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The Conservation Programme of WWF Finland 2005–2010

WWF’s global objective is to stop the increasing degradation of our planet’s biological diversity, thus building a future where people can live in harmony with nature. WWF Finland is working towards this goal both in Finland and internationally. Conservation work is mainly focused on the most valuable natural areas with outstanding biodiversity; the Global200 ecoregions.

WWF Finland, as all national WWF offices, acts independently from WWF International. However, the activities of national offices support the realization WWF’s global goals. Therefore also WWF Finland works to promotethe targets and priorities set by WWF's international network and expressed in the WWF Global Programme.

In 2005–2010 the conservation programmes of WWF Finland are:

• slowing down climate change and minimizing its negative impacts
• conservation of marine and coastal areas, especially the Baltic Sea
• forest conservation

In 2005–2010, the main objectives of the Conservation Programme are:

• WWF Finland has significantly contributed to reaching the targets of the Global Programme, both in Finland and internationally
• WWF Finland's national projects of high importance have yielded good results
• WWF Finland is a strong opinion leader in the society in issues of environmental conservation

Photo: WWF / Juha Taskinen

WWF Finland’s work to tackle climate change is focused on influencing the national climate- and energy initiatives, as the bottleneck in climate work is not the lack of technology but failure to efficiently utilize it. Nation states have the ability to reward sustainable solutions and discourage the use of “bad” technology.

WWF also cooperates with companies to develop sustainable energy technology and to enforce the use of energy efficient solutions. In addition to slowing down climate change, WWF also works to protect extinct animal species that are dependent on ice and snow, such as ice bears and the Saimaa seal (Phoca hispida saimensis).

Marine conservation focuses on improving the condition of the Baltic Sea by slowing down entrophication, preventing oil spills, preserving the endangered species and habitats of the Baltic Sea region, establishing marine conservation areas, and participating in the protection of tropical and arctic marine areas.

Forest conservation in Finland is aimed at increasing the biological diversity of commercial forests and creating an adequate network of protected forests. Internationally WWF Finland works to prevent illegal logging, as well as to promote sustainable forestry and the conservation of forests. Conservation is carried out both in areas surrounding Finland and in tropical rainforests.

Photo: WWF / Tuuli Äikäs

WWF Finland also has a freshwater programme that seeks to protect the diversity of rivers, wetlands, and lake areas. The programme includes initiatives in the Baltic Sea watershed, reducing the effluents causing entrophication. Many extinct animal species are also a part of the fresh water programme.

Additionally, WWF Finland has designed an environmental service system for offices called Green Office. The purpose is to help companies to act more eco-efficiently and to reduce their negative impact on the environment. Another important aspect of WWF’s work is environmental education provided for children and youth.

Variety of environmental activities

WWF Finland has field projects both in Finland and abroad, protecting forests, marine and fresh water areas, and the extinct species living in them. International initiatives are primarily concentrated on the prioritized G200 ecoregions.

In addition to the field projects, WWF Finland actively participates in social dialogue and influences Finnish decision-makers nationally and internationally in important environmental issues, especially those relating to WWF Global Programme’s themes and international campaigns.

WWF Finland also implements joint environmental protection initiatives in cooperation with WWF’s international network, as well as stakeholders such as universities, research agencies, companies, and other organizations. Increasing public awareness about environmental conservation and enabling people and societies to take part in environmental activities are also important tasks. WWF actively communicates about its own work and achieved results.