When many of us think about preserving nature we think of wildlife programs that we see on the television, of cuddly and beautiful furry animals such as the chimpanzee, the koala bear, panda bears and many others. We also think of the African endangered species, and the shimmering beauty and amazing diversity of the sea life of our coral reefs. In fact, the understandable popularity of these animals has been such that until recently nature conservation bodies were formed which concentrated almost wholly on such examples of Mother Nature’s most lovable and most amazing creatures, with international bodies like the highly respected World Wildlife Fund fighting to preserve the habitat of these wonderful creatures.
There are a number of NPOs working for preservation of nature but for over 50 years WWF has been protecting the future of nature in around 100 countries. Not only has it helped in bringing back many animals from the brink of extinction, helped conserve rich and varied ecosystem but also delivered benefits to local people by giving them new livelihood opportunities and sustainable development.
Extinction is a natural process and is bound to happen but destructive human activities have led to the current rate of species extinction, which is at least 100–1,000 times higher than the expected natural rate. Which means a lot of conservation work still needs to be done. Such high extinction rate has led to cultural loss of iconic species such as tigers, rhinos and whales. Species are required to be protected as these are a part of our ecosystem and provide resources that make our existence possible. And WWF works for the same purpose. It is building a future where human needs are met in harmony with nature.
The WWF claims that by 2020 it will conserve 19 of the world’s most important natural places and significantly change global forces to protect the future of nature. It will also undertake the conservation programme for preserving the largest tropical rain forests, the most diverse coral reefs, and the world’s most endangered species.
Reference: Illustrated Encyclopedia of endangered animals.
