around the world. To
date, Build-A-Bear Workshop has given $1 million to WWF through the sales of its WWF
Collectibear® stuffed animal series. Giant Panda,
the first animal in the WWF series, is still available
online. (worldwildlife.org/shop or buildabear.com/wwf 877-789-2327)
The helicopter crashed following a
ceremony in Ghunsa village, in which
Nepal’s government handed over to
local communities the responsibility of managing the park around
Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest mountain. The area is home to
spectacular wildlife, including the
endangered snow leopard.
BARNES & NOBLE
For 2007, Barnes & Noble has produced 12 different wall calendars featuring
photos of endangered wildlife from giant pandas to polar bears to wild cats —
as well as two different spiral-bound engagement desk calendars featuring Baby
Animals and Wolves. WWF receives approximately 3 percent of the retail price
of the calendars— and when you purchase any of the calendars through the
secure WWF Web site, WWF receives an additional 5 percent of the retail price.
(worldwildlife.org/shop)
MICROSOFT
Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species, in stores now, brings
some of the world’s most threatened and endangered
species and their habitats to this build-your-own-zoo game.
Microsoft is contributing $25,000 from the sale of the expansion pack to the WWF Network.
PAKISTAN
CHINA
BHUTAN
NEPAL
© WWF-Canon/Neyret & Benastar
Kathmandu
INDIA
BANGLADESH
Creative Sisters
Raise Funds
for Wildlife
site and enjoy reading about our projects in the field.
“We especially like that WWF’s work
is global and you work so closely with
governments and local people to bal-
A family vacation last year to the San
Diego Zoo inspired Megan and Mariah
Wika to take some extraordinary action
to help save endangered animals.
“The trip gave us an up-close-andpersonal look at some of the animals we
had studied and researched beforehand,” said Megan, 15. “We were already
interested in wildlife and their habitats,
but we came back from the trip wanting
to do something to protect endangered
species.”
Megan and 13-year-old Mariah of
Blaine, Minnesota, began saving their
babysitting money to donate to a conservation group. They chose WWF
because they often visit the WWF Web
Lynn Wika
BOOKMARK EARNINGS
DONATED TO WWF
Through their bookmarks, Megan and
Mariah Wika are raising awareness and
funds for endangered wildlife.
ONLINE MAGAZINE STORE
The MVP Online Magazine Store has over 600
magazine titles to choose from at savings of up to
85 percent off newsstand prices. Whether you
renew, subscribe for the first time, or give a gift
subscription, 40 percent of your purchase amount
will go directly to WWF. (worldwildlife.org/shop)
Visit worldwildlife.org/shop for more information on the products and WWF partnerships mentioned above.
ance the needs of wildlife and humans,”
Megan said.
The Wika sisters soon decided they
wanted to do even more to fund global
conservation. Since both girls like to
read, they hit on the idea of selling specially designed animal bookmarks.
Mariah used her artistic abilities to
create 10 different designs — including
tigers, pandas and sea turtles — and
Megan used her analytical and business
skills to market them and keep track of
funds raised. They worked together to
print and laminate the bookmarks for
sale at school and to family and friends.
Impressed by the girls’ initiative,
their parents Lynn and Kevin offered to
match any money they raised in order
to double their donation to WWF.
“We’re thrilled that they’ve taken such
an active interest in conservation issues
at a young age,” Lynn said.
That family teamwork paid off
recently when Megan and Mariah sent
WWF $1,000 worth of bookmark earnings, along with an additional $1,000
from their parents.
“WWF’s Gift Planning team frequently works with unusual gifts, but we were
very impressed by the Wika sisters’
efforts on our behalf,” said Timothy
Sharpe, director of WWF’s Gift Planning
program. “When I talked with Lynn
after receiving the girls’ package, it was
immediately clear that this family
believes in turning concern into action.”
Megan and Mariah continue to learn
about wildlife, and recently traveled to
Vancouver Island to glimpse one of their
favorite animals in its natural habitat.
“We were inspired by a trip to Sea World
where we saw orcas, and decided that
we needed to see them in the wild,” said
Mariah. “We researched on the Internet
to find the best place to see them.”
The more the sisters immerse themselves in nature, the more committed
they become to raising awareness about
wildlife and wild places. “We’re very
grateful for WWF’s hard work to save
the world’s species,” said Mariah, “and
we’re proud to support it.”
Kevin Schafer/WWF
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006
FOCUS
© WWF-Canon/Martin Harvey
6
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006
TRAVEL
UPCOMING ADVENTURES!
February 10– 18, 2007
TANZANIA: THE GREAT
SERENGETI MIGRATION SAFARI
Join us on this exciting safari to see Tanzania’s legendary
wildlife migration. Each February immense herds of wildebeest and zebra congregate on the Serengeti’s short-grass
plains to feed and calve. The sight of new life everywhere is
an experience that will stay with you for a lifetime. Predators
also abound, and for lions, cheetahs, leopards, and hyenas it
is a time of plenty. Take daily excursions into the vast savannas and secluded woodlands to glimpse these animals as
well as rhinos, hippos, buffalos and elephants. Stay in classic
tented camps and fall asleep to the alluring night sounds of
the African bush.
February 26 – March 10, 2007
© WWF-Canon/Roger Hooper
© WWF-Canon/Anthony B. Rath
MAYAN CULTURE & WILDLIFE OF BELIZE & TIKAL
Join us as we explore beautiful rain forests, towering mountain
peaks, and the crystal blue waters of Belize, as well as the mysterious and ancient ruins of Tikal. This journey blends both the
cultural history of the ancient Maya with the natural riches of
the rain forest and reef. On forest excursions look for intriguing wildlife—such as howler and spider monkeys, toucans
and blue morpho butterflies—and on snorkeling excursions
experience some of the more than 60 species of coral and 500
species of fish that call these waters home. Accompanying you
throughout, WWF expert Gina DeFerrari will talk about WWF’s
work to protect the Mesoamerican Reef.
© WWF/Fritz Pölking
MONARCH BUTTERFLIES OF MEXICO
This popular expedition is offered by our Conservation Travel
Provider, Natural Habitat Adventures. Each autumn masses of
monarch butterflies embark on a remarkable journey of up to
2,500 miles from Canada and the northeastern United States
to their ancestral wintering grounds in Mexico. Standing in
the midst of hundreds of thousands of these wondrous black
and orange creatures—carpeting the forest floor, blanketing
the trees, and filling the air around you with their fluttering
presence—is one of the world’s most memorable wildlife
experiences. This custom-designed trip gives you several
opportunities to experience the monarch phenomenon in different sanctuaries.
Multiple departures, January – March, 2007
WWF Expedition Makes Discoveries in Amazon
UNCOVERS NEW SPECIES
OF FRESHWATER FISH
R.Isotti-A.Cambone
WORLD WILDLIFE FUND
A WWF-led expedition into the
heart of Brazil’s Juruena National
Park has uncovered an entirely new
species of freshwater fish, as well as
species that have never before been
seen in this part of the world.
Using boats, jeeps, a helicopter and an
airplane, a team of conservationists,
biologists and journalists covered
almost 250,000 acres of the park in
just over three weeks. They found
new occurrences of frog, fish,
bird, tree and primate species.
Scientists are still determining
whether some of these are new
to science.
“These discoveries aren’t
just exciting for scientists,”
said Matthew Perl, WWF’s
director of Amazon Region
Protected Areas. “They really
reinforce the conservation
value of this area and the larger Amazon ecoregion.”
The newest and third-largest
of Brazil’s national parks, Juruena
houses such imperiled species as
the jaguar, giant otter, harpy eagle
and Amazonian manatee. The area
was first explored in the 19th century
by a Russian team led by Georg
Heinrich von Langsdorff. Of the 39 men
who started the expedition in Saò Paolo,
only 12 survived. Langsdorff himself contracted malaria while crossing the Juruena River and shortly after
became insane. Since then, the region’s inaccessibility has left it largely
A WWF-led expedition to Jurenga
unexplored by scientists.
National park recorded 200 species of
The recent WWF expedition recorded some
birds.200 bird species in the park,
as well as ocelots (wild cats) and the Amazon river dolphin, a threatened
freshwater species that had never before been documented in this area. WWF
scientists say even more new or endemic species may be uncovered in future
expeditions.
Perl said the findings will help WWF and its partners develop scientifically
sound conservation plans for the region, which is threatened by agricultural
expansion and illegal logging.
© WWF/Fritz
© WWF-Canon/Homo ambiens/R.Isotti-A.Cambone
© WWF-Canon/Martin Harvey
FOCUS
ALSO COMING!
CHILEAN FJORDS AND CAPE HORN ...FEBRUARY 22– MARCH 9, 2007
VIETNAM: WILDLIFE & CULTURE.......MARCH 23– APRIL 8, 2007
AMAZON RIVERBOAT JOURNEY .........MARCH 23–APRIL 1, 2007
MICRONESIA SNORKELING SAFARI ............MAY 5–20, 2007
Let WWF take you to the best places on Earth to see spectacular wildlife in its natural environment! Travel in comfort and safety with small groups of congenial people who share your
interest in wildlife and wildlands, and learn firsthand about WWF’s conservation priorities. And
remember, by traveling with us, you are supporting WWF’s conservation work around the globe.
We take care of all the planning. So come along —for the adventure of a lifetime!
To receive detailed itineraries for these or other exciting WWF membership trips to North and
South America, Africa, Asia, the Arctic, Antarctica, or the South Pacific, please complete and
return the form below, or
Phone: 202/778-9683 or toll-free 888/WWF-TOUR (993-8687)
Email: [email protected]
Visit:
worldwildlife.org/travel
Please send me brochures for the following trips:
❏ Belize and Tikal
❏ Chilean Fjords and
❏ Tanzania: Great
Cape Horn
Migration Safari
❏ Vietnam: Wildlife and
❏ Monarch Butterflies
Culture
❏ Amazon Riverboat Journey
❏ Micronesia Snorkeling Safari
❏ Trips to other destinations:
________________________
❏ Please add me to your mailing list to receive WWF travel brochures
Name ________________________________________________________________
Address _______________________________________________________________
City ________________________________ State _________ Zip ______________________
WWF membership number ________________________________________________________
(FROM THE MAILING LABEL ON THIS ISSUE)
Panda Tracks, a monthly email newsletter, will keep you informed about WWF membership trips
throughout the year. It features reports and photos from past expeditions, information and itineraries
on current trips, and special announcements about new trip offerings.
If you would like to receive Panda Tracks, please provide your email address:
______________________________, or sign up on our Web site at worldwildlife.org/travel.
Return to: WWF Membership Travel Program, 1250 24th St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20037-1132
Amazon
Continued from page 1
WWF contributed $11.5 million to the
program’s initial endowment, with the
ultimate goal of creating some 80 reserves
and parks in the region by 2010. If successful, the efforts of WWF and its partners will secure nearly 122 million acres
of protected Amazonian rain forest—an
area larger than the state of California.
“The recent decree by the Brazilian
government is a big step forward in protecting the Amazon’s rain forest and in
realizing ARPA’s overall goal,” said
Matthew Perl, WWF’s director of Amazon
Region Protected Areas. “People are now
recognizing that the destruction of the
Amazon is a major concern and that one
of the key tools to reversing that destruction is to create protected areas. We are
now very close to building a conservation
corridor that will help stem and even
reverse the degradation of the southern
Amazon.”
The most important of the newly created areas is Juruena National Park,
located in the Brazilian states of Mato
Grosso and Amazonas. At 4.7 million
acres, Juruena is now Brazil’s thirdlargest park after Tumucumaque National
Park (9.6 million acres) and Jau
National Park (5.7 million acres), both
of which were established earlier under
ARPA. The government decree also
established the Rio Iriri Extractive
Reserve, an additional 1 million acres
adjacent to Terra do Meio.
A copy of World Wildlife Fund’s latest financial report may be obtained by writing to World Wildlife Fund,
1250 Twenty-Fourth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037; (202) 293-4800. Residents of the following
states may obtain information directly by contacting the state agencies listed below. REGISTRATION
WITH OR LICENSING BY A STATE AGENCY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR IMPLY ENDORSEMENT,
APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THAT STATE.
Florida: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE
OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, WITHIN THE
STATE, 1-800-HELP-FLA. SC NO. 00294. Maryland: For the cost of postage and copying, documents
and information filed under the Maryland charitable organizations laws can be obtained from the
Secretary of State,Charitable Division,State House,Annapolis,MD 21401. Michigan: MCIS No. 9377.
Mississippi: The official registration and financial information of World Wildlife Fund may be obtained
from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office by calling 1-888-236-6167. New Jersey: Information filed
with the Attorney General concerning this charitable solicitation may be obtained from the Attorney
General of the State of New Jersey by calling 973-504-6215. New York: A copy of World Wildlife Fund’s
latest annual report can be obtained from World Wildlife Fund or from the Office of the Attorney General
by writing the Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271. North Carolina: Financial information about World Wildlife Fund and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation
Licensing Branch at 1-888-830-4989. Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information
of World Wildlife Fund may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling tollfree,within Pennsylvania,1-800-732-0999. Virginia: Financial statements are available from the State
Division of Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218. Washington: Information relating to
the financial affairs of World Wildlife Fund is available from the Secretary of State, and the toll-free number for Washington Residents:1-800-332- 4483. West Virginia: West Virginia residents may obtain a
summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol,
Charleston,WV 25305.
7
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006
FOCUS
Plan Ahead
Does your niece really need that
gizmo that will probably be thrown in
the trash after the holidays? Before you
head to the mall, make a list of gifts
your friends and family really want or
need. And remember to stick to the
list — stop yourself from splurging at
the checkout counter.
Buy Locally Made Products
Select gifts made locally, which saves
on transportation and shipping, and in
turn reduces energy use and emissions.
Give Smart Gifts
Instead of buying clothes or toys
this year, teach your kids about
wildlife. Adopting an animal in their
name is a fun way to help them learn
about endangered species like pandas,
tigers and gorillas while supporting
WWF’s efforts to protect them. Peruse
WWF’s new holiday gift guide (included
with this issue of FOCUS) or visit
worldwildlife.org/give for information.
Create More Memories, Less Stuff
Gifts of experience can create lasting
memories for your friends and family.
Consider low-environmental-impact gifts
like movie passes, tickets to a sporting
event, or a cooking class. Also think about
giving them gifts of time, like coupons for
free babysitting or a gourmet meal.
Reuse and Recycle
Be sure to donate or recycle any
wrapping paper, boxes and holiday
cards you don’t plan to use next year or
save for craft projects.
If you get a Christmas tree, find out if
your community has a program that
chips discarded trees into mulch to be
used for public landscaping or made
available to homeowners. Some communities even use Christmas trees in
lakes and ponds to create habitats for
fish. Contact your municipal and county governments for details.
FOCUS ON …
JOIN WWF’S WILDLIFE RESCUE TEAM
WWF’s Wildlife Rescue Team members play a key role in
assuring that WWF has the immediate resources needed whenever wildlife crises arise. By committing to give on a monthly
basis, you’ll help to provide a vital, stable source of funds from
which WWF can draw to take action needed to save giant pandas,
tigers, rhinos, whales, and other wildlife struggling to survive.
In order to save paper and postage, we’re pleased to offer
the option of debiting your monthly donations from
your bank account or your credit
card. Call 1-800-960-0993 or visit
worldwildlife.org/join to learn more—
and become a member today!
For A Living Planet...
✁
I’ll help save endangered wildlife wherever it is threatened, whenever it is
YES! threatened. I have enclosed a check to World Wildlife Fund for $ ________.
Mr./Mrs.
Miss/Ms. ____________________________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________________________
City ________________________________ State___________ Zip ____________________
Member I.D.# ____________________________Phone (_______ ) ______________________
(see mailing label)
Email Address ________________________________________________________________
FOCUS
IN THIS ISSUE:
Helicopter Tragedy in
Nepal: WWF Mourns Loss
of Conservation Leaders
Protecting Nature’s
Masterpieces
WWF Achieves Another
Success in Amazon
■ Check here if this is a change of address.
Important: To help us serve you better, please provide your old address.
■ Please send information on how I can include WWF in my will, trust, or
estate plans, or make a gift to WWF that provides me with income for life.
Please enclose your tax-deductible check along with this form and return to:
World Wildlife Fund
1250 24th St., NW
P.O. Box 97180
Washington, DC 20037
AMF070510000
Invest in
the Future.
A WWF Charitable Gift Annuity is one
way to supplement retirement income
for yourself or a loved one as you help
save life on Earth.
Benefits Include
● Reliable Fixed Payments for Life
● Immediate Tax Savings
● A Living Legacy for Conservation
Single-life Gift Annuity Rates:*
Age
Rate
Age
65
6.0%
80
70
6.5%
85
75
7.1%
90+
Round Island, Bering Sea
© WWF-Canon/Kevin Schafer
Rate
8.0%
9.5%
11.3%
*These rates are for illustration purposes and subject to change. Contact us for rates for other ages
or for two-life gift annuity rates. Minimum age for
annuitants is 65; minimum gift amount is $10,000.
For more information and to request
your gift annuity proposal, please contact WWF at our toll-free number or via
email:
1-888-WWF-WILL
(1-888-993-9455)
[email protected]
Note: For general membership inquiries,
please call 1-800-960-0933.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 • VOLUME 28, NUMBER 6
Support World
Wildlife Fund
Common woolly monkey
© WWF-Canon/Vladimir Filonov
This is the time of year when consumerism soars — and with it, our environmental impact. In fact, between
Thanksgiving and Christmas, household
waste increases by more than 25 percent. Here are some ideas to make your
holidays less wasteful — and perhaps
less stressful.
© WWF-Canon/Hartmut Jungius
WWF’s Green
Holiday Guide
Throw a Green Party
Keep in mind your environmental
impact when you’re hosting your next
holiday party. Instead of disposable
plastic or paper tableware, put out
reusable plates, silverware and napkins.
Borrow or rent them if you don’t have
enough.
© WWF-Canon/Martin Harvey/cheetah
CONSUMER CORNER
© WWF-Canon/James Frankham
8