WWF - News & Stories

Royal event to tackle illegal wildlife trade

2013-05-21

LONDON - Today His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and the UK government hosted a conference to call for action at the highest level to end the trade in illegal wildlife – a trade that presents a grave threat not only to the natural world, but also to national and regional security.

WWF welcomes this initiative, which aims to highlight this issue on the international political agenda. As president of WWF-UK, Prince Charles shares many of the same conservation interests, including the desire to see an end to illegal wildlife trade.

With reference to the event, David Nussbaum, Chief Executive of WWF-UK said:

"The illegal wildlife trade threatens to overturn decades of conservation efforts, putting some iconic and ecologically important species at risk of extinction. This multi-billion pound trade also fuels other types of crime and has a devastating impact on some of the poorest people on the planet.

"With poaching and wildlife trafficking at record levels, we hope that this meeting will be the start of a ground-breaking initiative in the fight against this deadly and destructive trade."

A record 668 rhinos in South Africa were killed by poachers last year, and close to 300 have died so far in 2013. Earlier this month, at least 26 elephants were massacred in a World Heritage Site in the Central African Republic, after 17 individuals armed with Kalashnikov rifles entered the unique elephant habitat Dzanga Bai, known locally as the "village of elephants".

This meeting will lay the groundwork for a heads of state meeting in the autumn, also hosted by the UK government. It is hoped that governments at the autumn meeting will commit to actions that will reduce demand for endangered wildlife and related products in markets around the world; improve global enforcement and criminal justice against the organised syndicates engaged in this activity; and assist rural communities to find long-term, viable alternatives to the trade.

Speaking at the event, WWF-UK President HRH Prince of Wales said:

"It is particularly important at this crucial time to recognize that illegal trade in wildlife is a serious crime that is not only decimating critically endangered species, but is also a pervasive instrument in destabilizing economic and political security. Finding a solution will require people from many different sectors to work together."

In addition, his son Prince William HRH Duke of Cambridge who was also present said: "We all know how devastating the illegal wildlife trade is on populations of endangered species – we have heard the statistics. My fear is that one of two things will stop the illegal trade: either we take action to stem the trade; or we will run out of the animals. There is no other outcome possible."

In preparation for this meeting, WWF, along with other partners, have been working with The Prince of Wales' International Sustainability Unit, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to share expertise and knowledge of illicit wildlife trafficking, and potential solutions to the current global wildlife crime crisis.

In summer 2012, WWF and TRAFFIC launched a global Illegal Wildlife Trade campaign to raise the profile of illegal wildlife trade as a serious crime and to spur governments and international institutions to tackle it as such.

For more information:
Robin Clegg | Media Relations Manager, WWF-UK
E: rclegg@wwf.org.uk | M: 07771 818 707

Total to keep out of Virunga World Heritage Site

2013-05-17

Addressing investors in Paris today, Total Chairman and CEO Christophe de Margerie affirmed that the company will not explore for oil within the boundaries of Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Responding to questions posed by conservation group WWF, de Margerie told the annual shareholder meeting that Total is making a "commitment to respect the current limits" of the park, which is Africa's oldest World Heritage Site.

"We welcome Total's clear and comprehensive assurance that no oil exploration or exploitation activities will be conducted by the company within Virunga National Park. We urge British oil exploration company Soco International PLC immediately to stop all activities in the park and to make a similar commitment," said Lasse Gustavsson, Executive Director of Conservation at WWF International.

"Virunga National Park has been recognized by UNESCO and the DRC government as a place of outstanding natural value, and we will continue to fight to preserve it for the people that depend on it for their sustainable livelihoods. This is our line in the sand. Oil exploration in Virunga National Park is simply unacceptable," Gustavsson said.

For further information:
Alona Rivord, arivord@wwfint.org, +41 79 959 1963

WWF presses Total for protection of World Heritage Sites

2013-05-16

WWF today has issued an open letter to investors in French oil giant Total expressing concerns over the company's ongoing activities on the edge of a prized national park in Africa. The conservation group is calling for assurances from Total that it will keep out of Democratic Republic of the Congo's Virunga National Park.

WWF believes that the area currently covered by Africa's first national park and the continent's oldest World Heritage Site is a 'no go' zone for oil exploration. The organization fears that possible future changes to park boundaries could open a loop hole that would allow for drilling in sensitive habitats, which would endanger wildlife and local livelihoods.

"At its annual general meeting, Total has a unique opportunity to live up to the expectations of our fellow citizens and some of its shareholders and financial partners," said WWF-France's J.B. Roelens. "By making a public commitment never to operate within the current boundaries of Virunga National Park, nor any other UNESCO World Heritage Site, Total could make May 17th a landmark date in corporate social and environmental responsibility."

An opinion poll conducted by an independent surveyor this month on behalf of WWF has revealed significant public support for protection of World Heritage Sites from oil and gas extraction. Fully 8 out of 10 French citizens say they would "very much" like French companies to promise not to exploit such places. Even more think that the financial partners of these companies bear some of the responsibility for the environmental impact of exploiting these hydrocarbon deposits. Similarly, 80 per cent of the French declare that they would be more likely to buy petrol or heating oil from an oil company if it promised never to engage in oil or gas extraction in UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

WWF message to Total investors in advance of tomorrow's meeting is that the risks inherent in exploration activities could compromise the integrity of Virunga National Park. WWF is seeking a clear and comprehensive guarantee by Total that this exceptional natural place and all other World Heritage Sites will remain forever untouched by the company.

Editor's note:
WWF's open letter will be published in the 16 May, 2013 edition of Le Monde. French and English copies are available along with photographs of Virunga National Park.

For further information:
Alona Rivord, arivord@wwfint.org, +41 79 959 1963

About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build 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, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

Visit panda.org/Virunga for additional resources and follow us @WWF_media.

Final speaker list unveiled for prestigious TEDxWWF event

2013-05-15

Dubai: WWF and EWS-WWF have announced the stellar speaker line-up for the TEDxWWF event, which will be held in the capital Abu Dhabi next Tuesday.

The event, which aims to enable insightful and relevant ideas to encourage other individuals to support or even seek more sustainable solutions in their daily lives, is free to attend but there is limited seating remaining. The UAE community is encouraged to visit the event website www.tedxwwf.com to register for a ticket ahead of the event on May 21.

The diverse and interesting final line-up of speakers will cover a number of issues related to sustainability, art, sport, renewables, innovation and music:

●Andreas Keller - the co-founder of the iShack project, using solar power to improve slums
●Andy Ridley - Co-founder of Earth Hour, the biggest global environmental grassroots movement
●Bruce Ferguson – Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and a professor at Masdar Institute
●Elham Al-Qasimi – the first Arab and Emirati woman to complete an unassisted expedition to the North Pole
●Ginger Dosier Krieg - inventor of the bio brick revolutionizing the building materials industry
●Julie-Ann Odell – Founder of Dubai Drums – using music to connect to life's rhythm
●Luc Marin – Dubai based French sand artist
●Lucy Orta - British contemporary visual artist who tackles ecological and social factors through her artwork
●Majid Al-Qassimi - one of the most prominent and vocal Emirati environmentalists and strongest advocate of using culture and education in environmental conservation
●Sara El Sayed - certified Biomimicry Professional and biologist who uses biomimicry to create opportunities for positive change in Egypt
●William Gaillard - Senior Advisor to the President of UEFA on using sports as an arena for social change

For more information on the inspiring speakers please visit: tedxwwf.com

Sudhanshu Sarronwala, Executive Director, Communications and Marketing of WWF International, said: "The TEDxWWF platform brings together thought leaders and entrepreneurs from a range of disciplines who challenge us to think about sustainability in different ways - for the planet and for its people."

TEDxWWF will take place at the Sofitel, Abu Dhabi on Tuesday May 21, 2013 from 9am – 5.30pm. A limited number of tickets are available to the public and interested parties need to fill out an online application following which a registration form will be issued: www.tedxwwf.com

Ida Tillisch, Director General of EWS-WWF, said: "All our TEDxWWF speakers are impressive individuals bringing to the table very interesting and innovative ideas. We welcome the community to join us in Abu Dhabi or by watching the event live at www.tedxwwf.com. EWS-WWF is very excited to be hosting what we anticipate to be a truly inspirational event."

To live stream TEDxWWF on May 21, log-on to www.tedxwwf.com
TEDxWWF in Abu Dhabi is organized with the generous support of Etihad, ADMAF, Sofitel, IRENA, Farnek and Abu Dhabi Events.

WWF-Singapore pays tribute to eco-champions for their achievements in Earth Hour 2013

2013-05-15

Singapore, 14 May 2013 –World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Singapore today lauded star eco-champions including schools, corporates and organisations for empowering and influencing eco-actions in the tiny state through the Earth Hour 2013 Awards and Appreciation Ceremony held at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel.

Initiatives that were recognised included a "I Will if You Will" Challenge Week to kickstart a year-long recycling programme, a photo collage competition for staff to capture the essence of Earth Hour, the formation of a resident-led Environmental Sustainability Interest Group, encouraging customers to recycle plastic bottles in return for green products, and a weekly vegetarian day in school to reduce carbon footprint.

Ms Elaine Tan, CEO, WWF-Singapore, said, "We are so pleased to take this opportunity to recognise partners, corporates and organisations that have put in remarkable efforts and commitment towards saving the environment through the Earth Hour platform. Indeed, many of the initiatives we saw are continuing beyond Earth Hour, in line with the spirit of this global campaign to inspire simple yet long-lasting changes that can positively impact the planet. Our hope is that these initiatives will inspire others to embark on similar long-term paths towards sustainable environmental protection."

Winners were evaluated and selected based on criteria such as the impact of initiatives on their target audience's behaviours, their sustainability and creativity. The Earth Hour Awards were introduced in 2011 and have remained a major feature of the annual campaign in Singapore. The deserving winners this year, under four award categories¹were:

Futuremakers Award: Red Swastika School
Community Award: West Coast GROs
Customer Activation Award: Greenbox
Staff Engagement Award: ING Bank
Certificate of Commendation: Balestier Hill Primary School

For the first time, WWF-Singapore shared findings of the carbon footprint for the Earth Hour 2013 event. The survey, done in partnership with Olive Ventures, focused on measuring the carbon emissions from transportation used by attendees and suppliers – this amounted to 14.71 tonnes in total. WWF-Singapore will be off-setting this via a WWF Gold Standard project in alternative energy. This project involves the installation of biogas units in households in Nepal, reducing both deforestation as well as carbon emissions.

Going beyond the hour, the ceremony also saw Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore taking a positive stand for the environment and going shark fin free. The hotel's general manager, Mr Winston Reinboth said, "About 73 million sharks are killed each year, and much of this is driven by the consumption of shark's fin throughout East Asia. By removing shark's fin from our menus, we hope to contribute towards preserving the delicate marine ecosystem and also inspire our clients and other food and beverage establishments to do the same."

"We are very glad to see that businesses are not only supporting the environment during Earth Hour, but beyond it as well. Grand Copthorne's decision to go shark fin free will undoubtedly contribute towards reducing the impact made on overfished shark populations in our seas," said Ms Tan.

Earth Hour 2013 saw WWF-Singapore motivating over 5,000 members of the public to celebrate the main
official event at The Float @ Marina Bay on Saturday, 23 March 2013, and close to 350 organisations and landmarks switching off their lights for an hour. Close to 2,000 participants took turns to boogie non-stop for two hours to power up the 90-minute outdoor environment-themed movie screening of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax. In addition, the campaign's endearing theme of "I Will If You Will" continued to spur schools, grassroots organisations and individuals to challenge one another to take on actions to save the planet.

Earth Hour 2013 is made possible with the support of Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) as the Official Venue Partner for the Lights Out event to be held at Marina Bay Singapore, National Environment Agency (NEA), National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS), official radio stations Hot FM91.3, Kiss 92FM and UFM 100.3, major sponsor IKEA, sponsors Marina Bay Sands, NTUC FairPrice and Singapore Post, as well as partners – Philips Lighting, Clear Channel, Crown Worldwide, Leo Burnett, Mindshare, Olive Ventures, SMRT, StarHub, The Singapore Scout Association, Weber Shandwick and 8 Days.

¹Annex A: Award categories and initiatives of winners

About Earth Hour

Earth Hour is a global environmental initiative of WWF. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 23, 2013 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. In 2013, Earth Hour's I Will If You Will concept invites individuals and organisations to challenge others to an ongoing environmental commitment beyond the hour. Earth Hour began in one city in 2007 and by 2012 took place in more than 7000 cities and towns in 152 countries across every continent, receiving reports as 'the world's largest campaign for the planet'.

About WWF

WWF – the World Wide Fund for Nature, is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organisations, with almost five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build 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, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

Notes to Editors

For media interview opportunities, please contact:

WWF-Singapore

Ms Karen Lin, Communications Manager, klin@wwf.sg, (65) 6730 8115

Weber Shandwick for WWF-Singapore (Earth Hour 2013)

Mr Danny Cham, dcham@webershandwick.com, (65) 6825 8044

Please visit http://earthhour.wwf.sg for more information on Earth Hour 2013.

Jim Leape to step down as WWF International Director General in 2014

2013-05-14

Gland, Switzerland: Jim Leape has announced his decision to step down as Director General of WWF International in early 2014.

Jim Leape has dedicated nearly 20 years to the global conservation organization. He served for many years as the Executive Vice President of WWF-US, leading that office's conservation work.

In 2005 he moved to Switzerland to take on the role of Director General of WWF International – leading WWF's global network of 6,000 staff working in more than 100 countries, heading the international secretariat, and representing WWF in international fora and media, and with governments and other organizations.

He is stepping down for personal reasons and will return to the US.

Jim has announced his departure 9 months in advance to enable the best possible transition to his successor.

WWF International President, Yolanda Kakabadse, said: "I want to express my deep appreciation for all that Jim Leape has done for WWF.

"His leadership and vision continue to be instrumental in growing the organization to become more effective, more dynamic, and more truly global.

I am grateful too for Jim's commitment to a strong transition to his successor. On behalf of the WWF International Board of Trustees and the entire Network, I would like to thank Jim for all he has given to WWF and wish him and his family all the very best in the future."

Jim Leape said: "Over the past two decades, I have had the great fortune to work with extraordinary colleagues all over the world – brought together by a passionate commitment to saving life on Earth. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of WWF. We have made a difference, and I leave with confidence that WWF will have an even greater impact in the years ahead."

Media contact:
Gemma Parkes, WWF International Executive Communications Manager
gparkes@wwfint.org / +41 79 253 6386

About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build 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, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

www.panda.org/news for latest news and media resources

At least 26 elephants massacred in World Heritage Site

2013-05-10

Yaoundé, Cameroon - At least 26 elephants were massacred in the Dzanga Bai World Heritage Site in the Central African Republic, after 17 individuals armed with Kalashnikov rifles on Monday entered this unique elephant habitat, known locally as the "village of elephants".

WWF sources on Thursday said they had counted at least 26 elephant carcasses in and around the Bai, a large clearing where between 50 and 200 elephants congregate every day to drink nutrients present in the sands.

Four of the elephants were calves, the sources said, adding that local villagers had started taking meat from the carcasses.

Since the poachers arrived no elephants have been seen at the Bai, which was described as an "elephant mortuary" the sources added.

Although the 17 armed individuals, who presented themselves as part of the country's transitional government forces, have left the area, WWF and other conservation partners fear the killing could continue unless the area is properly secured.

The Central African Republic has been rocked by violence and chaos since the beginning of the year, and WWF and other conservation organizations left the field office next to the Bai in April for security reasons.

Jim Leape, WWF International Director General, said: "The killing has started. The Central African Republic must act immediately to secure this unique World Heritage site.

"The brutal violence we are witnessing in Dzanga Bai threatens to destroy one of the world's great natural treasures, and to jeopardise the future of the people who live there.

"The international community must also act to assist the Central African Republic to restore peace and order in this country to safeguard its population and its natural heritage.

"WWF also asks Cameroon and the Republic of Congo to assist the Central African Republic in preserving this World Heritage Site, which not only encompasses the Bai, but also includes large neighbouring areas of these two countries.

"The events in Dzanga Bai are a vivid reminder of the existential threat faced by forest elephants in Central Africa. Populations of this species have plummeted 62 per cent over the past ten years.

"The unfolding tragedy in Dzanga Bai must also spur the governments of China and Thailand to shut down the illegal ivory markets in their countries that are fueling this illicit trade."

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WWF is campaigning for greater protection of threatened species such as rhinos, tigers and elephants. In order to save endangered animals, source, transit and demand countries must all improve law enforcement, customs controls and judicial systems. WWF is also urging governments in consumer countries to undertake demand reduction efforts to curb the use of endangered species products.

Photograph's available here - https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ih8etzc82vpe8nq/Ke8ECklNpo

For further information, please contact:
Jules CARONHead of Communications for WWF anti-poaching programme in Central Africa
jcaron@wwfcarpo.org+237 79 51 90 97

Alert: Poachers enter unique elephant habitat

2013-05-07

Poachers have entered one of Africa's most unique elephant habitats on Monday, threatening to cause one of the biggest elephant massacres in the region since poachers killed at least 300 elephants for their ivory in Cameroon's Bouba N'Djida National Park in February 2012.

According to WWF sources, a group of 17 armed individuals on Monday entered the Dzanga-Ndoki National Park and headed for the Dzanga Bai, locally known as the "village of elephants", a large clearing where between 50 and 200 elephants congregate every day to drink mineral salts present in the sands.

Two WWF-supported local researchers said that three members of this group armed with Kalashnikov rifles approached them in the forest on Monday, asking for food and directions to the viewing tower at the Dzanga Bai, which is used by scientists and tourists to observe elephants. After giving a false lead, these sources immediately ran away and heard gunshots coming from the Bai on their way into hiding.

Also on Monday, two ecoguards said they saw they saw armed individuals on the Dzanga Bai observation platform shooting in the direction of elephants. While going into hiding, these sources said they saw the vehicle which had transported the 17 gunmen parked at the entrance of the park.

WWF calls on the international community to help restore peace and order in the Central African Republic, which has been rocked by violence and chaos since the beginning of the year, and to help preserve this unique World Heritage Site.

Jim Leape, WWF International Director General, said:

"Unless swift and decisive action is taken, it appears highly likely that poachers will take advantage of the chaos and instability of the country to slaughter the elephants living in this unique World Heritage Site.

"Wildlife crime is not only a consequence of instability, but a cause. It fuels violence in the region, in a vicious circle that undermines the stability of these countries and their economic development..

"Central African Republic has to immediately follow through on its promise of two weeks ago to mobilise troops to end poaching in the region. WWF also calls on the international community to immediately provide assistance to Central African Republic in restoring peace and order in the country, and to preserve its unique natural heritage.

"We also urge Cameroon and Republic of Congo to provide support to the Central African Republic in preserving this World Heritage Site, which not only encompasses the Bai, but also includes large neighbouring areas of these two countries.

"Finally, ivory consumer country governments, and notably China and Thailand, must redouble their efforts to end demand – the root cause of the extermination of elephants across Africa."

###

For further information, please contact:
Jules CARONHead of communications for WWF anti-poaching programme in Central Africa
jcaron@wwfcarpo.org+237 79 51 90 97

Climate Change milestone demands shift to renewable energy

2013-05-03

Brussels, Belgium - The need to shift to sustainable and clean energy sources will be reinforced when the levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere reached 400 parts per million (ppm) for the first time in human history in the next few days.

Scientists from the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, are set to announce that levels of atmospheric CO2 are reaching 400ppm now, marking a critical point on the pathway to dangerous levels of global warming.

The imperative to drive down these emissions has never been stronger, says Samantha Smith, WWF leader of the Global Climate & Energy Initiative.

"The laws of physics tell us that the more CO2 we have in the atmosphere, the warmer the world will get. The last time the Earth's atmosphere had as much CO2 as it has today, the world was 3-4 degrees Celsius warmer. And the last time the world was that warm, sea levels were five to 40 meters higher than they are now," she says.

According to scientists, there's no doubt that human beings are responsible for rising levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, with most of global climate pollution coming from the energy sector, especially burning fossil fuels. If CO2 levels continue to rise, we can expect to see record high temperatures become the new summer average; record droughts become the norm; and record storms and floods become frequent events, says Smith.

"Globally, communities and governments already struggle to respond to droughts, crop failures and extreme weather events, even in rich countries such as the US. If CO2 levels keep rising, efforts to adapt to a changing climate are very unlikely to do the job."

But this trajectory can change if the right choices are made.

"With a fast global shift to renewable energy and supported by strong energy efficiency measures, we can drastically reduce CO2 emissions which eventually will also stabilise and reduce atomospheric CO2 concentrations," says Smith. Costs of renewable electricity have dropped radically, and in 2011 investments in renewables outstripped investments in fossil fuel power for the first time. Renewable energy can become "the new normal." But it requires commitments from governments if it is to happen quickly enough and at scale, she says.

ends

For Editors:
The Keeling Curve http://keelingcurve.ucsd.edu/

Further information:

Mandy Jean Woods, mwoods@wwf.org.za / +27 82 553 4211 (please send SMS if urgent) @MandyJeanWoods
Sam Smith, ssmith@wwf.no / @pandaclimate

New forest loss figures highlight need for green growth in the Greater Mekong – WWF

2013-05-02

Bangkok, Thailand - The Greater Mekong subregion in Southeast Asia risks losing more than a third of its remaining forest cover within the next two decades if regional governments fail to boost protection, value and restore natural capital, and embrace green growth, warns a new WWF report.

WWF's analysis reveals the Greater Mekong has retained about 98 million hectares of natural forest, just over half of the region's land area, but further rapid loss is expected if current deforestation rates persist. Between 1973 and 2009, the five countries of the Greater Mekong lost just under one-third of their remaining forest cover. During this period, Cambodia lost 22 per cent of its 1973 forest cover, Laos and Myanmar lost 24 per cent, and Thailand and Vietnam lost 43 per cent.

Large connected areas of core forest also declined significantly across the region, from over 70 per cent in 1973 to about 20 per cent in 2009. Core forest is defined as an area of at least 3.2km2 of uninterrupted forest. If current trends continue, WWF predicts that by 2030 only 14 per cent of the Greater Mekong's remaining forest will consist of contiguous habitat capable of sustaining viable populations of many wildlife species.

"The Greater Mekong is at a crossroads," said Peter Cutter, Landscape Conservation Manager with WWF-Greater Mekong. "One path leads to further declines in biodiversity and livelihoods, but if natural resources are managed responsibly, this region can pursue a course that will secure a healthy and prosperous future for its people."

The report, "Ecosystems in the Greater Mekong: past trends, current status, possible futures," provides new analysis on the current status and potential future of the region's principal forest and freshwater ecosystems, and some of the most endangered species these ecosystems support.

The report offers two scenarios for the region's ecosystems, one predicts what will likely happen by 2030 under an unsustainable growth model in which the deforestation and degradation observed over the past decade persists, while the other scenario assumes a 50 per cent cut in the annual deforestation rate and offers a future based on green growth. Under the green economy scenario, core forest areas extant in 2009 across the five Greater Mekong countries would remain intact.

"The green economy approach is the choice for a viable future in the Greater Mekong," added Cutter. "Regional leaders have already affirmed that healthy economic growth goes hand in hand with healthy and productive ecosystems, but fast and effective responses are needed now to avoid permanent environmental degradation."

The report highlights the Xayaburi dam development as a key threat to the health and productivity of the Mekong river and delta. The Mekong basin hosts 13 unique, yet connected, freshwater ecosystems, but the controversial Xayaburi project will sever the mainstem of the lower Mekong river, blocking migratory fish and sediment flow with devastating consequences for livelihoods and food security for 60 million people.

The report also maps the enormous decline in the range of several important and iconic species of the region, including the tiger, Asian elephant, Irrawaddy dolphin and the endemic saola. The survival of many species in the Greater Mekong depend on the existence of effectively managed protected area systems, and while protected areas have expanded dramatically since 1970, many are not well managed.

"Many protected areas exist in name only," added Cutter. "Even relatively secure protected areas are under intense pressure from poaching and timber theft, while others have been reduced in size by government's eager to cash in on land concessions to mining companies or plantation owners."

Despite documenting the degradation of ecosystems over the past 50 years, the report also emphasizes the region is still rich in natural resources and the value of its ecosystem services, including food, water and fibre, is among the highest in the world. The Greater Mekong's vast natural wealth provides a significant opportunity for sustainable development, and WWF believes building greener economies is well within reach.

"Given that the majority of the region's biological heritage and supporting ecosystems occur in landscapes that cross borders, regional collaboration is critical," concluded Cutter. "Increased and more sustainable investment in maintaining ecosystem integrity must also be a priority at landscape, national, and regional scales."

For further information:
Sarah Bladen, Communications Director, WWF-Greater Mekong, tel: +844 37193049 ext 164. sarah.bladen@wwfgreatermekong.org

Notes to Editors:
•To download the full report go to:http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/greater_mekong_ecosystems_report_020513.pdf
•For photos and captions please download at: https://photos.panda.org/gpn/external?albumId=4388
•For video b-roll, please go to: http://gvn.panda.org/?c=2296&k=5e06c47b5b

International standards for Singapore schools with new environmental education programme

2013-04-30

Singapore, 24 April 2013 – World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Singapore today launched the Eco-Schools Programme, an international environmental education and certification programme. It will be piloted with primary and secondary schools in Singapore, before being expanded to include pre-schools and tertiary institutions. Recognised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as a model initiative, the Eco-Schools Programme enables students to experience active citizenship and help them make environmental sustainability an integral part of school life.

"The awareness and concern for our planet must be cultivated from young. Schools, with their environment already established for learning, are fertile ground for us to spread the word on environmental sustainability. With the holistic Eco-Schools Programme, schools can now go one step further and engage their students right from the start with action-oriented learning. Making the environment a priority in the school's agenda will go a long way in growing a generation of environmentally responsible citizens empowered to make informed choices, in support of a low carbon future," said Elaine Tan, CEO, WWF-Singapore.

Through a simple but established seven-step process, the Eco-Schools Programme will prompt participating schools to enhance their school-based curriculum and activities for environmental education, by focusing on specific themes – climate change, nature and biodiversity, waste, schools grounds, energy and water – and involving a wide range of stakeholders, from teachers to students and even their parents, in the implementation of the programme. Schools that successfully implement the programme and continuously improve their environmetal performance are then awarded the internationally-recognised Green Flag status, putting them on the global map of schools that have achieved high standards in eco-practices in their immediate environment.

The Eco-Schools Programme has also drawn the support of like-minded organisations and corporates – IKEA and The Silent Foundation will be funding the programme in Singapore.

"The IKEA vision is to create a better every day life for the many people and a better life includes living more sustainably. We share a common goal with WWF towards building a generation of consumers empowered to make informed and responsible choices for an environmentally sustainable future. Hence, IKEA has pledged to donate S$200,000 from the cost savings of eliminating disposable plastic bags in our stores, to fund this meaningful Eco-Schools Programme, with the hope of cultivating responsible citizenship in the young," said Marcus Tay, Sustainability Manager, IKEA Singapore.

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to partner WWF Singapore. The Eco-Schools Programme gives students a platform to take active steps to push for greater change in environmental practices not just in schools, but also in the community." said Teng Ngiek Lian, Founder, The Silent Foundation.

The Eco-Schools Programme will be piloted with eight primary and secondary schools in Singapore this year, then expanded to the rest of the school community in 2014. Interested schools can contact WWF at edu@wwf.sg for futher details.

Mayor of South West District, Dr. Amy Khor said, "We are happy to take part in the pilot phase of the Eco-Schools Programme, an internationally-recognised programme with WWF-Singapore, to further promote and build capabilities for environmental initiatives among our schools and students. Emphasising student leadership and community outreach, the programme will reach out to six schools in our district, who have consistently achieved top environmental district awards – Green Schools Sustained Achievement Awards. Through the programme, we hope to help our Green Schools achieve a higher standard in environmental education and further empower our students to do their part to conserve, protect and make the South West a better place for all."

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Annex A: Factsheet on Eco-Schools

About World Wide Fund for Nature Singapore

WWF – World Wide Fund for Nature is the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with almost five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build 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, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. wwf.sg

For more details, please contact:

Karen Lin
Communications Manager
WWF-Singapore
Email: klin@wwf.sg
Tel: +65 6730 8115
Mobile: +65 9623 0355

UN recognizes severity of wildlife crimes

2013-04-26

Governments meeting to discuss responses to global crime waves are urging countries to impose strict penalties for the trafficking wildlife products like elephant ivory and rhino horn. Members of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Friday passed a resolution encouraging UN member states "to make illicit trafficking in wild fauna and flora a serious crime" and to ensure organized criminal groups are prosecuted.

Under UN rules, serious crimes should receive sentences of up to four years in prison or more. In many instances wildlife smugglers are released after paying fines significantly lower than the value of the illegal goods.

"Today the commissioners took a critical step forward by recognizing the serious, transnational and organized nature of wildlife and forest crime. These crimes are not only putting the survival of endangered species in peril, but are also threatening security and sustainable economic development," said Wendy Elliott, leader of WWF's campaign against wildlife crime. "We urge governments worldwide to use every tool available to combat these crimes, which are also taking human lives."

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES NOT APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN

During the crime commission meeting, governments identified links between the illegal trade in wildlife and timber products and other transnational organized crimes such as drug and arms running, human trafficking, money laundering and terrorism. The wildlife trafficking resolution was put forward by the United States and Peru.

Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, told journalists, "Wildlife and forest crimes must be treated as serious crimes with minimum punishments of four years or more so that full force of deterrence can be used against criminals. The harder task, however, will be to curb the demand."

The poaching of elephants and rhinos has reached record levels across Africa, but increased law enforcement effectiveness is also needed throughout the trade chain and in consumer countries like China, Thailand and Viet Nam.

Up to 30,000 elephants are killed each year for their ivory tusks. In poaching epicentre Central Africa, governments will meet next week to address the ongoing security crisis, which is exacerbated by the proliferation of heavily-armed poachers.

"We are seeing that the killing of wildlife is increasingly connected to horrific violence against the rangers and community-members standing between these criminals and their targets. It is long overdue for the punishments to fit the crimes in these cases," Elliott said.

Governments also agreed to a proposal from Norway to address crimes at sea that impact upon the environment, including fisheries crimes. Illegal fishing undermines efforts by governments and responsible fishers to sustainably manage fisheries. It also threatens livelihoods, food security and sustainable development, and costs the global economy US $23 billion annually.

For further information please contact:
WWF: Alona Rivord, arivord@wwfint.org, +41 79 959 1963

Revised palm oil standards a positive step forward - but companies now need to perform at the highest level

2013-04-26

Kuala Lumpur: WWF has welcomed revised standards for sustainable palm oil that were endorsed by the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) at its extra-ordinary General Assembly this morning in Kuala Lumpur.

While the revision of the RSPO Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Palm Oil Production (P&Cs) did not result in everything WWF had pushed for, WWF nevertheless believes the revised P&Cs are better than the earlier version at addressing the challenges facing the palm oil industry.

WWF participated in the review, advocating for stronger environmental and social safeguards governing greenhouse gas emissions, planting on peatland and the use of hazardous chemicals among other issues.

Despite some disappointments, WWF fully supports the RSPO and will remain an engaged member of the organization, continuing to help the RSPO to improve its standard and systems.

WWF supports efforts by individual grower members to certify their production and of buyers and users to commit to the use of 100% certified sustainable palm oil.

WWF believes that the new P&Cs create a space within which companies can set their own performance standard.

"WWF now expects progressive RSPO members to set themselves the highest standard within the framework of the RSPO rather than the lowest that they can get away with," said Adam Harrison, who leads WWF's work on sustainable palm oil and represents WWF on the RSPO Executive Board.

Alongside committing to the certification of all their present and future palm oil production to the RSPO P&Cs, WWF expects progressive growers to also take action on:

- immediate public reporting of GHG emissions;
- significant annual GHG emissions reduction targets;
- zero-net emissions from land use for new developments;
- an end to the use of hazardous pesticides including paraquat; and
- only buying Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) from known sources

WWF also asks other parts of the supply chain to reward those leading innovative growers that make these commitments by both buying their certified sustainable palm oil and taking their own parallel actions.

WWF particularly calls on the traders to acknowledge that they have the greatest responsibility to bring more transparency to the market for certified sustainable palm oil so that buyers can be assured that they are buying CSPO from progressive growers.

The RSPO itself must strictly enforce the P&Cs as well as its existing systems for members to report their progress.

WWF is confident that the combined commitment of progressive RSPO members can ensure the credibility of the system moving forward until the next P&C review in 5 years.

Further information:
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/agriculture/palm_oil/
For a statement by WWF on the outcomes of the P&Cs see www.panda.org/rspo/pcreview

Carrie Svingen, WWF International, csvingen@wwf.panda.org, +49 (0) 151 188 548 33

About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with more than 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build 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, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
www.panda.org/media for latest news and media resources

Japan and Russia increase penalties for wildlife crimes

2013-04-18

Japan's announcement that it intends to raise the penalties for those convicted of wildlife trafficking from one to five years in jail came just after Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted a law to parliament that would make smuggling of endangered species a criminal offence, meaning those convicted would spend time behind bars.

"Countries increasing the penalties for wildlife offences signals a shift in global perception about the seriousness with which such crimes should be treated," said Stephanie Pendry, TRAFFIC's Enforcement Programme Leader.

"We hope it indicates a new resolve by nations across the globe to overhaul and improve their legislation relating to wildlife crime."

In 2012, a review of Russian wildlife legislation carried out by TRAFFIC and WWF proposed amendments to Russian federal law that would tighten the penalties for illegal harvest and trafficking of rare species and their derivatives, and highlighted a loophole that had allowed poachers and traffickers to get away with insignificant fines.

While the Russian parliament still needs to approve the president's proposal for jail time, on 31 March the government increased the compensation due from anyone convicted of killing or taking from the wild tigers and leopards and other endangered species, including certain birds of prey, to RUB1.1 million (US$35,000).

Meanwhile, the environment ministry in Japan has announced it intends to raise the maximum penalty for individuals convicted of trafficking wildlife from one year in prison or a fine of JPY1 million (US$10,400) to five years behind bars or a fine of JPY5 million (US$52,000).

The ministry also plans to raise the fine companies found guilty of trafficking endangered species face by one-hundred fold, to a maximum JPY100 million (US$ 1.04 million).

It is the first time penalties against wildlife trafficking have been raised in Japan since the law on the conservation of endangered species took effect in 1993, though more work is still needed to bring wildlife trade laws fully into line with modern practices. At the same time, the ministry also announced its intentions to ban advertisements selling threatened wildlife.

These announcements come just days ahead of a United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) meeting in Austria, where countries will debate criminal justice responses to wildlife trafficking, and have the opportunity formally to request governments to make wildlife trafficking a serious crime, a move that would mean up to four years in prison, or a more serious penalty, for convicted offenders.

Last September New Zealand announced a similar increase in punitive measures, with penalties for those convicted of smuggling native wildlife were increased to up five years in jail, putting them into the zone of serious crime.

Meanwhile, penalties handed out for those convicted of rhino poaching in South Africa have also risen into the very strong deterrent range. They include recent sentences of 29 years for poaching offences, while a convicted Thai national kingpin in a rhino horn poaching racket was given a 40 year jail sentence late last year.

"By increasing penalties to more than four years in prison, countries such as South Africa, New Zealand and Japan have already shown they are taking wildlife crime seriously; this CCPCJ meeting is a golden opportunity for others to demonstrate the same commitment to tackling this globally significant and devastating crime," said Wendy Elliot, WWF's Illegal Wildlife Trade Campaign co-leader.

Editor's note:
The 2012 review of Russian wildlife legislation carried out by TRAFFIC and WWF was generously funded by the US by the US Fish and Wildlife Service

For further information please contact:
WWF: Alona Rivord, arivord@wwfint.org, +41 79 959 1963
TRAFFIC: Richard Thomas, richard.thomas@traffic.org, +44 752 6646 216

About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build 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, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

About TRAFFIC
TRAFFIC is the leading non-governmental organization working globally on trade in wild animals and plants in the context of both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. TRAFFIC is a strategic alliance of IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and WWF. http://www.traffic.org

To learn more about WWF and TRAFFIC's Illegal Wildlife Trade campaign visit panda.org/killthetrade or http://www.traffic.org/illegal-trade-campaign and follow us on Twitter @WWF_media and @TRAFFIC_WLTrade

Orphaned rhino struggles to survive after mother killed

2013-04-05

An Indian rhino calf that lost its mother to poachers is clinging to life with the help of conservationists, according to WWF staff assisting with its care. The two week old male is in critical condition after its mother was gunned down by poachers Tuesday and her horn chopped off.

The shocking incident is the latest in a surge of poaching plaguing India's Assam province where 16 greater one-horned rhinos have been killed already this year.

A team of frontline staff from WWF, the government and partner organizations joined community members to search Manas National Park for the orphan after the carcass of its mother was discovered earlier this week. The group was determined to prevent the calf's death imminent from starvation, which would surely occur without the nourishment of its mother's milk.

The dehydrated and traumatized calf was located, captured and brought to a safe location for urgent veterinary care. Images of the confused newborn show it cowering in the corner of a store room where it is being held temporarily.

"It was a challenge getting hold of the calf as it was very scared but thankfully it is fine and doing well now," said WWF's Deba Dutta who was part of the rescue team.

However, the calf's survival is not assured. The animals are highly dependent on their mothers for the first few years of life. Work will soon begin on a special fenced enclosure, or boma, for the calf so that it can be raised by rehabilitation experts. It is possible, but challenging, to successfully reintroduce rhinos to the wild.

Rhinos across their Asian and African ranges are being decimated at record rates by poachers and criminal traffickers. Killing has surged in recent years just as rhino horn has become a prized commodity in Viet Nam where it is marketed as miracle cure for everything from cancer to hangovers. Viet Nam has done little to crackdown on the illegal trade or curb demand by dispelling such rumours, which have no medical basis.

Opportunistic criminals are now targeting rhinos reintroduced into India's Manas National Park by WWF and its Indian Rhino Vision 2020 partners. Four of the 18 rhinos moved there have been killed for their horns.

"In Manas National Park itself, monitoring, patrolling, intelligence and protection regimes need to be strengthened and implemented on ground in a time-bound, verifiable and accountable manner," said Dr. Dipankar Ghose, Director of WWF-India's Species and Landscapes Programme.

WWF strongly condemns the rhino killings and renews its call to source, transit and consumer countries to increase protection and law enforcement.

For further information or photos please contact:
Alona Rivord, arivord@wwfint.org, +41 79 959 1963
Anil Cherukupalli, anil.cherukupalli@wwf.panda.org, +91 4150 4783

Not much protected and no commitment to restoration in APP forest promises

2013-04-03

Jakarta, Indonesia – The much-touted new deforestation policy of controversial paper giant Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) will save almost no forests in its main base of operations, Sumatra, Indonesia, a new report by NGO coalition Eyes on the Forest has concluded.

APP and Sinar Mas announced the policy in February as "an end to the clearing of natural forest across its entire supply chain in Indonesia, with immediate effect." However, a new Eyes on the Forest (EoF) analysis that looks at all APP concessions – including those not covered by the moratorium - in Riau Province, Sumatra, found that the policy protects at most 5,000 hectares of natural forest. This compares to the deforestation of more than 2 million hectares caused by the operation of APP's Sumatra pulp mills over the past three decades.

"We're extremely disappointed. When APP published the policy, we thought it could be great news for Indonesia's forests, biodiversity and citizens," said Nazir Foead, Conservation Director of WWF-Indonesia. "However, after this new analysis for Sumatra, it appears that the company has announced a halt to deforestation only after completing nearly all the deforestation it could possible do."

Among APP's many natural forest wood sources are the concessions of its suppliers in Riau Province. They alone lost more than 680,000 hectares of natural forest between the start of the company's Riau pulp mill in 1984 and 2012. Of that, 77% was lost in legally questionable ways, while an even larger proportion - 83% - consumed the habitat of critically endangered Sumatran tigers and elephants.

WWF called on APP and Sinar Mas to announce a forest restoration commitment.

"The company is asking for a grand amnesty, for the 'past to be forgotten', leaving our country to deal with devastated ecosystems, social conflicts, on-going greenhouse gas emissions and critically endangered species who lost their habitat," says Aditya Bayunanda, GFTN and pulp & paper manager of WWF Indonesia. "That is not acceptable, Indonesian NGOs are calling on APP to restore selected peatlands and forests lost in protected, High Conservation Value areas and to mitigate the damage its operations caused to surrounding natural forests, peat soils, and wildlife."

Eyes on the Forest also highlights that SMG/APP's much advertised High Conservation Value assessments are to be conducted in concessions where planned clearing is complete and the remaining forests are already protected by law or APP's previous commitments.

"Without a restoration commitment, these assessments have little meaning," adds Bayunanda.

The report also shows that, despite previous company promises to exclusively pulp plantation fiber by 2004, 2007 and 2009, the company's rate of deforestation remained constant between 1995 and 2011, apart from a short period in 2007-2009 when authorities were investigating alleged illegal logging by the industry, including APP wood suppliers. The rate slowed in 2012 – for the sole reason that there was very little natural forest left to cut.

"Our analysis points to one conclusion: APP once again seems to hope that it can fool people into imagining huge conservation benefits while overlooking past transgressions," said Hariansyah Usman of WALHI Riau. "We don't see the policy's potential future conservation benefits balancing in any way the many unresolved issues stemming from APP's deforestation legacy."

"Eyes on the Forest highlights that only full disclosure of all activities, including the status of all existing and planned wood supply bases and all mill expansion plans can prove whether this policy contains any real conservation benefits."

Last week, NGOs in Kalimantan, on the Indonesian side of Borneo, found continued logging of tropical forest taking place in the concessions of two APP wood suppliers, who are supposed to be bound by the February deforestation moratorium.

A serious red flag to WWF is the fact that APP's mills continue to accept and pulp natural forest timber, under the claim that it was felled before the moratorium started on 1 February 2013. WWF-Indonesia calls on APP to close this loophole since it could be used by suppliers to feed wood into the mills from new deforestation, in violation of the policy. WWF has proposed a May 5 deadline to end their mills' acceptance of natural forest timber, allowing the company over 3 months to transport stockpiles of wood cleared before February.

"WWF recommends that paper buyers do not rush into doing business with APP", says Rod Taylor, Director of Forests at WWF International. "APP cannot be regarded as a responsible producer without redressing the harm caused by its past operations and removing any doubt that wood linked to forest clearing can enter its mills."

EoF published analyses of the report on its interactive online map, based on Google Earth's Maps Engine platform, allowing stakeholders to evaluate some of the aspects of APP's new forest policy and monitor its implementation. EoF will update its database regularly as information from other provinces and new details about existing concessions becomes available.

Notes for editors:

1.The report is available at http://bit.ly/XclJ7n
2.The analysis data is published as interactive maps on the Eyes on the Forest-Google Earth online Sumatra database at: http://maps.eyesontheforest.or.id/
3.The analysis found that 89% of natural forests remaining last year in SMG/APP suppliers' concessions in Riau were protected by law and additional 8% by the company's own previous commitments, thus leaving at most 5,000 hectares of natural forest receiving new protection under the policy
4.Initial response of WWF-Indonesia to the announcement of APP's policy on 5 February was published at: http://bit.ly/12b1cjL
5.On 18 March, Greenomics published a report to show that APP's forest clearance moratorium was announced after their suppliers in Sumatra completed their planned deforestation: http://bit.ly/12b1QxN.
6.On 26 March, NGOs in Kalimantan published a report that APP's suppliers continued logging and peat canal development activities after the company's imposed moratorium: http://bit.ly/12b1HKX

For further information please contact:

Aditya Bayunanda, WWF-Indonesia. +62 8182 65588, abayunanda@wwf.or.id

Diah R. Sulistiowati, WWF-Indonesia, +628111004396, dsulistiowati@wwf.or.id

Chris Chaplin, WWF-International. +86 13911747472, cchaplin@wwf.sg

Yangtze finless porpoise population nosedives to 1,000

2013-03-29

Wuhan, China -- The Yangtze finless porpoise population has declined to a mere 1,000 individuals, making the endangered species even more rare than the wild giant panda, the 2012 Yangtze Freshwater Dolphin Survey Report reveals.  

The population in the mainstream of the Yangtze River was less than half of what a similar survey found six years ago, with food shortages and human disturbance such as increased shipping traffic major threats to their survival.

The study also found that the rare species annual rate of decline now stands at 13.7 percent, which means that the Yangtze finless porpoise could be extinct as early as the year 2025.

The report comes after a 44-day and 3,400-kilometer round-trip research expedition on the Yangtze River between Yichang in Hubei Province and Shanghai. Led by China's Ministry of Agriculture and organized by the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, WWF and the Wuhan Baiji Dolphin Conservation Fund, the expedition first set sail on 11 November 2012.  

The crew visually identified 380 individual Yangtze finless porpoise in the river's mainstream during the 2012 survey. Based on this observation, scientists determined through analyses that the population in the Yangtze mainstream is about 500, down from 1,225 in 2006. 

In October 2012, research was carried out in two adjoining lakes, the Poyang and Dongting, where the population was about 450 and 90, respectively, according to the report.  In a sharp contrast, 851 individuals of Yangtze finless porpoise were visually identified in the mainstream of the Yangtze during the 2006 survey. That research, however, did not cover the two lakes. 

"The species is moving fast toward its extinction," said Wang Ding, head of the research expedition and a professor at the IHB.  Attempts to find traces of the Baiji Dolphin, another rare cetacean and close relative of the finless porpoise, failed during the 2012 survey. The Baiji dolphin was declared "functionally extinct."

According to data captured by acoustic equipment onboard the observation ships, the largest numbers of finless porpoise were found in the river sections east of Wuhan, with 67 percent recorded between Hukou in Jiangxi Province and Nanjing in Jiangsu Province, the report shows.  

There is a notable sign of scattered distribution pattern which could be the result of "shipping traffic that made migration harder, projects that altered hydrological conditions in the middle and lower reaches and habitat loss," said Wang with the IHB.  

The report also cautions that small groups of Yangtze finless porpoise living in comparative isolation may have a negative impact on their ability to reproduce. 

There are fewer finless porpoise in the mainstream of the Yangtze while more discoveries were made in wharf and port areas, scientists found.  

"They may risk their lives for rich fish bait resources there. But busy shipping traffic close to the port areas poses a threat to the survival of finless porpoise," said Wang.  

"Lack of fishery resources and human disturbances including shipping traffic are among the key threats to the Yangtze finless porpoise survival," Lei Gang, director of freshwater programme at WWF-China, said. 

Researchers found dense distributions of finless porpoise in waters that are not open to navigation and attribute this to less human disturbance. Less optimistic was the discovery of illegal fishing practices in these areas, including traps that could affect finless porpoise.  

A set of enhanced measures that include in-situ conservation and ex-situ conservation approaches are essential for efforts of saving the species from its distinction, said Lei.  Given that, the report calls for all-year-round fishing ban for all river dolphin reserves, establishment of a national reserve in Poyang Lake and ex-situ conservation reserves along the Yangtze.

For further information:

Qiu Wei, WWF China, +86 10 6511 6272, WQiu@wwfchina.org

Singapore switches off for the planet

2013-03-26

Singapore, 19 March 2013 – This Earth Hour, more than 100 buildings, locations and organisations around Singapore will switch off their lights to mark their commitment to save the planet.

Iconic structures dotting the Marina Bay skyline, including ArtScience Museum, Gardens by the Bay, Esplanade, The Fullerton Heritage comprising The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore, The Fullerton Waterboat House, One Fullerton, The Fullerton Pavilion, Clifford Pier and Customs House, the Helix Bridge, the Marina Bay Financial Centre, Marina Bay Sands, the Merlion and Singapore Flyer, will turn off their lights on 23 March 2013 for one hour from 8.30 – 9.30pm, joining a global community of national monuments around the world that will do the same to show their support for our planet.

The three tallest buildings in Singapore – One Raffles Place, Republic Plaza and United Overseas Bank Plaza – will also participate in the symbolic switch-off.

Besides switching off the lights, WWF-Singapore is promoting the adoption of four lifestyle changes this year using the "I Will If You Will" platform, inviting individuals and organisations to challenge each other as an ongoing environmental commitment beyond the hour. The four key actions are to:

Reduce use of plastic bags
Turn up their air-conditioning by one degree
Switch to energy-efficient LED light, and
Take short showers

Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change (IMCCC) Mr Teo Chee Hean said, "I am happy to know that WWF Singapore is actively promoting simple lifestyle changes that we can all do to make a difference for climate change. Encouraging people and organisations to turn up their air-conditioning by one degree or switching to energy-efficient lighting is also aligned with our efforts to promote energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. I hope more Singaporeans will make these lifestyle changes to reduce their carbon footprint."

Earth Hour will spark the imagination of individuals and businesses on sustainable energy sources and usage. This will be exemplified through the Dance 2 Power Earth Hour event, where the footwork of participants will be converted to electricity via special kinetic energy pads, seen for the first time in Singapore. The electricity generated will be used to power the screening of animation film Dr. Seuss' The Lorax as part of the evening‟s activities.
"We hope to inspire people with the Dance 2 Power event. This activity is our way of connecting people to the message that our lifestyles can be environmentally friendly and not a series of do‟s and don‟t‟s. Dance 2 Power aptly demonstrates that energy conservation, if creatively approached, can also be fun. Each one of us has the power to decide if we want a future that is doom and gloom or to come together to re-energise the only planet we have with more sustainable energy sources," said Ms Elaine Tan, CEO, WWF-Singapore.

To add to the fun element, fitness club Physical ABuse will be leading participants in Zumba and Bokwa workouts for one hour, from 5.30 – 6.30pm. The public can register on the Earth Hour microsite at http://earthhour.wwf.sg/, or on-site at the Earth Hour event at the Float@Marina Bay, from 4.30pm onwards.

Local and regional artistes will be lending their support to Earth Hour Singapore with their presence at the event, including Earth Hour ambassadors Nadya Hutagalung, Utt Panichkul, YouTube stars Hirzi and Munah, as well as local acts Jack and Rai, Charlie Lim, Hui Xian and Tay Kewei. Kiss92 DJ Jeremy Ratnam, UFM100.3 DJs Xin Ying and Jian Wen, and Hot FM91.3 DJs Charmaine Yee and Cheryl Miles will be hosting the celebration for the evening. In addition, Hot FM91.3 DJs have also committed that they will do their show in the dark if 913 of their listeners promise to turn up their airconditioning by one degree.

Earth Hour 2013 is made possible with the support of Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) as the Official Venue Partner for the Lights Out event to be held at Marina Bay Singapore, National Environment Agency (NEA), National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS), official radio stations Hot FM91.3, Kiss 92FM and UFM 100.3, major sponsor IKEA, sponsors Marina Bay Sands, NTUC FairPrice and Singapore Post, as well as
partners – Philips Lighting, Clear Channel, Crown Worldwide, Leo Burnett, Mindshare, SMRT, StarHub, The Singapore Scout Association, Weber Shandwick and 8 Days.

Earth Hour Seeks Law Reform For Protective Forests In Russia

2013-03-20

Moscow / Singapore: Following on from the massive success of its 120,000-strong signature petition that led to better protection of the country's seas from oil pollution, WWF's Earth Hour in Russia is launching its 2013 campaign aiming to secure more than 100,000 signatures from Russian citizens to petition for amendments to the current forest legislation.

The signature campaign was launched just a few months after the Russian parliament passed a long-awaited law to protect the country's seas from oil pollution. The passage of the sea protection law was the result of WWF Russia's 'I Will If You Will' campaign for Earth Hour 2012.

If the pending petition is successful, it could mean a return to better protection for an area twice the size of France, with protective forests equaling almost 18% of all forests in the country.

After 70 years of protection, legislation was changed several times between 2009 and 2010 allowing certain industrial logging to take place in protected forest territories.

"The timber resources of Russia's exploited forests are already exhausted because of over-logging during the Soviet era, illegal logging in recent decades and an unchanged approach in timber harvesting estimation in the last 150 years. This has forced logging companies to search for new sources of commercially valuable timber," says Konstantin Kobyakov, coordinator of WWF Russia's projects on High Conservation Value Forests.

"The recent changes to the law make these areas a prime target for commercial logging," he added.

CEO and Co-Founder of Earth Hour, Andy Ridley, says the campaign in Russia has become an international leading example of how Earth Hour advocates are creating massive impact beyond the hour.

"The success of WWF Russia's Earth Hour campaign in 2012 is already inspiring teams around the world to aspire to new heights to achieve greater environmental outcomes for their countries and territories. It would be extraordinary to see Russia achieve another monumental environmental outcome for Earth Hour this year, and once again inspire the world in 2013," he said.

The protective forests cover 17 different categories, including water-conservation zones, nut harvesting zones, mountain forests, tundra forests, green zones and woodland parks, urban forests and spawning zones.

Forest areas located on the waterside of rivers, creeks, lakes or seas, as well as green zones around big cities, even those of Northern Russian cities located on the areas of the tundra-forests, all fall under the definition of 'protective forests'.

These forests serve to protect drinking water, soil fertility, climate stability, clear air, as well as animals and food like berries, mushrooms and nuts. The areas also serve as ideal respites for city-dwellers escaping urban environments, and for rural-dwellers providing their families with much needed sustainable resources.

The thriving ecosystems of the protective forests protected millions of hectares of the most valuable biological territories from the negative impact of industrial human activities.

WWF considers the industrial exploitation and destruction of the protective forests as unacceptable, due to the loss of valuable qualities of the forests and the impact this has on all citizens in the country.

"For 70 years these forests protected us. Now is the time for us to protect them. Let's get the ban on industrial logging back into the forest legislation," said Kobyakov.

Earth Hour 2013 will take place at 8.30pm – 9.30pm on Saturday 23 March

-ends-

Images of Russia's Protective Forests can be downloaded for media at http://www.flickr.com/photos/earthhour_global/sets/72157632814967336/

See the Earth Hour 2013 Official Video at www.ehour.me/2013ViD

Press images can be downloaded at http://earthhour.org/media-centre/images

Downloadable video footage of the global event will be available in four B-rolls for media, covering major regions at http://www.earthhour.org/media-centre/videos

Media enquiries:
Benjamin Vozzo, Earth Hour Global E: benjamin@earthhour.org Ph: +65 8223 1728
Mai Tatoy, Earth Hour Global E: mai@earthhour.org Ph: +65 9017 7411
Darya Kudryavtseva, WWF-Russia E: DKudryavtseva@wwf.ru Ph: +7 (495) 727-09-39

To join the global community head to:
Earth Hour www.earthhour.org
Facebook www.facebook.com/earthhour
Twitter www.twitter.com/earthhour
YouTube www.YouTube.com/EarthHour
Google+ http://plus.google.com/+EarthHour

About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global environmental initiative in partnership with WWF. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 23, 2013 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. In 2013, Earth Hour's I Will If You Will concept invites individuals and organisations to challenge others to an ongoing environmental commitment beyond the hour. Earth Hour began in one city in 2007 and by 2012 involved hundreds of millions of people in 152 countries across every continent, receiving reports as 'the world's largest campaign for the planet'.

About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organisations, with almost five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build 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, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

Governments start to rein in ivory and rhino horn trade, give sharks and timbers better protection at wildlife trade meeting

2013-03-14

Bangkok, Thailand - A critical wildlife trade meeting closed Thursday with decisions from world governments to regulate the international trade in several species of sharks and timber, and to start taking action against countries doing little or nothing to stop the illegal ivory and rhino horn trades.

Countries, on the final day of the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), capped the historic two-week meeting by deciding for the first time to initiate a process requiring countries most implicated in illicit ivory trade to clamp down on smuggling.

Governments mandated China, Kenya, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Uganda, Tanzania and Viet Nam – the countries of highest concern in terms of their failure to clamp down on large-scale illegal ivory trade - to submit time-bound plans to deal with the problem in two months, and make progress before the next CITES meeting in summer of 2014.

Under CITES rules, failure by those countries to take action could lead to a compliance process potentially resulting in sanctions being initiated. The treaty allows CITES to issue a recommendation that governments taking part in the treaty stop trading with non-compliant countries in the 35,000 species covered under the convention, from orchids to crocodile skins.

"After years of inaction, governments today put those countries failing to regulate the ivory trade on watch, a move that will help stem the unfettered slaughter of thousands of African elephants," said Carlos Drews, WWF's head of delegation at CITES. "The gains made to better protect species here in Bangkok are a major milestone."

"But the fight to stop wildlife crime is not over," Drews said. "These countries will now be held accountable to these pledges, and must step up the urgency in dealing with the global poaching crisis that is ravaging our wildlife."

The decisions to better regulate the ivory trade this week came after Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on the opening day of the meeting announced she would shut down her country's ivory markets. The prime minister's pledge came after more than 1.5 million people signed petitions by WWF, Avaaz, and actor and conservationist Leonardo DiCaprio asking her to end the trading of ivory in Thailand.

Governments also extended better protection to threatened rhinos by pledging to work against organized crime syndicates that are smuggling rhino horn through the black market by increasing penalties. In addition, countries adopted a plan to reduce demand for illegal wildlife products like rhino horn, which is believed wrongly to be a miracle cure in Viet Nam.

Nearly 700 South African rhinos were killed by poachers last year, and nearly 150 have died thus far in 2013. Up to 30,000 elephants are lost to poaching every year.

Governments also reaffirmed the stronger protections for three species of hammerhead sharks, in addition to porbeagle sharks, oceanic whitetips, and two species of manta rays. The sharks and manta rays were listed on CITES Appendix II, seeking to regulate their international trade at sustainable levels.

"This is an historic moment, where science has prevailed over politics, as sharks and manta rays are being obliterated from our oceans," Drews said. "This decision will put a major dent in the uncontrolled trade in shark meat and fins, which is rapidly destroying populations of these precious animals to feed the growing demand for luxury goods."

"These timely decisions to have trade in sharks and manta rays regulated by CITES show that governments can muster the political will to keep our oceans healthy, securing food and other benefits for generations to come – and we hope to see similar action in the future to protect other commercially exploited and threatened marine species, both at the national and international level," Drews said.

Negotiators also voted to ramp up trade regulations for several species of rosewood and ebony, which have been subjects of dangerous levels of illegal logging leading to deforestation, especially in Madagascar.

For further information please contact:

Ian Morrison, ian.morrison@wwfus.org, +1 202 372 6373, +66 90 414 3853

Chris Chaplin, cchaplin@wwf.sg, +65 9826 3802

About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build 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, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

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