The panda logo is well known world wide and is symbolic of wildlife.
The WWF was founded in 1961, when conservation
and the natural world were under threat.
A group of Europeans - scientists, naturalists and political and business
leaders
formed the WWF in September of that year.
The main efforts of the WWF are directed in
three spheres - the protection of endangered areas,
the protection of endangered species, and the addressing of global
threats.
WWF has identified more than 200 outstanding
habitats that need to be preserved
in order to protect the species that depend on these specialised
habitats. This Global 200 Programme
spearheads the WWF efforts in protecting the natural habitats of the
world.
Many of the earth’s animal species are
endangered
by changes to habitat, normally caused by human activity.
Farming, unsustainable logging, chemical pollution, un-managed fishing
and illegal hunting are just a few of the activities that lead to the
threat
of extinction of many of the world’s rare species. The Giant Panda
is the endangered species chosen as a focus for the WWF and its efforts.
In addition global warming is also a threat
that should be addressed.
The changes in climate will undoubtedly bring changes to some of the more
fragile ecosystems of the world and reduce biodiversity. The WWF is
involved
in trying to understand the cause and effects of the global warming.
One of the ways in which the WWF raises funds
for its many activities is through
the sanctioning of special WWF stamp issues. For over 20 years,
numerous countries around the world have issued stamps with the WWF logo
on them.
Subjects include some of the larger animals, small little known mammals, insects and birds.