The WWF is run at a local level by the following offices...
- WWF Global
- Adria
- Argentina
- Armenia
- AsiaPacific
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belgium
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Borneo
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Caucasus
- Central African Republic
- Central America
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Croatia
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Denmark
- Ecuador
- European Policy Office
- Finland
Recognizing that the challenge of biodiversity loss is too vast and complex for any single sector to tackle alone, the Legacy Landscape Fund (LLF) was created to forge a powerful partnership between public and private sector actors, establishing a unified and sustainable framework for long-term conservation efforts. Established in 2020, the LLF is providing long-term funding for the protection of areas in 15 countries across 4 continents covering more than 473,000 square kilometres. One of the latest Legacy Landscapes is Namibia’s Skeleton Coast Etosha Conservation Bridge, a unique example of community conservation in action. The Skeleton Coast Etosha Conservation Bridge extends across 55,299 square kilometres, passes through several conserved areas, connects two national parks, and embraces emerging “People’s Parks” – a new conservation category that expands the formalization of community conservation. Home to fourteen local communal conservancies, the landscape is renowned for its unique biodiversity, exceptionally high species variety, and its high vulnerability to climate change.
A connected, resilient, economically viable conservation landscape for people and nature is established between the Skeleton Coast National Park and the Etosha National Park that restores and maintains landscape connectivity and generates conservation and improved socio-economic development.
To achieve this vision, we will work together with our partners in government, NGOs, and rural communities for impact in three defined areas:
Good governance and management
- Shared vision for the landscape, with an integrated approach to land management and development within the landscape.
- Sustainability and compliance of land uses and investments.
- Sense of ownership amongst local communities.
- Create inspiration, improve coordination, professional exchanges and synergies.
- Community stewardship of landscapes, biodiversity and key species in communal conservancies.
- Healthier and more educated people with a better outlook for resilient livelihoods.
- Improve conservation-related gains and benefits that result in increased support to conservation.
- Sustainable, joint venture tourism that generates income and jobs for community members.
- Revenue to communities from entrance and conservation fees, tourism, and sustainable use.
- Use of renewable energy and responsible environmental management.
- Healthy habitats in protected areas, tourism concession areas and communal conservancies that deliver conservation outcomes and ecosystem services.
- Connected habitats that allow wildlife to move freely to satisfy their feeding and breeding needs.
- Coexistence between people and wildlife.
- Resilience to climate change.
It will take time to achieve these impacts, a need recognized by the Legacy Landscape Fund. Funding for the Skeleton Coast Etosha Conservation Bridge will be in place for 30 to 50 years, allowing us to plan with care, to act with a common purpose, and to achieve a better future for all.
WWF’s Environmental & Social Safeguards Framework (ESSF) provides an institutional mechanism to manage the environmental and social risks, together with the impacts of our work, helping deliver better conservation outcomes, and contributing to the well-being of local communities in the places where we and our partners operates. If you have concerns about our work in the Skeleton Coast Etosha Conservation Bridge, please contact us at SCECB@wwf.na
