World Wildlife Fund

WWF, the global environment conservation organization, was constituted and registered in 1961 pursuant to Sections 80 et seq. of the Swiss Civil Code and exists under the names:

WWF – World Wide Fund For Nature (formerly World Wildlife Fund)

WNF – Wêreld Natuur Fonds

WWF – Fonds Mondial pour la Nature

WWF – Welt Natur Fonds

WWF – Fondo Mondiale per la Natura

WWF – Fundo Mundial para a Natureza

WWF – Fondo Mundial para la Naturaleza

In 1986, it changed its name to World Wide Fund For Nature (except in the US and Canada ), to better represent the spread of its work. It was founded on September 11 , 1961 by, among others, the Biologist Sir Julian Huxley , Prince Bernhard Of The Netherlands , Max Nicholson , and the Naturalist and Painter Sir Peter Scott who designed the original black and white Panda logo. It is one of the world's largest Environmental Organization s, with a network of offices in nearly 60 countries and a secretariat in Gland, Switzerland .

Probably the most famous name associated with WWF is HRH The Duke Of Edinburgh . The Duke was the first President of WWF-UK from its foundation in 1961 to 1982 , International President of WWF ( 1981 – 1996 ), and is now President Emeritus.

WWF is dedicated to stopping the degradation of the planet's natural environment, and building a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by:

conserving the world's Biological Diversity

ensuring that the use of renewable Natural Resources is sustainable

promoting the reduction of Pollution and wasteful consumption.

Currently WWF works on the conservation of the three biomes of Forests, Freshwater Ecosystems, and Oceans and Coasts. These conservation works contain the bulk of the world's biodiversity, and provide the environmental goods and services upon which all life ultimately depends.

WWF promotes a factual, science-based approach to conservation, which focuses on six priority issues of global concern: forests, oceans and coasts, fresh water, endangered species, and the insidious threats of toxic chemicals and climate change. For each of these issues, WWF has developed measurable targets, and runs more than 1,200 field projects around the world in any given year.

PRESIDENTS

1962–1976: HRH Prince Bernhard Of The Netherlands

1976–1981: John H Loudon

1981–1996: HRH The Duke Of Edinburgh

1996–1999: Syed Babar Ali

2000–2000: Ruud Lubbers

2000–2001: The Hon. Mrs Sara Morrison

2001–present: HE Chief Emeka Anyaoku

INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORS

;WWF Services

James P Leape – Director General

Paul Steele – Chief Operating Officer

Thomas Schultz-Jagow – Communications

Dr Timothy Geer – Government & Aid Agency Coordination

Chiew Chong – Finance & Administration

;International Conservation Programme

Dr Chris Hails – Programme Director

Dr Sheila O'Connor – Programme Audits

;Regional Programmes

Dr Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu – Africa/Madagascar

Dr Isabelle Louis – Asia/Pacific

Dr Magnus Sylvén – Europe/Middle East

Dr Georg Schwede – Eastern Europe/Central Asia

Dr Meg Symington – Latin America/Caribbean

;Policy

Gordon Shepherd – International Policy

;Global Issues

Jennifer Morgan – Climate Change Programme

Duncan Pollard – Forests for Life Programme

Jamie Pittock – Freshwater Programme

Dr Simon Cripps – Oceans & Coasts Programme

Dr Sue Lieberman – Species Programme

;Legal Advisor

Michael R. Rogers, Barrister

LAWSUIT AGAINST THE WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION (WWE)

In the year 2000 the WWF filed a lawsuit against the World Wrestling Federation (also then known as WWF). The lawsuit dealt with an agreement signed by the wrestling company on 20 January 1994 not to use the initials WWF in their videos. They subsequently broke this agreement and were ordered by a UK Court to comply with it. Rather than attempt a financial settlement with the Fund, Vince McMahon changed the name of the company to World Wrestling Entertainment .

The wrestling company logo was altered, and a promotional campaign called "Get The F Out" was used to publicize this change. Also, all verbal and visual references to the "WWF" initials and the previous WWF scratch logo were and continue to be edited out of re-releases of old broadcasts as well as their magazine publications, with the exception of the "block logo" from the original agreement.

SEE ALSO