Secretary General & CEO’s Note

WWF-India's annual review showcases some of the salient features of our project and field interventions. Broadly, WWF-India's work reflects two spheres of activity - the conservation of biodiversity and the management of human ecological footprint. The methodology for action, in both these spheres, has expanded in the field of direct intervention, research, policy input and outreach programmes. In many ways WWF-India, is leading the WWF International network on several of these initiatives.

In the area of biodiversity conservation, we continue with our programmes for species conservation - mainly the conservation of the tiger, elephant, rhino and many smaller species. Simultaneously, our various conservation programmes have also integrated to intervene in larger landscapes such as the Terai Arc, the Nilgiri and the South and Western Ghats, the Sunderbans, the North Bank landscape, the Kaziranga - Karbi Anglong landscape and the Satpuda Maikal landscape. These landscapes have been identified for conservation due to their fragile ecosystems, their biodiversity and the kind of species they harbour. Here, the capacity of local communities is being invested in to provide them support and facilitate adaptation of sustainable practices for long term protection of their environment.

In the last two years, we have increased our cover to smaller species and protection of their habitats. These species include the Nilgiri Tahr, Red Panda, the Black Necked Crane, Indian Otters and recently, the Gharial, all being highly endangered species. Small interventions have been made on behalf of the Asiatic lion in Gir. There are plans to expand this work as we simultaneously focus on some of our Himalayan wildlife and their conservation. In December 2007, our Freshwater team was involved in confirming the discovery of Indus Dolphin (Platanista minor) in the Beas Satluj ecosystem in Harike, Punjab as well as respond to the reports of the gharial mortalities in the Chambal. Our work continues for the relocation of rhino to Manas National Park as per the India Rhino Vision 2020.

Addressing the issue of human ecological footprint has been a priority area for us. The climate change programe set up in 2004, has since expanded to work on adaptation and mitigation, as well as on policy direction in the area of energy efficiency. WWF-India in partnership with Confederation of Indian Industry launched the Carbon Disclosure Project, the first of its kind for voluntary carbon disclosure by Indian industry in 2007.

Our work on environmental impacts and services is concentrating on the upper Ganga river basin, to develop a framework for sustainable water and energy management. This will be achieved through a combination of research, advocacy and communications, building on WWF India's existing work in the basin and elsewhere and existing and new partnerships at all levels. Our study on management of high altitude wetlands continues and has expanded to cover the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh to ensure the protection and conservation of these fragile ecosystems.

Our commitment to environment education continues with increasing programmes on educating children on the impacts of climate change through our 'Young Climate Savers' campaign and reaching out to Indian Army and other schools.

WWF-India completes another year of ambitious and challenging endeavours. This is only possible by the encouragement from our myriad partners, supporters and a dedicated and exemplary team. We cannot under value the efforts made by our field staff in remote locations, branch networks and the Secretariat staff. Our relatively young team has shown extremely high commitment and perseverance in the face of severe challenges. Conservation faces these challenges in India, as it is not yet a priority sector in the planning process of our nation. Despite this, our teams soldier on and continue steadfast in our mission to conserve India's ecological heritage.

Ravi Singh,
Secretary General &CEO,
WWF-India