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Innovating conservation technology: in bhutan, WWF is testing environmental DNA (edna) technology to monitor animal populations by sampling soil, water, snow and air to determine which species are present in the area. WWF also developed a groundbreaking x-ray scanner algorithm that automatically identifies wildlife products without interfering with existing security protocols. This innovative system is being deployed to strengthen border security and combat wildlife trafficking, protecting american interests and global security. Advancing nature-smart infrastructure: natural resources and infrastructure are at the foundation of strong local economies. Careful planning can help countries minimize the negative impacts on nature that can accompany infrastructure development. In february 2024, the global environment facility approved the $27 million greening transportation infrastructure development program a WWF-led effort in partnership with the asian development bank and united nations environment programme. It supports country projects in malaysia, nepal, the philippines, suriname and ukraine that balance transportation needs with protecting local wildlife. The following april, the colombian ministry of transportation made it mandatory for all new road infrastructure to be built using guidelines for sustainable road development produced with support from WWF.
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Form 990, FY 2024 990 accomplishmentsin FY 2024, WWF made valuable strides in addressing some of the most significant conservation challenges facing the planet. Among many achievements, we note these:advancing tiger conservation: building on the conservation success of rebounding wild tiger populations, from just 3,200 globally in 2010 to 5,574 in 2023, WWF and other members of the tiger conservation coalition catalyzed efforts to target an additional $1 billion to conserve tigers and their landscapes over the next 10 years. Tigers are vulnerable to poaching that drives the illegal trade of wildlife, habitat destruction, and human-tiger conflicts. WWF therefore works with communities and governments to identify habitat corridors that connect critical tiger reserves, reduce illegal wildlife trade, and seek solutions for human-tiger conflict that support local livelihoods and economies as well as tiger recovery beyond protected areas. In april 2024, the coalition joined the royal government of bhutan at their sustainable finance for tiger landscapes conference for this landmark announcement. Opportunities to unlock private sector investment include the project finance for permanence model, sustainability-linked bonds, debt-for-nature swaps and other innovative finance tools. Protecting american interests in the arctic: WWF partnered with the marine exchange of alaska and bering strait communities to develop arctic watch, an information technology system supporting safe shipping operations in the arctic, that protect the arctic ecosystems and protect american interests. As arctic sea ICE melts, northern shipping routes become navigable. This provides easier access to the region's vast hydrocarbon and mineral reserves. The expansion of maritime activity over the northern sea route, including along russia's northern coast, heightens the risks to arctic ecosystems, including pollution, increasing the likelihood of groundings, collisions, strikes of marine mammals or small watercraft and spills of oil or other types of contaminants. Safeguarding ocean resources: in november 2023, WWF launched oceans futures, an innovative platform that analyzes global fish migration patterns to identify potential conflict zones and regions where food security may be at risk. The platform strengthens american maritime interests by preventing conflicts over shifting fish populations and contested maritime borders before they begin. Reducing maritime conflict helps to halt declines in marine resources, bolsters food security and allows marine ecosystems to grow and recover.addressing plastic pollution: WWF is addressing plastic pollution at the global, federal and state level in partnership with corporate partners, global coalitions, the u.s. State department and policymakers on both sides of the aisle. We are leveling the corporate playing field with science-based reports and research, including the blueprint for credible action on plastic pollution, produced by the WWF-led resource consortium. In march 2024, WWF testified at the senate's first-ever hearing on extended producer responsibility. Just one week later, the senate passed two bipartisan bills the recycling infrastructure and accessibility ACT and recycling and composting accountability ACT to invest in america's recycling and composting infrastructure. Reducing food loss and minimizing impacts in the u.s. And globally: in april 2024, WWF launched the global farm loss tool with a network of global retailers. This free, web-based tool enables growers of all sizes and crop types to measure and reduce their on-farm food losses, strengthening american agricultural efficiency and food security. WWF also co-founded and leads business engagement for the u.s. Food waste pact, where it partners with 13 major food companies to measure, report and reduce their food waste to help strengthen the u.s. Food supply chain. Additionally, the markets institute at WWF is charting a new path forward with codex planetarius, a proposal for standards designed to reduce the key environmental impacts of production of globally traded food. Restoring bison to american grasslands: the historic tribal buffalo lifeways collaboration, chartered in june 2024, builds on locally-led efforts to restore the iconic bison across america's grasslands and establishes new opportunities through land leasing, acquisition, infrastructure development and management support. The collaboration supports america's grassland ecosystems by returning these keystone grazers to their historic range while supporting rural economic development. Supporting american ranching: WWF's sustainable ranching initiative achieved an extraordinary milestone enrolling 1 million acres in its ranch systems and viability planning network. The initiative equips ranchers in the northern great plains region with technical expertise to promote sustainable grazing practices, which helps to enhance carbon sequestration, improve water infiltration and expand wildlife across the ecosystem. Restoring the rio grande: WWF advanced efforts to restore and sustain the rio grande basin by addressing water scarcity and ecosystem health. Work included assessing water flow needs, conducting basin health studies and supporting habitat restoration through building "beaver dam analogs and removing invasive species.
$82.1M in expenses
Global conservation:whether in alaska's bristol bay, montana's great plains, the rainforests of brazil, peru, and bolivia, the mountains of nepal and bhutan, or the deserts and savannas of africa, WWF-us partners with local communities and other groups to protect forests, wildlife, coral reefs and other ecosystems; find actions to protect freshwater resources from contamination and depletion; reduce overfishing to ensure reliable food sources; reduce conflicts between local people and wildlife; employ energy solutions that generate fewer greenhouse gas emissions than the current energy production system; and enact forest management approaches that regenerate or restore critical habitats for wildlife and a range of forest-based products for people.
$71.1M in expenses
International country programs:from peru's rainforests and the mountains of bhutan to namibia's communal conservancies, the WWF network brings its science-based and results oriented approach to environmental challenges in 100 countries. WWF supports the creation of resource-based economic opportunities and livelihoods for communities in some of the world's most remote locations. WWF-us specifically manages country-office operations throughout latin america, as well as in bhutan, namibia, and nepal - directly supporting conservation efforts in some of the most ecologically diverse places on earth. (see schedule o for more details)
$39.3M in expenses
Public education:with one million members in the united states and more than five million supporters globally, the WWF network, of which WWF-us is a part, is working to mobilize hundreds of millions of people to support conservation. WWF shares information with the american public on nature's value and the importance of conservation through a variety of channels, from our wildclassrooms educational curriculum, our signature publication world wildlife magazine, our public service announcements, our website and annual international events such as earth hour. (see schedule o for more details)
$53.9M in expenses
Public affairs: at WWF, we believe we can foster a safer, healthier and more resilient future for people and nature. We help individual citizens and some of the world's largest companies rethink the way they produce and consume energy, food, and water. WWF provides decisionmakers with the results of field studies describing the biological richness of some of the world's most productive regions, research into the loss or degradation of key ecological systems such as the arctic, tropical rainforests, fisheries, coral reefs, river systems and wetlands and solutions based on technology applications, policy incentives, and actions that individual citizens can take to protect our planet.
$39.6M in expenses
Market transformation: WWF partners with corporations, government agencies, local communities, ngos, universities and research institutes to reduce the impact of the production and trade of commodities that most affect our conservation priorities. Our goal is to measurably reduce the most significant impacts of individual actors as well as entire industries.