INSPIRATION GALLERY
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These inspirational conservation projects were shared and discussed in the Inspiration Gallery of the Conservation Director Forum Oct 2024. The projects at display represent some of the recent conservation efforts WWF is most proud of. Go travel with us to Bulgaria, Greece, EPO, Romania, Vietnam, Myanmar, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Tanzania, Kongo, LAC.
.WWF BULGARIA.
Renewable Energy Sources (RES) Development on Degraded Lands
Analysis of the potential for Renewable Energy Sources (RES) development on degraded and urbanized lands in Bulgaria, steering investments away from biodiversity-rich areas. WWF Bulgaria performed an innovative spatial analysis of the whole country, to identify the disturbed and urban areas suitable for RE development, considering solar and wind potential, as well as some technical and ecological constraints. Allowing for a better RE development at national level.
In the context of the need for fast RES development, over 30% of the land protected within Natura 2000 has tension between RES developers and local communities, steering RES investment towards disturbed and urbanized areas will ensure achievement of both the climate and biodiversity goals.
The analysis we performed is just the first step in this process. It showed that the disturbed and urban lands in Bulgaria are more than enough to achieve the country's target for onshore solar.
For over 30 years WWF Greece has played a critical role in rolling-out a solid conservation action plan around Dadia Forest, protecting endangered species and habitats and promoting the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature
One of the oldest field conservation projects of WWF globally, focusing on raptors and transitioning conservation responsibilities to public services and a new local organization.
Vulture species: Preserving the emblematic species of vultures in Dadia Thrace through WWF Greece’s continuous work: improved science, strong collaborations, and effective adaptability to new challenges.
Establishing new approaches and tools to empower local managers of the Protected Area (and also nationally) coupled with conservation measures that reduced significant pressures to the endangered vultures species (e.g. risk of death by poisoned baits and collision with windfarms), the species and especially the Black vulture improved their conservation status while local community is engaged to its protection.
.WWF ROMANIA.
The identification of forest stands impacted by bark beetles can be achieved through the interpretation of remote sensing data, even before visible chromatic changes appear in the canopy. This pilot project aims to assess the capabilities and limitations of this technology, and, based on the results, develop preventive measures (DDS) to address both illegal logging and the mitigation of natural hazards. These measures could be implemented at both the national level in Romania and across Europe.
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The tool is designed to enable efficient monitoring of infestation levels, providing objective evidence to support authorization for salvage logging. It utilizes remote sensing techniques to detect bark beetle outbreaks in spruce forests, where signs of physiological decline may still be challenging to observe through standard field assessments.
The innovative use of multispectral sensors on drones to identify and document the 'green attack' phase focuses on two key aspects:
- Technical: This remote sensing approach, using UAVs equipped with multispectral sensors, allows for the coverage of large areas in a relatively short time. Furthermore, it can detect bark beetle infestations before any visible foliar discoloration occurs, enabling timely and targeted management interventions crucial for mitigating outbreak progression.
- Due Diligence System (DDS): Aerial imagery and its automated analysis provide objective evidence to justify salvage logging, which can then be documented within the Due Diligence System, even after logging has taken place. This evidence base can help prevent unauthorized harvesting under the pretense of controlling bark beetle outbreaks and mitigate controversies in decision-making.
WWF European Policy Office coordinated the push of the entire NGO network in Europe (+200 NGOs including our national offices) to establish a law to restore nature in 20% of the EU territory by 2030. This is the first continent-wide, comprehensive law of its kind. It sets binding targets to restore degraded ecosystems, in particular those with the most potential to capture and store carbon and to prevent and reduce the impact of natural disasters.
Establishing new approaches and tools to empower local managers of the Protected Area coupled with conservation measures that reduced significant pressures to the endangered vultures(e.g. risk of death by poisoned baits and collision with windfarms), the species has improved their conservation status while local community is engaged to its protection.
.WWF VIET NAM.
Story about the forest nursery initiative for restoring forests in the Central Annamite landscape in Viet Nam, with plans to present it innovatively at the conference.
The WWF-Viet Nam Forest Nursery initiative was launched to address the challenges in the Central Annamites Landscape (CAL), which mono-acacia plantations , erosion, encroachment, loss of biodiversity.
By promoting native species and diversifying income sources through non-timber forest products, this initiative enhances ecological resilience while supporting sustainable livelihoods.
It also aligns with Viet Nam's 1 billion trees programme (2021-2025) and WWF-Viet Nam’s 2030 strategy for forest landscape restoration, aiming to improve forest quality by establishing high-quality native seed forests, providing seedlings for landscape restoration, and replicating this model nationwide. WWF provided technical and financial support. In the context of Viet Nam this project is innovative and is the drop that can produce ripple effect.
.CONGO BASIN.
Under WWF's co-management, poaching has nearly ceased, and the Bouvier's Red Colobus monkey, once thought extinct, was re-discovered in this national park.
The co-management approach allowed for local and indigenous peoples to have a say in the management of the Park through Multi Stakeholder Platforms, resulting in a transition of various illegal uses of the park to regulated community fishing agreements.
Presentation that highlights the critical role that rangers play in conservation and how their actions help to safeguard biodiversity.
Rangers form an essential role in our conservation success and highlighting their role enables resources to be available for them to continue to drive conservation success.
.WWF MYANMAR.
Presentation focusing on how WWF-Myanmar has been managing risks during conflicts and fragile situations, delivering conservation impacts on the ground. The project demonstrates how the Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities are protecting the forest and associated biodiversity amid the conflicts and humanitarian challenges in Myanmar.
In this project, WWF-Myanmar supported IPLCs and local authorities to strengthen the local governance of Kser Doh Conservation Area by supporting technical knowledge on conservation area management, nature-based solutions for climate resilience, strengthening organizational development of local CSOs, and promoting sustainable livelihoods for forest dependent communities.
.WWF TANZANIA.
This project brings a highly underrepresented stakeholder group - faith communities - into national landscape restoration strategies in Tanzania for the first time, through a pilot project in the Ruvuma landscape. Faiths are a critical community stakeholder group, and are already planting millions of trees a year globally and across East Africa but are not contributing systematically to restoration, as most do not plant in accordance with best scientific practice.
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There is an unseized opportunity to bring faith groups – who hold vast assets in the form of land, influence, human resources and sustained dedication to care for nature underpinned by their faith teachings – into restoring connectivity in critical landscapes. This project:
Brings multi-faith actors into Tanzania’s restoration strategy for the first time, as model for faith involvement in restoration in AFR100
Tests a new capacity-building tool, WWF’s new Faith Tree Growing Guidelines and M&E
Forms unusual partnerships between faiths, government, private sector and WWF/CARE
Brings potentially thousands of hectares of faith owned land into restoration
Unlocks faith-based networks, human resources, and commitments to restoration
Bridges silos of gender, age, economic status through multi-faith approaches to community engagement.
.WWF ADRIA.
WWF Adria collaborates with Intesa Sanpaolo Group to plant sustainable fruit forests in urban areas, blending permaculture principles to enhance biodiversity and provide healthy produce for schools and communities. In 2023, six forests were planted in Croatia and Serbia, with over 1,000 indigenous fruit seedlings and 2,500 companion plants involving students, bank volunteers, and local stakeholders. This initiative supports the UNESCO Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve, exemplifying innovative conservation efforts to integrate sustainability into urban landscapes while inspiring collaboration.
Thanks to specific OD for Income Generation funds from WWF CH, WWF Adria offers a concrete service through its corporate engagement fundraiser, who managed to fundraise with the banks AND plant trees as a corporate volunteer activity, preventing the heat island effect in urban centers in the region.
.WWF ADRIA.
WWF Adria is partnering with Valamar, Croatia’s largest hotel group, to transform the seafood it uses across its 35 hotels in the country. We developed a comprehensive seafood procurement policy for the group aimed at promoting sustainable practices.
The resulting changes include no longer serving sharks, rays and swordfish, and introducing sustainable seafood from local small-scale fishers. This means we influenced their supply chain and prompted them to buy fish from local producers, supporting local fishing communities.
Thanks to specific OD for Income Generation funds from WWF CH, WWF Adria offers a concrete service through its corporate engagement fundraiser, who managed to fundraise with the hotel chain AND positively impact their supply chain to the benefit of local fishing communities.
.WWF SINGAPORE.
WWF Singapore’s local initiatives provide opportunities to the public to learn more about nature and forge a greater connection with the environment, inspiring action towards protecting it. Here you can read about their Green Cities and Future Sustainability Leaders programs.
.WWF + PARTNERS FROM ASIA.
Southeast Asia Climate and Nature-based Solutions (SCeNe) Coalition
A collaboration between leading non-governmental organizations with an established presence in Southeast Asia aimed at accelerating and increasing implementation of and investment in high-quality, high-integrity, triple-benefit NbS across the region.
The Liangshan Mountains in China are a crucial habitat for giant pandas. Deforestation, driven by local firewood use, poses a significant threat to their survival. WWF-China is implementing a project to replace traditional stoves with more efficient alternatives, reducing the demand for firewood and protect the pandas' habitat.
.WWF LATIN AMERICA OFFICES.
A "multi WWF-office" plan contemplating the recovery of the jaguar’s habitats, as well as the conservation of the ecosystem services these areas provide in benefit of local communities coexisting with this species. Additionally, it promotes sustainable economic activities between them, like agroforestry and community reforestation.
.WWF HONG KONG.
A collaboration between WWF and the National Cargo Bureau aims to create a Proof of Concept technology to screen bookings and shipping documentation for or undeclared wildlife products. This project marks the first big, strategic step towards the creation of a rules-based approach to cargo screening, including developing an adaptive library of keywords to identify illegally traded listed species in maritime shipping.
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