A message from our Chief Executive
In May, the Trustees appointed David Nussbaum as our new Chief Executive. Here, he writes about his first impressions… and the way ahead.
One of the things that attracted me to WWF was its mission – to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature. It's hard to imagine anything more challenging, demanding and motivating. And with environmental issues such as climate change and sustainable development climbing ever higher up the public and political agendas, the opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives and the state of the planet is greater now than ever.
Being part of an international network places WWF-UK in an important position because it gives us a range and influence we wouldn't otherwise have. I've seen this for myself in Nepal and in Tanzania, where I recently visited a number of UK-funded WWF projects that are making a real difference to entire communities and their environment.
The first thing that struck me about our work in Tanzania is that it's huge – the catchment area of the Ruaha river where we're operating is roughly twice the size of Switzerland. That brings its own challenges, not least the question of time and commitment: creating the kind of sustainable change that’s needed there doesn't happen overnight.
I was also impressed to see how much of our work genuinely involves local people, their communities and associations. The result is positive and encouraging: with our expertise and support, those communities are enthusiastically embracing the natural world that surrounds them – sometimes the marine environment, sometimes the forests, and other times the vast rolling open landscapes. Wherever they are, they are determinedly striving to make their future constructive and attractive without damaging the environment. And that goes right to the heart of what WWF has been since our foundation nearly 50 years ago.
As well as our international programme in Africa and around the world, we do of course work here in the UK. If we are to bring climate change under control, it's essential that all of us learn to change our lifestyles. That’s why our One Planet Campaign is of such importance, because it demonstrates how this can be done, and how each of us fits in. Sometimes, it seems that protecting the environment means giving things up – but in reality it's far more about thinking creatively, which leads to doing things in our daily lives differently and more effectively.
In that respect, one of our main tasks is engaging with Gordon Brown's government so that we can influence its own thinking. We are seizing similar opportunities with the new administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as well. Not least on our agenda is pressing for strong climate change and marine legislation.
Meanwhile, we continue to develop our relations with business and industry. At a time when the commercial world is increasingly recognising its role in mitigating the effects of climate change, our influence on business – and the funding our conservation work receives in return – is of growing importance.
These are challenging and exciting times for WWF. As we develop our policies and campaigns to bring about changes that are at the very heart of our mission, I look forward to leading a creative and effective staff in our quest to create a sustainable One Planet future.
David Nussbaum
