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Creation
World Wildlife Fund was conceived in April, 1961, and set up shop in September, 1961, at IUCN's headquarters in Morges, Switzerland. H.R.H. Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands became the organization's first president. -
First Leadership
Ira N. Gabrielson and Russell E. Train were named the first president and vice president, respectively. -
First Scientist
WWF hires its first scientist, Dr. Thomas E. Lovejoy, as a project administrator, in 1973. -
Corcovado National Park
WWF in 1975 helps create Corcovado National Park, located on Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula. Corcovado contains 13 major habitat types and is the best example of Central American tropical forest now under protection. -
Funding
Through these debt-for-nature swaps, WWF will convert portions of national debts into funding for conservation. -
Pennies For Pandas
School children across the U.S. respond to WWF's 'Pennies for Pandas' campaign in 1984, donating more than $50,000 for panda conservation. Nancy Reagan personally delivers the gift to the Chinese government during a visit to Beijing. -
Expanding
WWF and The Conservation Foundation merge in 1990, formalizing a relationship that began in 1985 when The Conservation Foundation first affiliated with WWF. -
Enterprise for the Americas Initiative
WWF in 1991 helps create the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative, which to date has gene-
rated more than $150 million in conservation and development funding from the proceeds of restructured government-to-government debt in seven Latin American countries -
Anti-Poaching
Central African nations in 2001 surpass commitments made at the Yaounde Summit. These governments established nearly 13 million acres of protected areas in the Congo Basin, and are giving special attention to anti-poaching and sustainable forestry. -
Clean Up Time
Global Environment Facility in 2003 officially endorses WWF's Africa Stockpiles Program initiative & makes a $25 million commitment to the program, which aims to clean up & safely dispose of more than 50,000 metric tons of obsolete pesticide waste stockpiled throughout Africa. -
Save The Tigers
Year of the Tiger: TX2: The Year of the Tiger campaign, WWF’s first species specific global campaign in more than 20 years launches with the goal to double the number of tigers by 2022. -
Save The Rain Forest
ARPA (Amazon Region Protected Areas), the largest tropical forest conservation project in history, receives funding to protect 150 million acres of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest.
