The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is a Swiss-based international non-governmental organization founded in 1961 that works in the field of wilderness preservation and the reduction of human impact on the environment.

[5] In addition, WWF has launched several notable worldwide campaigns, including Earth Hour and the debt-for-nature swap, and its current work is organized around these six areas: food, climate, freshwater, wildlife, forests, and oceans.

[16] The idea for a fund on behalf of endangered animals was officially proposed by Victor Stolan to Sir Julian Huxley in response to articles he published in the British newspaper The Observer.

This proposal led Huxley to put Stolan in contact with Edward Max Nicholson, a person who had had 30 years of experience in linking progressive intellectuals with big business interests through the Political and Economic Planning think tank.

Money to maintain a sort of 'war room' at the international headquarters of conservation, showing where the danger spots are and making it possible to ensure that their needs are met before it is too late.Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld helped to found WWF, becoming its first president in 1961.

[21] In 1970, along with Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and a few associates, Bernhard established WWF's financial endowment The 1001: A Nature Trust to handle the organization's administration and fundraising.

[26] 1986 was the 25th anniversary of WWF's foundation, an event marked by a gathering in Assisi, Italy to which the organization's International President Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, invited religious authorities representing Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism.

These leaders produced The Assisi Declarations, theological statements showing the spiritual relationship between their followers and nature that triggered a growth in the engagement of these religions with conservation around the world.

[40] The organization convinces and helps governments and other political bodies to adopt, enforce, strengthen and/or change policies, guidelines, and laws that affect biodiversity and natural resource use.

[41][42] In 2012, David Nussbaum, chief executive of WWF-UK, spoke out against the way shale gas is used in the UK, saying: "... the Government must reaffirm its commitment to tackling climate change and prioritise renewables and energy efficiency.

"[43] The organisation works on a number of global issues driving biodiversity loss and unsustainable use of natural resources, including species conservation, finance, business practices, laws, and consumption choices.

[44] WWF works with a large number of different groups to achieve its goals, including other NGOs, governments, business, investment banks, scientists, fishermen, farmers and local communities.

[citation needed] In October 2020, WWF was named as one of the alliance partner's of Prince William's Earthshot Prize to find solutions to environmental issues.

Along with ecological footprint calculations, the Index is used to produce a bi-yearly Living Planet Report giving an overview of the impact of human activity on the world.

[51][52] The organization also regularly publishes reports, fact sheets, and other documents on issues related to its work to raise awareness and provide information to policy and decision makers.

[60]: 145 The German public television ARD aired a documentary on 22 June 2011 that claimed to show how WWF cooperates with corporations such as Monsanto, providing sustainability certification in exchange for donations – essentially greenwashing.

Speaking on behalf of WWF Germany, Marco Vollmar indicated "[Huismann] draws a distorted picture of false statements, defamations and exaggerations, but we will accept that as expressions of opinion."

(Translated from the original German: "ein Zerrbild aus falschen Aussagen, Diffamierungen und Übertreibungen, aber das werden wir als Meinungsäußerungen hinnehmen.

The original edition had become a bestseller in Germany, but was banned from Britain until 2014 when it was released under the title of PandaLeaks – The Dark Side of the WWF after a series of injunctions and court orders.

[68] In 2017, a report by Survival International claimed that WWF-funded paramilitaries are committing abuses against the indigenous Baka and Bayaka in the Congo Basin, who "face harassment and beatings, torture and death" as well as corrupting and aiding in the destruction of conserved areas.

However, Buzzfeed accused tWWF of attempting to withhold the report to the U.S. congressional committee that was investigating the human rights violations by instead providing highly redacted versions.

[72][73] In the Central African Republic, WWF officials were reportedly involved in an arms deal, where the organization paid for 15 Kalashnikov assault rifles and ammunition; but part of the money went unaccounted for and they were apparently defrauded by the CAR army representatives selling the weapons.

[70] The Kathmandu Post, which cooperated with BuzzFeed News on the investigations in Nepal, claimed there was intense lobbying efforts and political pressure to release WWF-funded rangers arrested for murder.

When the local Tharu community protested, WWF officials carried out a counter-protest in favour of the accused and used park elephants to block Prithvi Highway.

[74] An investigation by Rainforest Foundation UK found evidence of widespread physical and sexual assault by "eco-guards" employed by the Salonga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo funded by WWF.

The organisation stated it has stringent policies designed to ensure it and its partners are safeguarding the rights and well-being of indigenous peoples and local communities, and should the review uncover any breaches, it is committed to taking swift action.

[76] These accusations were central to a four-day, sit-in protest carried out by members of Extinction Rebellion's XR Youth Solidarity Network at WWF-UK's headquarters in September 2021.

Additionally, the court order required the company to remove both auditory and visual references to WWF in its library of video footage outside the United Kingdom.

[90] In February 2022, WWF UK released plans to raise funds through selling NFTs (non-fungible tokens),[91] which are units of data stored on a blockchain.

[95] The Australian arm of WWF was established on 29 June 1978 in an old factory in Sydney with three staff and a budget of around A$80,000 for the first year, consisting of a A$50,000 grant from the Commonwealth Government and an additional A$20,500 in corporate donations.