World Wildlife Fund

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), international organization formed to raise money for conservation projects, est. 1961. The international organization, believing that its name no longer reflected the scope of its activities, became the

Worldwide Fund for Nature in 1986, but the affiliated groups in the United States and Canada retained the original name. The organization now typically refers to itself as WWF—The Conservation Organization, or simply WWF. It has been responsible for international agreements on conservation and has supported research on endangered species, including the giant panda, its symbol.

---

World Wildlife Fund

 or World Wide Fund for Nature

Largest privately supported international conservation organization in the world. Founded in 1961 by a small group of European scientists, naturalists, and business and political leaders, including Peter Markham Scott, the organization raises funds and channels them to other conservation groups. It directs its efforts toward protecting endangered environments such as coral reefs, saving endangered species, and addressing global threats such as pollution. It has helped establish and manage parks and reserves, and was instrumental in saving the giant panda (whose image it uses as its symbol) and other endangered species.