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Issue 20
MAGAZINE
FEBRUARY
2012
POACHING
WARS
Tackling the
growing crisis
for Africa’s
rhinos
FOREST SECRETS
Fresh hope and
discoveries in
East Africa
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
How what you eat
can help our planet
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
Helping wildlife and
people live more
harmoniously in India
FEEL GOOD
Cycle, swim, run or
walk for team WWF
WWF_Action_Dec2011_ReproV10:Layout 1
ADVERSITY
4/1/12
Even in the depths of winter, nature s6ll has
a capacity to thrive, to surprise and enthral.
People want to spend 6me with nature, to
record its ever-changing story and to
safeguard it – both here in our own
backyard and around the world. This photo,
taken on a winter morning in Norfolk, won
Ian Haskell an award in the WWFsponsored Bri6sh Wildlife Photography
Awards. See other inspiring photos of
Bri6sh wildlife at www.bwpawards.org
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© IAN P HASKELL
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PANDA’S
PEOPLE
I’ve only been working at WWF for a few short months
but one thing has already struck me: the special kind
of people who make things happen here.
Like many of you, I’ve supported WWF since childhood
– so I was committed to the cause before I arrived. And
now I’ve had a little time to see the work we’re doing,
I’m happy to report an overwhelming sense of purpose
here. This is an organisation that’s determined to
protect the beautiful, brilliant world we live in. Calmly,
rationally, but passionately putting forward the case
for change so people and nature can thrive.
Personally, I was particularly touched by our efforts to
safeguard the rhino in Africa from poaching (page 10).
This new poaching crisis has already cost the lives of
many rhinos – and the tragic loss of forest ranger
Zomedel Pierre Achille, who was brutally murdered
by gorilla poachers in Cameroon last October. But we
won’t give up hope. Our teams are challenging wildlife
criminals: some monitoring and protecting species on
the ground, some battling the illegal wildlife trade.
We’ve also got people like Diwakar Chapagain on our
side. He’s made some great strides in our work to
protect threatened rhino and big cat species in Nepal
from the illegal trade.
I feel inspired. And it’s been a pleasure to put together
my first issue of Action and see people going to great
lengths for the things they care about. While we’re on
the subject of great lengths – Kate from our Scottish
office has just completed a 50km swim for the Panda.
Sheer (wonderful) madness.
We’ve been giving this kind of inspired environmental
action a name for quite some time now: ‘The Panda
Made Me Do It’. If you want to imbibe the Olympic
spirit and get involved this year we’ve got some great
physical challenges, for people of every age and ability,
in aid of our work. We hope the Panda will inspire you
to take part (page 28), to support our new forestprotection project in Africa (page 26) and to campaign
for the last remaining western gray whales (page 16).
I’d love to know what the Panda’s making you do –
please do get in touch.
© KWS
Jess Murphy, editor
[email protected]
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© EMMA HAMM / WWFKUK
THE ACTION TEAM
Editor
Jessie-May Murphy
Designer
Ma7 Wood at Neo
weareneo.com
Assistant editor
Ruth Simms
Picture editor
Kate Foreshew
Editorial manager
Mar6n O’Halloran
NEWS
INSPIRATION
6 Global success
Panda populations
connected; new life for
forests; water-saving wins
10 On the poaching
frontline
How we’re tackling the
crisis in Africa head-on
28 On your marks
Join team WWF and get
your new year off to a
sporting start
9 Bright idea
WWF’s Earth Hour gives us
all a night to remember
18 Healthy balance
WWF’s Liz Callegari serves
up a healthy way to eat
that’s good for the planet
30 Fantastic food
Win a signed copy of Hugh
Fearnley-Whittingstall’s
inspiring new cookbook
8 Green dream
WWF’s Simon Lewis on
London 2012’s chance
to shine
16 What a difference a
year makes
We chart our campaigns’
progress
20 Conflict resolution
Helping India’s people and
wildlife to live side by side
Membership manager
Emily Pringle
Contact the editor:
[email protected]
Thanks to:
David Burrows, Jennifer Campbell,
Barney Jeffries, Sue Parks (writers);
Emma Biermann, Colin Bu5ield, Liz
Callegari, Diwakar Chapagain, Simon
Lewis, Drew McVey, Ella Pierce,
Jonathon Porri7, Heather Sohl
(contributors); Georgie Bridge (design
supervisor); Lorna Lawson (news);
and Joanne Stewart-Clark (events)
FEATURES
CONTENTS
29 Event of the year
Cycle, swim, run or walk
for wildlife with this year’s
top challenges
24 Summit to climb
Can the Rio+20 summit help
the planet?
26 Forest lifeline
How a new project can
protect East Africa’s
precious habitats
Front cover: © HEINRICH VAN DEN BERG /
GETTY IMAGES
Action February 2012 – Page 5
wwf.org.uk
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Mapping success
2
130,000 LITRES
The amount of water that
Swindon residents saved
every day
THE LATEST NEWS FROM AROUND
THE WORLD CAN BE FOUND ON
OUR WEBSITE EVERY DAY M
WWF.ORG.UK/NEWS
1
1 MILLION
Hectares of plantations now
certified by the Roundtable on
Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)
1
2
BRAZIL
UK
wwf.org.uk/palmoil
wwf.org.uk/savewater
Palm oil milestone: plantations owned
by Brazil-based Agropalma, a leading
producer of palm oil in South America,
recently achieved certification against the
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
(RSPO) standard, pushing the area of
certified palm oil plantations past the one
million hectare mark. Palm oil is a valuable
commodity that’s an ingredient in
everything from processed foods to
cosmetics – but its cultivation can have
disastrous impacts on people and the
environment. We’re working with the palm
oil industry and with UK companies as part
of our ongoing efforts to halt worldwide
deforestation and bring sustainable palm
oil to consumers.
Action February 2012 – Page 6
Award-winning water scheme: our
project to help the residents of Swindon
reduce water use has a won a climate
change impact award from the Wiltshire
Wildlife Trust. In Save Water Swindon’s
first year, the town reduced its overall
water use by 130,000 litres a day through
awareness-raising activities and offers of
free water-saving devices. We run Save
Water Swindon with Waterwise and Thames
Water, and the project is supported by the
HSBC Climate Partnership. Reducing the
town’s water demands will ease pressure
on the chalk stream environment of the
nearby River Kennet, and spells good news
for local species including water voles and
brown trout.
3
TANZANIA
Water efficiency: rice farmers in
Tanzania are using water from the Great
Ruaha River more efficiently thanks to
our initiative, which will benefit wildlife
and people. After taking part in our
training scheme, over half of the farmers
reported that rice yields increased by
about 300% while using less water. An
increase in the human population in the
river’s catchment area has led to more
water being siphoned off for agricultural
irrigation. Overuse of water has led to the
river drying up each year for longer
periods, with severe implications for local
wildlife. With less water being taken out
of the river, more will be able to find its
way to this area, and to the animals that
rely on this freshwater source for survival.
wwf.org.uk/ruahariver
wwf.org.uk
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THANKS TO YOU,
WHERE THERE’S
WWF THERE’S
HOPE
4
108,000
Number of tree saplings
planted in Lumbini
3
5
1,600
Number of endangered
giant pandas thought to
remain in the wild
300%
Tanzanian rice
farmers increased
yields by about
300% while using
water more
efficiently
6
6
The South Pacific is home
to six of the world’s seven
marine turtle species
4
NEPAL
Restoring forests: we’ve planted
108,000 tree saplings in a sacred area
revered by Buddhists. We worked handin-hand with the Lumbini Development
Trust and local communities to plant
saplings in the Sacred Garden of Lumbini.
The successful planting initiative is part
of our wider 10-year project to plant a
million trees in the UNESCO World
Heritage Site. Lumbini is regarded as the
‘soul’ of the Terai Arc, an area of India and
Nepal that is home to tigers, rhinos,
elephants and other species. We’re
working with local people to protect this
habitat, which faces challenges such as
deforestation, poaching and pollution.
wwf.org.uk/teraiarc
Action February 2012 – Page 7
5
CHINA
Connecting panda populations:
recent camera-trap surveys in improved
wildlife corridors in the Minshan and
Qinling mountain ranges have returned
some rare images of elusive wild pandas,
indicating that our work to restore these
stretches of forest has been worth it. These
corridors link isolated areas, helping
populations to mix and remain genetically
healthy. This is vital work as only around
1,600 endangered giant pandas live in the
wild, and panda populations are confined
to six isolated mountain ranges. In the
Minshan mountains, we’re also busy
working on a new wildlife tunnel that will
allow pandas to bypass a major highway,
reconnecting isolated populations.
wwf.org.uk/giantpanda
6
FIJI
Migrations mapped: we’ve helped to
create Fiji’s first national maps indicating
turtle nesting areas and migration routes.
The research we funded has identified
significant areas needing turtle protection
across Fiji. We’re focusing our efforts in
this part of the South Pacific because it’s
home to six of the world’s seven marine
turtle species, including the critically
endangered hawksbill turtle. We’re taking
a leading role in implementing a marine
turtle recovery plan, as part of the 10-year
moratorium on turtle harvesting. Our
work has increased community-monitored
sites from 2 to 10 in the Great Sea Reef
region, a key nesting area for turtles.
wwf.org.uk/turtles
wwf.org.uk
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Update: Go for green at London 2012
Can the Olympics leave
a lasng green legacy?
© ODA
LONDON 2012 REALLY
COULD BE THE MOST
ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY OLYMPICS YET
AND WE’VE BEEN
INVOLVED FROM THE
START, WRITES WWF’S
SIMON LEWIS
Talk to your average mountain
biker, horse rider and canoeist,
and they’ll tell you how much
they love their sport – and how
much they enjoy the great
outdoors. A passion for sport
and nature seems to go
together, well, naturally.
But what about the London
Olympics? Is the fit so natural?
It’ll be the greatest sporting
show on Earth for sure – but
can it be also be a great event
that leaves a green legacy in
its wake?
We think it can. This is an
unmissable opportunity to
highlight how a huge event can
showcase green development
in a city such as London and
also pave the way for a closer
connection between sport and
the environment. And we'd like
the lessons learnt to be passed
on to other host cities for big
events in years to come.
Action February 2012 – Page 8
“An exemplary new green
quarter for east London,
whose benefits could quickly
outweigh the impact of
building and hosting the
Olympics”
So how did the Panda get
involved? Well, we were quick
off the mark, offering our
expertise early on in the UK
bid. The pay-off has been that
we’ve forged a close (but
independent) relationship with
the Games organisers –
enabling London 2012 to help
minimise the impacts and
maximise the benefits to the
environment and sustainable
living during construction. For
example, did you know that
London 2012 is the first
Olympic Games to estimate its
carbon footprint and use a
carbon management strategy
to influence everything from
the design of the various stadia
to what the athletes will eat
during the Games?
And the eventual legacy? This
could be an exemplary new
green quarter for east London,
whose benefits could quickly
outweigh the impact of building
and hosting the Olympics.
In the coming months, we’re
going to grasp every
opportunity we can to
demonstrate the benefits of
sustainable living through
sport. And help make the
planet the real winner at 2012.
Find out more in the June
issue of Action.
ON YOUR MARKS
Find out how you can take part
in your own Olympic challenge
and help raise funds for our
work on page 28.
wwf.org.uk
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Our world: WWF in action
© GREG ARMFIELD / WWF7UK
POSITIVE ENERGY
In the last issue, our
energy expert Nick Molho
explained how we believe
that renewable energy is
the best hope of reducing
the UK’s dependency on
fossil fuels.
Since then, our new Positive
Energy report has shown that
renewables could meet between
60-90% of the UK’s electricity
demand by 2030. We’re
therefore calling on the
government and electricity
companies to set targets for at
least 60% renewable electricity
generation by 2030. Many
businesses and individuals
welcomed our report, including
Gavin Leath, Unilever’s senior
vice president of sustainability:
“Reaching such a goal will not
just be good for business but it
will be absolutely essential if we
are to retard the speed of
accelerating climate change.”
Find out more at
wwf.org.uk/energy
Action February 2012 – Page 9
JOIN US FOR WWF’S EARTH HOUR: 8.30PM ON 31 MARCH 2012
IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT AN HOUR OF DARKNESS;
IT’S ABOUT A BRIGHTER FUTURE
WWF’s Earth Hour is a
simple idea that’s quickly
turned into a global
phenomenon. Hundreds of
millions of people will be
turning off their lights for one
hour, on the same night, all
across the planet.
© NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC STOCK / JIM RICHARDSON / WWF
Renewable energy, combined
with reducing the amount of
energy usage, is essential to
reduce the use of fossil fuels
and therefore UK carbon
emissions. That’s why we’re
launching a major new
renewable energy campaign
this year – and we’ll be asking
you to get involved. Keep a
look-out for more information
in future editions of Action
magazine and online.
MOMENT OF CHANGE
But it’s not to save an hour’s
electricity. It’s something
much bigger. WWF’s Earth
Hour is about people coming
together to put the focus on
this brilliant world we all
share – and how we should
protect it. Not just for an
hour, or a year, but every
single day.
With your support, WWF
already tackles a lot of
environmental impacts –
such as deforestation,
endangered species, and the
problems of climate change.
Earth Hour is a chance for
everyone to say they’ll do
their bit. And that’s never
been more vital.
Earth Hour’s also a
celebration. A night to
remember – whether it’s a
special candlelit evening at
home with friends or family
(see page 19 for inspiration),
a night out on the town, or
watching the spectacular
global switch-offs live online.
And you’re invited. If you
want to feel part of something
huge on 31 March, why not
sign up and get involved?
FIND OUT MORE… WWF.ORG.UK/EARTHHOUR
PAT ON THE BACK We’re really delighted that our work to help
create a sustainable future for coastal fishing communi+es in
Tanzania has been given a top award – well two actually – at the APM
Project Management Awards 2011. With your support, our Rufiji
Delta-Mafia Island-Kilwa District (RUMAKI) Seascape programme’s
successfully challenging unsustainable fishing prac+ces, the
degrada+on of coral reefs and mangroves, and threats to the
livelihoods of 150,000 people who depend heavily on fishing.
Read more about our work in coastal East Africa on p26.
NATURAL TALENT
We asked young
photographers, budding
artists and creative kids to
express and share their love
for nature. They didn’t
disappoint. Our competition
My True Nature inspired an
artistic army of young people
to paint, photograph and
document their connections
with the natural world.
To view the wonderful
results, find out more about
My True Nature, and how
we’re inspiring the next
generation to care for the
natural world, visit:
wwf.org.uk/mytruenature
SOCIAL NETWORK
Join our online community and
ask us ques+ons about events,
our work and any environmental
ac+on that you’re taking.
• Join the debate on
Twi,er wwf.org.uk/twi,er
and Facebook
wwf.org.uk/facebook
• You can also talk to
us about this year’s
Earth Hour event at
facebook.com/EarthHourUK
wwf.org.uk
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RHINOS
ON
THE
EDGE
An upsurge in poaching in
southern Africa threatens
to undo decades of work to
protect rhinos – but we’re
tackling this head-on
There’s a war going on in southern
Africa. Drew McVey, who leads our
wildlife work in the region, has
witnessed it. “A lot of people have died
on both sides,” he says. “Recently we
had our first incident of a ranger being
killed by ‘friendly fire’. Can you imagine
the sort of pressure people must be
under for that to happen?”
The two sides aren’t fighting for control
of land, drugs or diamonds: they’re
fighting over rhinos. Since WWF was
founded 50 years ago, we’ve been
battling poaching and the illegal wildlife
trade. But the crisis we’re facing today
is unprecedented, and horrifying.
African rhinos have been one of our
great success stories. Since 1997, we’ve
helped to almost double the number of
rhinos in Africa, largely due to support
from people like you: around 25,000
exist in the wild today.
»
© GETTY IMAGES FOR WWFKUK
Poaching is on the rise across Africa.
Violent clashes have occurred in
Cameroon, where we support patrols
protecting critically endangered
lowland gorillas: in October, gorilla
poachers in this country brutally
murdered forest ranger Zomedel Pierre
Achille. More elephants are being killed
for ivory, with rare forest elephants
particularly vulnerable. And now rhinos
are facing grave danger once again.
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Black rhinos under 24,hour
armed guard to protect them
from poachers
© MARTIN HARVEY / WWF,CANON
» The threat of poaching had never gone
away, but it was under control: the number
of rhinos killed by poachers each year was
in low double figures. So what’s happened?
“Everything changed in 2008,” says Drew.
“It’s quite remarkable, and it’s frightening.”
In 2007, 13 white rhinos were killed in
South Africa. In 2008, the figure rose to
83, then 122 in 2009. In 2010, 333 were
killed, and the number of rhinos killed
exceeded 400 further in 2011. In Kenya,
the numbers are smaller but the impact is
just as deadly: 15 critically endangered
black rhinos were killed in 2010, more
than were born.
To explain the sudden upsurge, we have to
look across the Indian Ocean: to China
and, especially, Vietnam. Rhino horn has
long been valued in traditional Asian
medicine as an anti-fever treatment –
though it’s now been rejected by leading
traditional Chinese medicine associations
and most practitioners no longer use it.
But in 2008, a rumour began to circulate
that a Vietnamese government minister
had been cured of cancer using rhino horn.
Never mind that the minister has never
been identified, and that not a shred of
evidence has been found to support the
rumour: demand for the miracle cure has
soared, and people will pay huge sums for
the powdered horn.
Poaching is mostly undertaken by highly
organised professional gangs, which may
use night-vision equipment or even
helicopters to find their prey. And because
fresh rhino horn is highly prized, many
Action February 2012 – Page 12
poachers use darts to anaesthetise rhinos
before cutting their horns off. “We’ve seen
rhinos with half their face cut off, left to
bleed to death,” says Drew. “The lengths
these people will go to are quite horrific.”
The initial response was to run more antipoaching patrols and to equip them better.
In Kenya, we’ve helped to move rhinos
into areas where they’re best protected,
including two new sanctuaries.
But, says Drew, efforts on the ground
aren’t enough. “The authorities in South
Africa arrested 165 poachers in 2010, and
the number of arrests rose further in 2011.
There are just more people looking to
poach – for every one you catch, there’s
another willing to do it. We’ve got to cut
the problem off higher up the trade chain.”
One way we’re trying to do that is by making
sure those who do get caught – including
the gang leaders – are brought to justice.
Despite all those arrests in 2010 there were
only four convictions in South Africa. “We’re
helping to provide expert witnesses to help
secure convictions, and to raise awareness
of the cases so they stay in the public eye,”
says Heather Sohl, our expert in illegal
wildlife trade. "We're also pushing for
strong prison sentences rather than fines.”
There are signs that this strategy is starting
to bear fruit: since March last year, the
lowest sentence has been eight years.
With our partners TRAFFIC, the wildlife
trade monitoring network that we set up
with the International Union for
Conservation of Nature, we’re helping to
train and equip police and customs officers
to clamp down on the smugglers.
We’ve also helped to bring the Vietnamese
and South African governments together
to tackle the issue. The two countries have
agreed to cooperate on protecting wildlife,
by sharing information and intelligence,
research and technology. They also agreed
to introduce a tougher procedure for
verifying export permits – at the moment,
it’s legal to export a small number of rhino
horns as ‘trophies’, a system poachers have
been quick to exploit.
Through CITES – the convention that
controls international trade in endangered
species – we’ve been pushing for stronger
international action too. At the latest
meeting in August, governments agreed to
set up a rhino working group to identify
measures to reduce rhino horn trade, a
group we've joined. They also encouraged
countries to run targeted awareness
campaigns to dispel the myths about rhino
horn’s medicinal properties and reduce
demand, particularly in Vietnam.
“Wildlife authorities can’t protect rhinos
on their own,” says Drew. “But if we work
together at every level to combat wildlife
crime, then we can have a much bigger
impact – and not just for rhinos, but for
other threatened species too.”
FIND OUT MORE
Watch an amazing video of
a rhino reloca#on in South
Africa and find out how
you can help us protect this
magnificent species. Scan
this code on your phone or
visit wwf.org.uk/illegal
wwf.org.uk
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MOST WANTED
IT’S NOT ONLY RHINOS THAT ARE UNDER THREAT FROM WILDLIFE CRIMINALS,
SAYS OUR WILDLIFE TRADE EXPERT HEATHER SOHL
It still takes my breath away to think how the future of thousands of species – wild
animals and plants – is being threatened by wildlife criminals. Challenging this global
‘business’ is a never-ending story and the news can sometimes be depressing. But I’m
driven on by the wildlife who need our help, and my colleagues who put their lives on the
line every day. Some are rangers protecting wildlife. Others are monitoring the illegal
trade. I’m here to lobby governments and trade regulators to create the policies that will
keep the poachers and illegal traders in check. We’re a great team, facing huge
challenges, and I’m proud of the work we’re doing for the world’s wildlife. We couldn’t
do it without you. Here are just a few of the species currently under threat.
Tackling this problem is a key part of our work
to double wild 6ger numbers by the next
Chinese Year of the Tiger in 2022. We’re
bringing together government officials, and
communica6ons and behavioural change
experts, to develop ways to reduce demand in
China and Vietnam. You can donate to our
current 6ger appeal by going to
wwf.org.uk/helpthe1ger
Action February 2012 – Page 13
BLUEFIN TUNA
It’s one of the world’s most highly prized fish:
a single large specimen can fetch tens of
thousands of pounds in Japan. As a result, the
Atlan6c bluefin tuna has been hunted to the
brink of ex6nc6on. Regula6ons to limit this
fishing aren’t nearly strong enough – but even
those that do exist are o%en flouted. In Italy,
the Mafia controls large parts of the tuna
industry; licensed fishing boats catch far more
bluefin tuna than their quotas allow, and many
more boats fish without a licence.
We’re pressing for strengthened controls of
Atlan6c bluefin tuna fishing un6l stocks have
a chance to recover.
© NATUREPL.COM / BRUCE DAVIDSON
Interna6onal trade in 6ger parts was banned
in 1975, but this hasn’t stopped a persistent
black market for wild 6ger parts, mostly in
Asian countries such as China and Vietnam.
Parts from more than 1,121 6gers have been
seized in the last decade, many believed to
have been des6ned for use in medicines.
© WILD WONDERS OF EUROPE / ZANKL / WWF
© NATUREPL.COM / EDWIN GIESBERS / WWF
TIGERS
GREAT APES
Along with habitat loss and infec6ous
diseases, the wildlife trade threatens the
future of mankind’s closest rela6ves. Great
apes in Africa – including gorillas, chimpanzees
and bonobos – reproduce slowly and have
sophis6cated social structures, so poaching
can have a devasta6ng impact on ape
popula6ons. The apes have always provided a
source of food for forest-dwelling people in
central Africa. But poachers today are killing
apes to sell as ‘bushmeat’ to wealthy city
dwellers on an increasingly commercial scale,
and illegally selling live apes as pets too.
We’re working within central African countries
to strengthen law enforcement that results in
criminal convic6ons.
»
wwf.org.uk
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© MICHEL GUNTHER / WWFKCANON
HOPE
FROM
NEPAL
© WWF-NEPAL
Diwakar Chapagain, who
coordinates our wildlife trade
work in Nepal, explains how
our efforts to curb wildlife
crime are working
» I remember the year 2002 only too well.
It was the year when we saw a massive
decline in rhino numbers in Nepal. And
when the armed conflict in our country was
at its peak. That year alone, 38 greater onehorned rhinos were killed, breaking all
records so far.
But the situation is a lot better now, thanks
to the government’s strong law enforcement
and the involvement of various conservation
partners and the local community.
Significant numbers of very high-profile
wildlife criminals have been arrested
within the last year, and rhino poaching
is at its lowest level for 15 years.
There’s no single method to combat
poaching and other wildlife crimes.
Basically, we support and mobilise
everyone who can directly or indirectly
contribute to controlling poaching and
wildlife crimes – ranging from
communities to government agencies.
We’ve been able to make wildlife crime a
priority at the highest political level – the
Action February 2012 – Page 14
prime minister chairs the National Tiger
Conservation Committee, and we’ve
helped set up a dedicated Wildlife Crime
Control Bureau.
Local people are very important too – their
tip-offs help us locate and catch poachers.
We’ve been able to identify people who
really want to lend a hand in species
conservation, and have set up and trained
community-based anti-poaching units.
These anti-poaching efforts have
contributed significantly in controlling
poaching of rhino and tiger as well as
other species, such as red panda and
musk deer. The 2011 census counted
534 rhinos, up 99 since it was last
recorded in 2008. Similarly, tiger numbers
have also increased.
We’ve established important institutions to
combat wildlife crime, but they’re in an
early stage of development. They need
human and financial resources and cuttingedge equipment, as well as legal back-up.
Similarly, those on the front line are
working with very limited resources. They
lack vehicles to patrol the wildlife habitat,
and places to stay with basic facilities such
as drinking water and electricity.
But there’s now commitment from the
grassroots to the highest level here in Nepal.
I’m very optimistic that we can curb wildlife
crime and secure the lives of these
magnificent species.
534
IN THE 2011 CENSUS, RHINO NUMBERS
IN NEPAL INCREASED TO 534 — THAT’S
99 MORE THAN RECORDED IN 2008
15 YRS
RHINO POACHING IN NEPAL IS AT ITS LOWEST
LEVEL FOR 15 YEARS
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CATCHING THE WILDLIFE CRIMINALS
© DAN KITWOOD / GETTY IMAGES
OPERATION CHARM
TACKLING WILDLIFE
CRIME ON OUR
DOORSTEP
Here’s a question: the
world’s largest rhino
horn seizure – a
shocking 129 horns –
happened in which city?
• A Belgian shop selling dried
seahorses.
• People impor)ng endangered
freshwater fish from the
Amazon to the US.
• A male grooming business
in London which sold real
ivory shaving brushes for
£1,100 each.
WE NEED YOUR
EYES AND EARS!
© STAFFAN WIDSTRAND / WWF
MAN’S BEST FRIEND IS SMUGGLERS’ WORST ENEMY
Action February 2012 – Page 15
• An Italian pet shop selling a
protected tree sloth.
• An an)ques dealer in Antwerp
selling skeletons and trophies
from endangered animals
worth around £30,000.
The correct answer, c), may
come as a surprise, but in
fact London is an important
centre of the international
trade in endangered species.
We’re working with the
Metropolitan Police on an
initiative to raise awareness
of the illegal wildlife trade
and clamp down on the
people involved. Since 1995,
Operation Charm has seized
over 30,000 items derived
from endangered species.
They include tiger and
leopard fur coats, elephant
and sperm whale ivory, and
a huge haul of Shahtoosh
shawls from endangered
Tibetan antelopes.
These specially trained dogs
can detect animal products
including rhino horn, sturgeon
caviar, elephant ivory and
• A Chinese company selling
violin bows made from
hawksbill turtle shell.
• Two Dutch )mber companies
selling endangered Brazilian
rosewood.
Was it a) Durban b)
Hanoi or c) London?
The illegal wildlife trade
threatens many exotic
endangered species – but a
rather more familiar animal
is helping to protect them,
thanks to your support.
Increasingly, sniffer dogs
are on the trail of wildlife
smugglers around the world.
CAUGHT IN THE ACT THANKS TO YOU
marine turtle shells. They can
check 350 bags in just 20
minutes, and are proving more
effective than any expensive
technical equipment.
We’re supporting a sniffer
dog programme in India,
where seven trained wildlife
detector dogs are now at work.
One of their most important
tasks is detecting smuggled
tiger parts – with just 3,200
tigers remaining in the wild,
stamping out this illegal trade
is vital if we’re to save them
from extinction.
Here in Europe, our friends at
WWF-Germany are leading a
project with other WWF offices,
TRAFFIC and the European
Commission to maximise the
use of sniffer dogs to stop
wildlife smuggling at major
airports, sea ports and even
postal distribution centres
across the EU.
Your vigilance can help us beat
the illegal wildlife trade. If you
come across any suspicious
activity, in the UK, abroad or
online, please call the Eyes and
Ears Hotline on 01483 426111
or complete the form on
wwf.org.uk/eyesandears
Cases of illegality are passed
to the relevant enforcement
authority to follow up.
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MOVING FORWARD
ON ALL FRONTS
From helping save one billion trees in the Amazon to
protecting the world’s last 130 western gray whales, Action
reported on many vital conservation projects during 2011.
Jennifer Campbell looks at some of the progress we’ve
made, thanks to your loyal support
SEISMIC CHALLENGE
In June, we reported on our efforts to stop
Sakhalin Energy, an oil consortium,
building a new drilling platform off Russia’s
Sakhalin Island – right next to the critically
endangered western gray whale’s vital
feeding ground. Since then the preparations
for this platform have been postponed.
When it comes to endangered animals, there
aren’t many as threatened as the western
gray whale. Fewer than 130 of these
magnificent creatures are believed to survive.
Action February 2012 – Page 16
Now our fight continues to stop the survey
– and indeed the platform itself –
happening at all.
© VLADIMIR POTANSKY / WWFKRUSSIA
When Sakhalin Energy announced plans to
build a third drilling platform in the area
next to the whales’ only feeding ground,
we made it clear that it could lead to the
whales' extinction. Noise pollution could
disorientate the whales and disrupt their
feeding. Other increased risks to the
whales include chemical pollution, oil
spills and ship collisions.
A seismic survey was due to take place
last summer, emitting huge blasts of
noise – which was of great concern as the
whales feed between July and November.
However, Sakhalin Energy agreed to
postpone it until 2012. We lobbied hard
to make this happen, contacting Sakhalin
Energy and their financial lenders, and
observing on the Western Gray Whale
Advisory Panel, which recommended
the postponement.
< YOU CAN HELP
Support our campaign to stop the pla5orm
at wwf.org.uk/130
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© ZIG KOCH / WWF
MORE FISH
In last February’s issue, we visited
Cameroon's rainforests to see first-hand
our work to stop illegal and unsustainable
logging. Our What Wood You Choose?
campaign has made lots of progress in
protecting forests worldwide since then.
Our More Fish campaign, covered in
Action last year (below), is demanding
an improved Common Fisheries
Policy (CFP) to stop overfishing and
wastage of fish in Europe’s waters.
The EU has now published a proposal
for a better CFP – but we’re striving to
improve it further.
The world’s forests are an amazing place.
Home to an extraordinary array of species,
they capture carbon to prevent global
warming and provide livelihoods for
millions of people. But they’re being
destroyed at a rate of 36 football pitches
per minute.
Europe’s fish stocks are in crisis. More
than 70% are now overfished. European
laws mean fishing fleets can end up
discarding up to one in every six fish they
catch. If we want fish to be available for
future generations, and fishing
communities to survive, we need to stop
these devastating practices now.
Our campaign has gathered steam, urging
people in the UK to help save our forests
by buying wood certified by the Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC) as being
responsibly sourced.
In July, the EU put out for consultation
its suggestions to improve the CFP.
The positives are clear, and show our
influence: instead of giving fleets an annual
quota for how much they can catch, the EU
proposes to establish clear conservation
targets – such as the requirement by 2015
not to catch fish that would reduce overall
fish numbers in the following years.
AMAZON RESCUE
“The rates of deforestation were
shocking.” That’s what former Bond girl
Gemma Arterton had to say about her visit
to the Amazon in our October 2011 issue.
But things are improving. Our partnership
Sky Rainforest Rescue has made huge
strides towards keeping forests standing.
However, Europe’s fishing fleet is still
three times over capacity, and there’s no
clear vision to tackle this, nor a clear
timeline for improvements.
One billion trees saved. That’s the aim of
Sky Rainforest Rescue, our joint project
with Sky to help protect the Brazilian state
of Acre’s forests. And we can reveal some
great progress – at the time this issue is
going to press we’ve just passed the 500
mark for families signed up to the state’s
voluntary land certification scheme, which
helps people farm their land sustainably
without cutting down trees.
WHAT A WASTE
When Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall witnessed the
shameful wastage of fish stocks while filming a recent
documentary series, he was spurred into action.
Here he relives his experiences and tells us how we
can all change things for the better
© Brian J. Skerry / Naonal Geographic Stock / WWF
Over 50,000 of you have signed our pe''on,
but we s'll need your support. Help us
influence the EU by adding your name if you
haven’t already at wwf.org.uk/morefish
© BRENT STIRTON / GETTY IMAGES / WWF1UK
The CFP, introduced to control fishing
in Europe, has failed. But with the EU
amending the policy in 2013, we have
a rare opportunity to improve things.
* YOU CAN HELP
BETTER WOOD
We’ve also been supporting alternative
sources of income that avoid deforestation,
including sustainable rainforest products
such as native Amazonian rubber.
* YOU CAN HELP
We need your help to reach our one billion
target. Adopt a jaguar or sponsor an acre at
sky.com/rainforestrescue
Our What Wood You Choose? report
showed it’s likely that many UK businesses
are a long way from meeting the demands
of a new EU law, coming into force in early
2013, that says anyone selling timber will
have to show where it’s come from. We’ve
been using the report as evidence to push
businesses and the government to take
urgent action.
We’ve also asked local authorities, which
buy up to 20% of all timber in the UK, to
buy only responsibly sourced products. So
far, 37 councils have made a pledge with us.
* YOU CAN HELP
Find out more about responsible wood at
wwf.org.uk/whatwoodyouchoose
HOW WE SPEND YOUR MONEY
Read more about our work last year in our online annual review at wwf.org.uk/annualreview
Action February 2012 – Page 17
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ARE YOU UP TO OUR LIVEWELL
CHALLENGE?
FISH
Here’s a challenge for
you: try eating according to
our Livewell 2020 plate for
just one week and see if you
like it. We think you’ll be
healthier and, best of all,
guaranteed to get that warm
and fuzzy feeling from caring
for the planet
Fish is a great source of protein,
but stocks of many species are
severely threatened. So, try
adding a bit of variety to your
fish dishes – why not try coley
instead of cod, for instance.
The golden rule, however, is to
look for fish labelled with the
MSC ‘6ck’, which means it’s
from well-managed sources.
SUGARY FATTY FOODS
Our food expert Liz Callegari extols the
virtues of following the Livewell plate...
However we choose our food, there’s little
doubt many of us are paying more
attention to what we eat. So how about a
sustainable, healthy diet that might even
save you a few pennies? It’s called the
Livewell 2020 plate – an ideal way to eat –
but you certainly don’t have to wait until
2020 to start.
Why are we so bothered at WWF, you
might ask. Well, what we eat has a huge
effect on the planet. Pristine forests are
cut down to make way for crops and
animal rearing. And many species of fish
are being unsustainably harvested.
So why not give our Livewell plate a go?
It’s a flexible eating plan that more than
matches the government’s nutritional
guidelines but is healthy for the planet too.
And it’s been developed by leading
environmental and nutritional experts.
Please do let me know how you get on with
the plan – email me at [email protected]
or write to me at the usual address. Oh and
please bear in mind that it’s not just about
buying sustainably. It’s also about wasting
less. The average family chucks away a
staggering 30% of their weekly shop.
And much of that is perfectly edible!
Action February 2012 – Page 18
5%
MILK AND DAIRY
Dairy products come from
livestock, so the environmental
footprint can be high (thanks
partly to cows producing the
potent greenhouse gas,
methane). However, UK farmers
are making great progress in
curbing the emissions from
their farms and livestock (they
are even trying new diets for
the cows). Dairy is an important
source of calcium, but it won’t
harm your health or the
planet’s if you have one slice of
cheese fewer in your sandwich.
We all love a treat, but
steering clear of highly
processed foods is a good idea
if you want to limit your salt,
fat and sugar intakes. Some
processed foods may have
higher carbon footprints –
because you need energy to
process them. Bu7er also falls
under this heading. Why not
swap that pain au raisin for a
bowl of porridge during the
week? As a bonus, you’ll feel
fuller for longer.
“THE EASIEST WAY TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF WHAT YOU EAT IS
TO CHOOSE MORE FRUIT AND VEG AND LESS MEAT. TO REDUCE
IT EVEN FURTHER TRY BUYING CERTIFIED PRODUCTS SUCH AS
MSC FISH.” LIZ CALLEGARI, WWF FOOD CAMPAIGNER
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RED AND WHITE MEAT
READY, STEADY, COOK
FOR EARTH HOUR!
© CRISTIAN BARNETT / WWFKUK
Demand for meat is rising and
habitats are being destroyed to
raise livestock and grow feed.
Rearing ca7le also has a high
carbon footprint. So, instead of
replacing meat with dairy,
replace with some extra veg:
an extra 6n of tomatoes and
more mushrooms rather than
another pack of mince in a
spag bol, for example.
OTHER SOURCES
OF PROTEIN
You can replace
protein such as red
meat and fish in your
diet with protein
from beans, pulses,
nuts and seeds – and
the occasional egg.
FRUIT AND VEG
More than a third of the plate
is from fruit and veg, which
have a low impact on the
planet. To meet the 35%
target, you’ll need to eat seven
por6ons a day – not just the
usual five-a-day. The more the
merrier, we say.
Carbs are great for energy, and
there is a variety to choose
from. Choose carbs grown here
in the UK – potatoes, pasta and
cereals are all good sources.
Action February 2012 – Page 19
© ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
BREAD, RICE, POTATOES
Celebrity chef Valentine Warner has
whipped up some mouth-watering recipes
inspired by the Livewell plan. A recipe
designed with our Livewell principles in
mind could be a perfect accompaniment to
an hour in the dark for WWF’s Earth Hour
this coming March (see page 9).
Valentine says, “We can all help to ensure
a healthy future for both ourselves and
the planet. So while you're switching off
the lights this year, why not take the
opportunity to enjoy a candlelit
sustainable dinner?"
Check out wwf.org.uk/ehrecipes
“It’s a common misconcep6on that intake of starchy food should
be limited in a healthy balanced diet. At least 50% of our daily
calorie intake should come from carbohydrates. So starchy food
such as bread, cereal, rice, pasta and potatoes should make up
one of the largest sec6ons in our diet.” Dr Jennie Macdiarmid,
Rowe7 Ins6tute of Nutri6on and Health, University of Aberdeen
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FROM CONFLICT
TO COEXISTENCE
CORBETT
NATIONAL PARK
Encounters with wild tigers and elephants are a frequent occurrence for people
living close to Corbett National Park, in India’s Terai Arc landscape. Yet as
WWF’s Ella Pierce witnessed, empowering people to create their own
solutions can improve life for all and reduce conflict between wildlife and people
ROAD TO DISCOVERY
An hour or so later we’re off to visit the
village of Mankanthpur, accompanied by
Geeta, who works directly with the local
communities. I grip the seat of the 4x4 and
hang on for dear life as we bump along the
stony forest road.
© JAGDEEP RAJPUT / ARDEA.COM
Action February 2012 – Page 20
THERE ARE AROUND 1,700 TIGERS IN INDIA
A NATURAL SOLUTION
Traditionally, cooking is done on an open
wood fire called a chulha. It’s very slow,
uses vast amounts of firewood, and fills the
room with choking, black smoke. The
women are out for three or four hours each
day, gathering firewood in the forest. It’s
back-breaking work and extremely
dangerous – at any moment they could
come face to face with wildlife such as
tigers or elephants. It also causes damage
to the fragile forest eco-system.
Thankfully, things are changing.
KD and Geeta show me the biogas plants
they’ve introduced. The simple yet
ingenious system involves putting cow
dung (which there’s plenty of!) into a
circular concrete tank that links to a
domed slurry pit. fermenting dung
produces gas, which feeds through a pipe
into the household stove.
The future’s looking brighter for tigers
too. A healthier forest means more of their
natural prey, and with fewer cattle being
killed, the chances of any retaliatory
action against the big cats is reduced.
Results so far look promising. In 2006,
15 cattle kills were reported. In 2010 there
were only three.
© ELLA PIERCE / WWFKUK
Mankanthpur lies in the Kosi-Baur
‘wildlife corridor’ – a crossroads, you
might say, for tigers and elephants on the
move between territories. The people in
this isolated village rely on subsistence
farming and cattle for their livelihoods –
life’s tough enough without the added
challenges of living alongside wild
animals. WWF’s been working here since
2006 and we’re greeted like old friends.
1,700
It’s a win, win situation on so many levels.
The women are safer and so are their
livestock – before biogas was introduced,
cattle were allowed to wander in the forest
to graze, making them easy prey for tigers.
To make collecting their dung easier
they’re now kept in pens and fodder fed.
As for the forest, with fewer grazing cattle
and less firewood clearance, it’s left
undisturbed and can start to recover.
© ELLA PIERCE / WWFKUK
I’m inside WWF’s tiny field office in
Chhoti Haldwani, the village where
Corbett National Park founder James
Corbett once lived. I’m with Dr KD
Kandpal, who heads our Terai Arc
Landscape programme in the Uttarakhand
region. He’s telling me about the work
being done to reduce the conflict that
so often arises when people live in close
proximity to wildlife. I can’t wait to see
things for myself.
I’m handed a steaming cup of chai and
whisked off to see the results of a really
successful project based on… cow dung?
3
IN 2010 THERE WERE JUST THREE CATTLE
KILLS IN MANKANTHPUR, COMPARED WITH
15 IN 2006
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© NATUREPL.COM / ANDY ROUSE / WWF
MIXED NEWS FOR TIGERS
India’s latest survey shows an increase in
(ger numbers, but confirms their habitat is
in decline. The country’s most
comprehensive survey, which we helped
support, shows that (ger numbers are up by
20% – from 1,411 in 2006 to 1,706 in 2010.
However, some of the increase can be
a)ributed to addi(onal areas being
surveyed in 2010. The report also highlights
an overall 12.6% loss of habitat, including
wildlife corridors that form vital links
between protected areas. As more (gers are
squeezed into smaller areas, the inevitable
risk of human-(ger conflict increases. It’s
essen(al that we go on suppor(ng the
people who share (ger habitats.
Please support our current appeal to double
(ger numbers. Call 01483 426 333, return
the dona(on form we recently sent you,
or visit www.wwf.org/helptheger
»
Action February 2012 – Page 21
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© BIOSPHOTO / VERNAY PIERRE / SPECIALIST STOCK
Corbe7 Na6onal Park is
home to many species, such
as this rhesus monkey
“This is our home,” she tells me. “But it’s
wildlife’s home too. We have to find ways
of making it work.”
Even before WWF started work here,
Sartri-Di was busy protecting the forest.
She set up a small-scale venture to turn
leaf litter from the forest floor into
compost. As well as providing income for
local people, collecting the leaves also
reduces the risk of fires.
FORESTS OF HOPE
KD and his team have helped Sartri-Di
obtain licensing from the forestry
department, and build up a network of
© ELLA PIERCE / WWFKUK
Action February 2012 – Page 22
N / WWF
small producers. They’ve also helped her
set up a school, so she can share her skills
and knowledge with other farmers. This
determined lady is truly remarkable and
motivates the whole village.
© ELLA PIERCE / WWFKUK
Next I’m taken to meet Sartri-Di (below),
a local farmer known as the ‘organic lady’.
She’s passionate about protecting the
forest and its wildlife, and keeps a logbook
of every single tiger or elephant incident.
This helps KD and his team identify any
potential conflict hot spots, and is useful in
assessing tiger and elephant numbers.
© NATUREPL.COM / TIM LAMA
» ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOODS
JUMBO TROUBLE
It’s hard to imagine just how terrifying it
must be to have elephants suddenly
trample through your village – yet it’s
something people here have to cope with
on a regular basis. Their homes and the
crops they rely on are under constant
threat, so one of the first things KD and his
team did was to help organise elephant
watch groups and build strategicallyplaced watchtowers. At the first sight of an
elephant, the nearest watch group springs
into action, banging pots and pans and
blowing shankha (large conch shell
instruments used in religious ceremonies)
to scare the giant marauders away without
harming them.
All too soon it’s time to leave
Mankanthpur. I’ve met so many
interesting people today. And despite all
the challenges they face, it’s inspiring to
see how much they still respect and care
about the elephants and tigers around
them. Today I’ve seen just a few examples
of the great things that can happen when
communities are given the opportunity
and support they need to create their own
solutions – solutions that not only make
their own lives a little easier, but help
protect the forest and its wildlife too.
Corbe7 Na6onal Park is the worldrenowned wildlife reserve established in
1936 by hunter turned conserva6onist
James Corbe7. An important part of WWFIndia’s conserva6on work is focused within
the park and surrounding forests – parts of
which form vital habitat and wildlife
corridors between protected areas.
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WWF IN ACTION
The projects Ella saw in Mankanthpur are typical of the work we’re carrying out
with local communities here in South Asia and in many other parts of the world.
Thanks to your support, we’re making progress at all levels – government, business
and community – in helping people and wildlife to live harmoniously. Here are two
examples from elsewhere in South Asia
© BIJAN GURING / WWFKNEPAL
HERBAL REMEDY
In Nepal, we’re helping to support a new business enterprise that’s
reducing pressure on the forests.
Chiraito is a medicinal herb indigenous to the Himalayas. It’s used
locally to treat a host of condi6ons, including malarial fever, coughs,
colds and headaches. It grows naturally in the forests surrounding
Langtang Na6onal Park, but years of over-harves6ng have taken their
toll on the fragile forest environment.
Local farmer Sahduram Poudel saw the poten6al of growing chiraito
commercially and started farming the herb on his private land with just
100 grammes of seeds. Ini6ally, the crop was unsuccessful but things
improved when he received training from the agriculture department,
as part of a project we’re suppor6ng to help local growers. It’s good
news – this local industry reduces the need for foraging of chiraito
within the forests, so they have a chance to recover.
Sahduram Poudel is now chairman of the Chiraito Production
Group, a shared nursery where local farmers receive training and
support in growing and selling the herb. Revenue from the venture
goes back into the local community and over 300 households are
now benefitting.
© ANUP SHAH / NATUREPL.COM
CROCODILES’ RETURN
Destruction of their habitat and accidental or deliberate killing have
pushed the critically-endangered gharial crocodile to the brink of
extinction. But our joint re-introduction programme is showing
really positive signs.
With the total breeding population as low as 200, increasing
numbers in the wild is vital. Working with India’s Uttar Pradesh
forest department since 2009, and with support from HSBC, we
released 344 gharial reared in captivity into protected habitat along
the River Ganges.
We’ve been working with local communities to raise awareness of
the threats the gharial face, and the need to protect them. And
we’ve been monitoring the long-snouted crocs to see how they’re
acclimatising to life in the wild. The good news is that 138 of these
re-introduced gharial were counted on this stretch of the river last
March, which offers real hope for the future of the species.
Action February 2012 – Page 23
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© M CHADWICK
JUST
ANOTHER
TALKING
SHOP?
20 years ago, the UN’s Rio Earth
Summit set out to reshape the
environmental agenda for our planet.
But did it? And can this year’s global
UN conference, Rio+20, change things
for the better? We asked three
seasoned campaigners
Action February 2012 – Page 24
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© GREG ARMFIELD / WWFKUK
COLIN BUTFIELD WWF HEAD OF CAMPAIGNS
Twenty years ago I was ge8ng ready to take my
A-levels. To me at the 6me it seemed like this was it
– we’d save the rainforests, tackle climate change
and enable countries to develop sustainably.
The Rio Summit was genuinely game changing. It gave
a new audience a sense that we can solve this
environmental crisis. And good things have happened.
But we haven’t reversed the decline in our planet’s
health or embedded sustainable development.
Personally I don’t expect great things from the Rio+20
conference itself. Twenty years on and we actually
have less support from leaders for environmental
issues. We should use that as a wake-up call. Too
many 6mes in recent years we’ve looked to world
leaders to solve things for us, which can work for a
while but then something
else comes up and the
environment is largely
sidelined. It’s 6me to look to
each other to solve things.
By and large we don’t talk about the environment.
And because it’s not one of the main things we talk
about, it’s not one of the main things poli6cians and
business leaders act on. So let’s use Rio+20 to change
that. Share stories and ideas, join campaigns, sign up
for WWF’s Earth Hour, and make your choices of
media, products and how you spend your 6me to
reflect the things you care about. We don’t have
another 20 years – it’s down to us.
Follow Colin on twi2er @Colin_WWF
JONATHON PORRITT WWF AMBASSADOR
© DAVID LEVENSON / GETTY IMAGES
The 1992 summit not only
changed the world, at the 6me,
but radically changed my own
world. The prospects for Rio+20
changing anything are close to
zero, and at a personal level, it’s
with some difficulty that I can
even bring myself to write about it
– for fear of ge8ng very gloomy!
With extraordinary leadership from Maurice Strong
and others, the 1992 Earth Summit got more than
100 world leaders involved, got two mega-trea6es
(on climate change and biodiversity) to the point
where they could be signed up to, prepared some
cracking text (the Rio Declara6on, Agenda 21 and so
on), and mobilised the business community and every
conceivable cross-sec6on of civil society to get stuck
in. People were quite reserved about it at the 6me
(including me!), but the long-term effect was massive.
The fact that world leaders have almost completely
failed to build on those founda6ons since then is, of
course, a different ma7er. And it's that same poli6cal
failure that explains why the prospects for Rio+20
are so poor.
On a more personal level, the Earth Summit opened
my eyes to the idea that sustainable development
could be ar6culated as THE big idea for the 21st
century. And that’s basically what my working life
has been all about for the last 20 years.
Jonathon is founder director of Forum for the
Future www.forumforthefuture.org
EMMA BIERMANN FORMER WWF CLIMATE CHANGE AMBASSADOR
In 1992, I was just five years old – immersed in paint,
books and sandpits and loving it, far away from big
interna6onal summits. Li7le did I know then how
significant the Rio Earth Summit would become.
Sixteen years later, I set up the UK Youth Climate
Coali6on (UKYCC) – an organisa6on mobilising young
people to take ac6on on climate change. And in
actual fact, the decisions that came out of the Rio
Earth Summit have been a large focus of our work.
My genera6on s6ll faces the prospect of inheri6ng
a world that experiences unpredictable and
irreversible environmental changes. But Rio kickstarted processes trying to reduce environmental
destruc6on. And Rio+20 is now a window of
opportunity to address solu6ons towards global
sustainable development, poverty eradica6on and a
Action February 2012 – Page 25
transi6on to a fairer, more just society and economy
– an opportunity we, the ‘Rio + twen6es’, would like
to be part of shaping.
Given 2011’s highly relevant swell of civil society
calling for social and economical change, I’m
op6mis6c that we can re-invigorate the current drop
in energy and focus on the environment. And looking
forward to 20 years’ 6me, when I’m likely to have my
own children, I hope they won’t carry the same
burdens. As an op6mist, I hope issues of poverty and
environmental destruc6on will be a thing they’ll learn
about in history class.
Emma is Power Shi" Europe
coordinator for the UK Youth
Climate Coali1on
www.powershi"europe.eu
CHANGE
CAN HAPPEN
We can all help
shape the future of
our planet, says
WWF’s chief executive
David Nussbaum
I believe in ‘trying’. Without
it, nothing can change. Back
at the 1992 Rio summit,
WWF tried and succeeded.
We helped develop the
ground-breaking Convention
on Biological Diversity.
Millions of hectares of
protected areas have been
created around the world as
a direct result.
And we’ll be trying at
Rio+20 this coming June as
government leaders ask
how to develop a global
economy that works in the
interests of people and
planet. I can’t say that
WWF has all the answers.
But our experience means
we do have some of them.
We’re grasping every
opportunity to try to make a
difference. And I urge you to
do the same. Lobby
politicians about Rio+20.
Take part in Earth Hour.
Live more sustainably.
There’s no time to lose.
wwf.org.uk
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KEEPING KENYA’S
SECRETS SAFE
A WWF initiative is providing hope for some
of East Africa’s last remaining fragments of
forest – and has revealed an unexpected
treasure. Jess Murphy reports
Poor old Wales. You’ve probably heard it
a thousand times in the news that
somewhere in the world there’s been forest
destruction “the size of Wales”.
Wouldn’t it be so much more inspiring to
say that we’ve protected an area this size –
which amounts to 20,000 sq km – instead
of lost one? We think so. That’s why we’re
part of an initiative, called Size of Wales,
that’s helping to protect huge swathes of
threatened tropical forest in Africa.
The forests we’re focusing on are in Kwale
and Boni-Dodori in Kenya, areas that have
a high density of animals and plants found
nowhere else in the world. They’re under
increasing pressure from unsustainable
and illegal logging practices, uncontrolled
fires, expanding agriculture, charcoal
production, mining and tourism. And this
is in a wider region of East Africa where
Action February 2012 – Page 26
large sections of species-rich forest have
already been lost to farmland and
development, and only around 20% of
coastal forests have official protection.
So what is so special about Boni-Dodori?
You only have to glance up at the pictures
from the recent camera trap surveys we
jointly undertook with the Zoological
Society of London (ZSL) to realise why.
Here’s a forest teeming with an amazing
array of animal and plant species.
Elephants, buffalo, leopards, hippos and
other large mammals frequent the forests.
And then there’s a stunning variety of
unique frogs, lizards, insects,
invertebrates, and plants.
And then we came across something
unexpected. Something rather wonderful.
Although sightings had been reported, the
survey confirmed the presence of the
endangered Aders’ duiker, a tiny forest
antelope (circled above). And incredibly,
indications are that the population found
is the largest worldwide.
“It was a real bonus to have the presence of
Aders’ duiker confirmed but amazing to
find that the population level is high and
globally important – maybe the most
important population of the antelope
worldwide,” says David Tanner, who leads
our work in East Africa. “Who knows what
other secrets still remain hidden? We need
to act quickly to stop the destruction of
this forest before it’s too late.”
Of course, working with local people is
central to our work. In and around BoniDodori and Kwale, many people have to
survive on less than US$1 a day, so it’s
wwf.org.uk
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All images on this page © ZSL
Species caught on camera Rclockwise from le%S: baboons,
porcupine, caracal, elephant shrew, lion, Aders’ duiker, and leopard
not surprising that people rely on the
forests’ resources for survival and a
source of income. We’re identifying more
sustainable ways for the forests to be
used, and encouraging alternative
businesses, such as the sale of sustainably
sourced honey and herbal products.
The forests also contain traditional sacred
sites, called kayas, which are culturally
important to indigenous groups and are
often situated in biodiversity hotspots that
are under threat from illegal logging and
forest clearance. We’re helping the Kaya
Elders in Kwale acquire official access and
management rights to their sacred forests.
And in Boni-Dodori, we’ve been working
closely with the local Boni community to
develop a forest management system that
will help them have more influence over
what happens in their forest.
Action February 2012 – Page 27
We’ve also planted 400,000 tree seedlings
and supported over 50 forest patrols in
Kwale. These patrols monitor the forests
for signs of illegal logging. And we’re
restoring wildlife corridors, so animals can
move more easily between fragmented
areas of forest.
With your help, we can step up our efforts
to ensure the protection, responsible
management and restoration of these
forests. Without intervention, these
remaining fragments of Kenyan coastal
forest could soon disappear.
And that means we would lose populations
of threatened species such as the Aders’
duiker, the natural resources that local
people rely on, and part of our precious
natural heritage. We can’t let that happen.
400,000
NUMBER OF TREE SEEDLINGS
WE’VE PLANTED IN THE KWALE AREA
3,300
IMAGES CAPTURED OF A RARE FOREST
ANTELOPE IN THE BONI-DODORI FORESTS
< YOU CAN HELP
Please help us protect Kwale and BoniDodori. Make a dona6on to this vital work
and your gi% will be doubled by Size of Wales’
generous partners. But hurry – the funds
they’ve offered could run out very soon.
Donate today at wwf.org.uk/sizeofwales
wwf.org.uk
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ON YOUR MARKS...
© MONICA DOLAN / WWF;UK
SPOTLIGHT
ON YOU
NAME: GIACOMO POLESCHI
AGE: 37
LIVES: ITALY
HOW HE SUPPORTS US:
GIACOMO RAN IN THE ROYAL
PARKS FOUNDATION HALF
MARATHON 2011 FOR US
HOW DOES THIS SOUND FOR POST-CHRISTMAS MOTIVATION? YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR THE GOLD
CHALLENGE OR THE BUPA LONDON 10,000, GET YOUR YEAR OFF TO A SPORTING START, GET FIT,
AND GAIN A GENUINE SENSE OF SATISFACTION BY DOING SOMETHING GREAT FOR OUR PLANET…
If you’re looking for a way to get
your new year off to a healthy
start, look no further. The Bupa
London 10,000 is an event for
everyone, whatever your fitness
levels. You’ll need to train for it,
but the 10k (or 6.2 mile) distance
is achievable for most people.
Kim Taylor-Mcfarlane completed
the run for us in 2011 and has
certainly caught the running bug.
“I felt good doing something to
support WWF’s terrific work. I
can’t wait for my next challenge!”
If you’d like the chance to tread
part of the proposed marathon
route for the Olympics, taking in
some impressive London
landmarks along the way, then
there’s s+ll plenty of +me to train
for the run on Sunday 27 May.
If you want to join team WWF,
visit wwf.org.uk/bupa10k
Action February 2012 – Page 28
CHOOSE YOUR
CHALLENGE
Across the UK, our loyal fundraisers
are limbering up and setting their
sights on the sporting year ahead. If
you’d like to find even more ways to get
involved, we’ve got a golden opportunity for you
This year, we’re asking as
many of you as possible to sign
up for the Gold Challenge – an
incredible sporting event. It’s a
great opportunity to sample an
Olympic or Paralympic sport.
The event’s open to everyone,
it’s suitable for all levels of
fitness or ability, and you’ve
got until December to
complete your chosen
challenge and raise money for
WWF. Just in time for another
helping of mince pies.
Complete your challenge in as
little as a day, either as a team
or on your own. You can
© GREG ARMFIELD / WWF;UK
Walk, jog or run. However you
want to do it, the Bupa London
10,000 is the perfect way to kickstart your fitness levels this year
© LOCOG / GETTY IMAGES
IN THE RUNNING
“I believe in the mission of
WWF – helping to create
awareness that all of us
must take care of the
world in which we live.”
sample between 5 and 30
sports in the Olympic Sport
Challenge – or choose
distances of 20.12km,
201.2km or 2,012km and run,
walk, cycle, swim or canoe
your way to your target. And
with plenty of youth and
family-friendly events on
offer, it’s easy for all the
generations to get into the
Olympic spirit. Sound good?
Check out our website for an
exciting opportunity to beat
Usain Bolt to the starting line,
by being the first to run in the
official Olympic Stadium.
To get involved, visit: wwf.org.uk/goldchallenge
What made YOU become a
WWF supporter? Email us at
ac%on0wwf.org.uk and you
could feature in a future issue
of Acon magazine.
wwf.org.uk
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© PETEWEBB.COM / WWF.UK
UPCOMING EVENTS –– 2012
Get involved this year and raise money for WWF projects around the world. Whether you’re a
hardened runner or a novice cyclist, there’s something for everyone. Here’s a selection of upcoming
events (but there are plenty of others to choose from). Check out wwf.org.uk/events
© CLASSIC TOURS LTD
THE BIG BLUE
Hundreds of you took
part in last year’s Blue
Mile, and did your bit to
preserve our lakes,
rivers and oceans. If you
want to get wet this
year, there’s still plenty
of time to make a splash
READING HALF MARATHON
Sunday 1 April: A 21km run,
suitable for all levels of fitness,
that takes you through the
streets of Reading and finishes
in the Madejski stadium.
VIRGIN LONDON MARATHON
Sunday 22 April: If you’ve got
your hands on a coveted ballot
place in this year’s iconic race,
why not join the WWF team?
BUPA LONDON 10,000
Sunday 27 May: See opposite
for details.
EDINBURGH MARATHON
FESTIVAL
Saturday 26 and Sunday
27 May: Join the 5km or
10km run on Saturday, or take
part in the 5km wheelchair or
hand-bike race. On Sunday,
the full marathon, half
marathon and team relay take
centre stage.
Action February 2012 – Page 29
NIGHTRIDER™ LONDON 2012
Saturday 9 and Sunday 10
June: An overnight cycle ride,
starting from either Alexandra
Palace or Crystal Palace, that’s
designed to test your
endurance over a 100km route
through the city streets. Go on,
we dare you.
VIRGIN ACTIVE LONDON
TRIATHLON
Saturday 22 and Sunday
23 September: Choose a
distance then swim, run or
cycle in the world’s biggest
triathlon. Head down to
London’s Docklands, either on
your own or as part of a team.
BAXTERS LOCH NESS
MARATHON
Sunday 30 September: Sign
up for this scenic run around
the shores of Loch Ness for a
marathon to remember. And
say hi to Nessie if she joins in.
THE BLUE MILE
Summer 2012: See right
for details.
GOLD CHALLENGE
Now until the end of
December: See opposite
for details.
ROYAL PARKS FOUNDATION
HALF MARATHON
Sunday 7 October A great
day out for everyone to enjoy
the event’s festivities and
run through London’s leafy
royal parks, including St
James's and Hyde Park.
( JOIN OUR TEAM
Have you already secured your
own place in any of these
events? Fancy a different
challenge or fundraising
ac%vity? Willing to volunteer
at an event? Give us a call on
01483 426333 or email
[email protected]
Last year’s event – officially
sponsored by Ecover – saw
hundreds of people swim,
kayak or stand-up
paddleboard one mile around
Stoke Newington Reservoir in
London, and at other unique
events across the country. It
was a resounding show of
support, and raised money
for our freshwater and
marine conservation projects.
Our CEO David Nussbaum,
who kayaked his Blue Mile,
says, “We’d like to thank
everyone who took part in
the event, or came along to
show their support. The UK
is home to an amazing array
of marine and freshwater
species, but just 2% of British
waters are currently under
official protection. We can all
do more to help protect our
fragile water habitats, and
the Blue Mile is an excellent
place to start.”
So grab a paddle or a wetsuit
and join this year’s main
event, or head down to your
local pool and do your own
Blue Mile anytime you like.
Visit wwf.org.uk/bluemile
wwf.org.uk
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Your chance to win
EAT WELL, LIVE WELL
© HOWARD DAVIES / WWFKUK
WILDLIFE
WONDER
If you’re
inspired by UK
wildlife, then
you’ll be pleased to hear we’re
giving away a copy of British Wildlife
Photography Awards: Collection 2
This stunning hardback book features images from the 2011
competition and showcases some of the most beautiful wildlife
in Britain.
To be in with a chance of winning, just answer the following
question:
We’re giving away four signed copies of
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s new cookbook
River Cottage Veg Every Day!
Why don’t we eat more veg? Vegetables are healthy, cost-effective
and delicious. Hugh’s forays into the world of vegetarian cooking
show us all that veggies needn’t be boring. This cookbook is packed
with over 200 recipes including a mouth-watering salad of grilled
courgettes, lemon, garlic, mint and mozzarella. If you’re inspired by
our Livewell food feature (see page 18) and you want to change the
way you eat, then this could be the perfect post-Christmas
inspiration. Hugh’s recipes are a great way to include more
vegetables in your diet this year.
To give yourself a chance of getting your hands on a copy, just
answer this question:
What percentage of your daily intake, under our Livewell
recommenda6ons, should be fruit and veg?
a) 5%
b) 35%
c) 25%
Send your answers, together with your name, address and telephone
number, to: Action magazine, River Cottage Comp, Panda House,
Weyside Park, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1XR, or email your answer,
with ‘River Cottage Comp’ in the subject line to: [email protected]
Get the latest news from Hugh: rivercottage.net/newsletter
Action February 2012 – Page 30
Which bird features on the cover this year?
a) Aqua1c warbler
b) Bi2ern
c) Kingfisher
Send your answers, together with your name, address and
telephone number, to: Action magazine, BWPA Book Comp,
Panda House, Weyside Park, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1XR, or
email your answer, with ‘BWPA Book Comp’ in the subject line,
to: [email protected]
BRILLIANT IDEA
We’re giving away 10 energy-saving light bulbs to the
first 10 Acon readers to sign up for this year’s Earth
Hour, on 31 March 2012 at 8.30pm. Join millions of
people and turn off your lights for one hour. It’s not
about saving an hour’s electricity – it’s about people
coming together to put the focus on our brilliant
world, and how we should protect it. Not just for an
hour, or a year, but every single day. But hey – when
you do switch back on a%er Earth Hour, switching to
energy-saving long-life bulbs is certainly a good way to
start as you mean to go on.
Be the first to sign up at: wwf.org.uk/earthhourac1on
Closing date for all compeon entries is 29 February.
All compe66on terms and condi6ons can be viewed online at
wwf.org.uk/compterms or by calling our supporter care team
on 01483 426333.
wwf.org.uk
7
S T H
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We’ll be picking three winners of prize crossword 20,
who’ll receive a WWF 2012 calendar.
A
er solving the crossword, take each leer from the
shaded squares (going from le
to right and top to
boom) to spell out the prize word.
Clues Across
1 Informal name in North America for a
tornado (7)
6 _ Mountains, where several new
species have been discovered in
recent years in New Guinea (4)
8 A CITES-listed fragrant Brazilian
6mber species (8)
10 A sustainable alterna6ve to
mahogany for Kenya’s wood-carving
industry (4)
11 Young big cat (5,3)
13 Monarch bu7erflies migrate to
Mexico and California for this season
(6)
14 _ Prius, a popular petrol/electric
hybrid produc6on car (6)
17 What river banks are suscep6ble to
doing during floods (8)
19 They are poached from creatures
such as the marine turtle (4)
21 Home to the largest species of Asian
elephant (3,5)
22 The Amazon Rainforest’s role in terms
of absorbing carbon dioxide (4)
23 The uninten6onal take of non-target
species in commercial fishing (7)
Clues Down
2 One of the two subspecies of red
panda (7)
3 What are female pandas called? (4)
4 _ pets, in which there unfortunately
exists a thriving black market (6)
5 _ waste, hazardous materials (5)
7 Oman, Pakistan and India have
coastline on this body of water (7,3)
8 Collec6ve term for clean energy such
as solar, wind, geothermal, etc. (10)
9 Bhutan is one of the few places to
find this cri6cally endangered whitebellied wetland bird (5)
12 Kaiser’s Spo7ed _ , rare salamanders
and vic6ms of the endangered
wildlife trade (5)
15 A more natural choice of food and
products (7)
16 _ efficiency, on which white goods are
rated from A to G (6)
18 Javan creature recently reported as
having become ex6nct in Vietnam (5)
20 Giant kelp is the world’s largest
species of what? (4)
October 2011 issue answers Prize word: GLACIAL Across 1.Geothermal 7.African
8.Leafy 9.Melt 10.Shock 14.Rwanda 15.Starch 17.Spill 18.Swan 21.Hai6 22.Islands
23.Rainforest Down 1.Gorillas 2.Orca 3.Honshu 4.Relocate 5.Lo% 6.Farmers’
11.Adop6on 12.Trawl net 13.Chinese 16.El Niño 19.Hair 20.Blue
Action February 2012 – Page 31
I O U Q
U A
S
S
F
U I
Q U
F
T I Q
I
Q
O T F A
T U
Here’s a Sudoku with a difference.
Instead of using the numbers 1 to
9, you instead need to use the 9
le7ers that make up the word
FISH QUOTA.
Usual rules apply – fill in the grid
so that each row, column and 3x3
box contains these le7ers.
And remember, each of these 9
different le7ers must feature only
once in each row, column and box.
A
T
F
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Q
H
U
6
Q
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A
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5
U
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A
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4
Sudoku 5: February 2012 issue
O
A
S
F
U
I
H
T
Q
3
SUDOKU
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S
Q
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PRIZE CROSSWORD 20: February 2012 issue
Compiled by Aleric Linden
F
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Page 31
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WWF_Action_Dec2011_ReproV10:Layout 1
PRIZE CROSSWORD 20: February 2012 issue
Name:
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
Prize Word:
Please return by 7 March to: Acon crossword, WWFKUK, Panda House,
Weyside Park, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1XR
Or email your answer to: crosswordVwwf.org.uk
wwf.org.uk
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· ACTION · FEBRUARY 2012 · ISSUE 20
WWF’S EARTH HOUR 2012
OUR WORLD IS BRILLIANT
100%
RECYCLED
It’s not just about an hour of darkness.
It’s about a brighter future.
Switch off your lights at 8.30pm on Saturday 31 March 2012.
GET INVOLVED. VISIT WWF.ORG.UK/EARTHHOUR
UK
OFFICIAL
PARTNER
2012
WWF.ORG.UK
wwf.org.uk
WWF-UK, registered charity number 1081247 and registered in
Scotland number SC039593. A company limited by guarantee
number 4016725. © 1986 panda symbol and ® “WWF”
Registered Trademark of WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature
(formerly World Wildlife Fund), WWF-UK, Panda House,
Weyside Park, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1XR,
t: +44 (0)1483 426333, e: [email protected], wwf.org.uk
© WWF / NEO
Why we are here
To stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and
to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.