The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), founded in 1961 and headquartered in Gland, Switzerland, is the world's largest conservation organisation. It operates in more than 100 countries through over 90 offices, supported by more than 5 million people worldwide. Its stated mission encompasses conserving biological diversity, promoting the sustainable use of renewable natural resources, and reducing pollution and wasteful consumption.
WWF works across the field of conservation science to address threats to ecosystems and species. The organisation is known for developing innovative financial tools, including debt-for-nature swaps. This mechanism, first successfully implemented in Ecuador in 1987, converts a portion of a developing nation's foreign debt into funding for local conservation projects, channelling millions into environmental protection.
