WWF-Canada Annual Review - 2012 REVIEW
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REVIEW
CAN
2012
WWF-Canada Annual Review
Contents
A Report to Shareholders in our Living Planet
By Roger Dickhout, Chair, WWF-Canada Board of Directors 1
Conservation from Coast to Coast to Coast 2
2012 Conservation Highlights
Innovation 8
Science 12
Partnership 16
Front cover
Global Solutions 20 © Andrew S. Wright / WWF-Canada
Community 24 Published in October 2012
You 28 © 1986 Panda symbol
WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature
(formerly known as World Wildlife Fund).
® “WWF” and “living planet”
Our Donors and Supporters
are WWF Registered Trademarks.
32 WWF is the planet’s leading conservation
organization registered in Canada as a
Financials
charity (No. 11930 4954 RR 0001). Any
reproduction in full or in part of this
52 publication must mention the title and
credit the above-mentioned publisher as
WWF-Canada Board of Directors
the copyright owner. © text (2012)
WWF-Canada.
59
WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation
of the planet’s natural environment and
WWF-Canada Senior Staff 60
to build a future in which humans live in
harmony with nature by conserving the
world’s biological diversity, ensuring that
the use of renewable natural resources is
Contact Us 61
sustainable, and promoting the reduction
of pollution and wasteful consumption.
For videos and interactive
content, view our Annual
Report online:
wwf.ca/annualreport
A Report to Shareholders in our Living Planet
By Roger Dickhout, Chair, WWF-Canada Board of Directors
A s we were preparing our 2012 Annual Review, we reached out to donors, supporters,
© Richard Stonehouse / WWF-Canon
and members of our extended community with a question: Why do you invest
in nature? The answers were insightful and inspiring (you can read some of them
woven across the pages that follow). Most humbling, however, was the fact that many
individuals answered that question by telling us why they support WWF. The fact
that people like you see WWF as a powerful vehicle for transforming their passion for
nature into action is the foundation of our impact. This report is our opportunity to
thank you for that trust and also to demonstrate what we have been able to accomplish
with your support.
This year, as we share with you the conservation advancements that you made possible,
we’re also focusing on how we achieved those results. Through innovation, science, and
partnership. By building global solutions that are anchored in our communities. And
by uniting your voice, your actions, with thousands of others across the country and
the world.
This report highlights that approach in action:
• In the Grand Banks, where we’re establishing a ground-breaking fisheries financing
model that will demonstrate the ecological, social and economic benefits of investing
in ocean recovery
• In the Arctic, where we’re convening the knowledge and cooperation to better under-
stand the most enduring and resilient ice-habitat of the next century
• In the Great Bear Sea, where new research and partnerships are helping us better
assess and protect the acoustic needs of whales, dolphins, and other cetaceans
• Along the banks of the St. John, where we’re helping foster community-level dia-
logue and engagement aimed at crafting a future for the river that meets the needs of
people and nature
• On our climate and energy front, where we’re working to map Canada’s renewable
energy potential in order to drive real investment in the necessary transition to
green energy
WWF-Canada Annual Review 2012 | page 2
Achieving transformative change requires taking the long view, sustained effort and
commitment. This is brought to life through your support and through the day-
to-day leadership of WWF-Canada’s talented and passionate staff who translate
our collective aspirations into reality. In particular I would like to express our
appreciation to Gerald Butts, who ably served as President and CEO of WWF-Canada
for the past four years and who launched us on some of the exciting conservation
initiatives outlined in this report.
These pages reflect much more than our progress. They reflect your unflagging com-
mitment to conservation. Your vision for the future of our planet has never been more
important. And your support of WWF has never been more valued or appreciated.
Together we can achieve amazing things.
Thank you,
Roger Dickhout,
Chairman, Board of Directors
© Andrew S. Wright / WWF-Canada
WWF-Canada Annual Review 2012 | page 3
Conservation from Coast to Coast to Coast
WWF’s conservation efforts span the country, focusing on
oceans, fresh water, the Arctic, species, and climate and energy.
The pages that follow highlight a sampling of our current
projects at home and worldwide. Conducting a Peary caribou aerial
survey to assess population
status of a threatened species
Supporting smart oceans
planning through the
Beaufort Sea Partnership
New Inuvik office
Building relations with
Inuvialuit, government
and wildlife manage-
ment agencies
Using satellite
Supporting telemetry research
community-based to increase
monitoring of understanding of
contaminants in polar bear
beluga whales movements and
sea ice habitat
Advocating for action on
a management plan for
the Bowie Seamount-
Sgaan Kinghlas Marine
Protected Area
Prince Rupert office
Helping prevent conflicts
between polar bears and
Helping communities plan for humans in Inuit communities
the impacts of climate change
on the Skeena Watershed
Helping conserve quiet ocean
habitats for whales and dolphins Partnering with Coastal First
as a part of smart ocean plans Nations to stop the proposed
Northern Gateway pipeline
Vancouver office
Developing protocols for
community-based
mapping and monitoring
polar bear denning habitat
WWF-Canada Annual Review 2012 | page 4
Increasing our understanding of the
Last Ice Area and its future importance
in conserving sea ice habitat
Tracking narwhals’ feeding and migration
behaviour to inform ocean planning
Providing input into the environmental
assessment of the proposed massive
Mary River iron ore project
Protecting endangered shark
populations, reducing right
whale entanglements, and
identifying critical habitat for
leatherback turtles
Studying best practices New Iqaluit office
in Arctic shipping Giving WWF a vital
presence in Nunavut
Building a model to
finance the transition to
sustainable fisheries
Tracking polar bears to learn
how climate change is
affecting these top predators
Readying the
Atlantic cod In partnership with Memorial
fishery for MSC University, advancing research
certification on Grand Banks ecosystem
modelling, fisheries rebuilding,
and Marine Stewardship
Rallying support behind Council (MSC) certification
a science-based plan to
restore more natural Developing a
flows and water levels St. John’s office
community-
in the St. Lawrence based vision to
River and Lake Ontario In collaboration with a recreational
improve the
shark fisherman, developing best
health of the
practices to ensure sharks caught in
St. John River
Ottawa office, and recreational and commercial fisheries
headquarters of are handled and released in the best
Working with Trout WWF’s Global condition possible to ensure survival
Unlimited Canada Arctic Programme
to improve river Partnering with Dalhousie
and stream health Halifax office University to advance research
in the Grand River Montreal office for shark conservation
Watershed
Supporting 4 student ocean conservation
internships in WWF’s Atlantic region, with
WWF head office funding from the Sobey Fund for Oceans
Partnering with the University of Waterloo to
map Canada’s renewable energy potential
WWF-Canada Annual Review 2012 | page 5
Nationwide Conservation Projects
Cleaning up 3,100 km of Funding 63 local conservation Mobilizing millions of
shoreline through the Great projects through Green Canadians for climate action
Canadian Shoreline Cleanup CommUnity School Grants through Earth Hour and
National Sweater Day
Working to put 600,000 Collaborating with harvesters, Working to transition
electric vehicles on Canada’s processors, and retailers to Canada to 100% renewable
roads by 2020 promote sustainable seafood energy by 2050
Establishing the Canadian
Freshwater Alliance to build
capacity for local water
stewardship and a national
water movement
WWF-Canada Annual Review 2012 | page 6
Our Work Across the Globe
Helping to halt illegal Working to double Protecting Bringing attention to
trade in precious the world’s tiger critical global environmental
and semi-precious population by 2022 monarch health with our
corals by distributing butterfly 2012 Living
copies of our Guide to habitat Planet Report
Bangladesh, Bhutan,
Cambodia, China,
the Identification of India, Indonesia,
Laos, Malaysia, Mexico
Precious and Semi- Myanmar, Nepal, Worldwide
Russia, Thailand,
precious Corals across and Vietnam
Asia, Europe, and North
and Central America
Worldwide
© Paul Bettings / WWF-Canada
WWF-Canada Annual Review 2012 | page 7
Innovation
“We often think of the environment as nature and wildlife; however,
as humans, we are part of it. I want to make a positive change.”
—Jeannie White,
Living Planet @ Work Champion, Symcor© alyssa bistonath / WWF-Canada Rising stock: Financing the recovery of the Grand Banks Since WWF co-founded the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) in 1997, we’ve seen how powerful market-based solutions can be. Over the past 15 years, consumer demand for sustainable seafood and retailer commitment to MSC-certified products have transformed fishery after fishery. But there are still obstacles to overcome. Our current economic system rewards short-term thinking. The more fish you catch, the more money you make. At least today. That’s where a little innovative thinking comes in. We know that boosting the health of oceans creates more productive fisheries. However, doing that requires money up front—often more money than industry can afford. So WWF is launching the FIRME: the Financial Institution for the Recovery of Marine Ecosystems. Through the FIRME, a global initiative, we plan to connect investors with industry. By providing cash for conservation measures, investors can finance more sustainable ways of managing our oceans—measures that will lead to stronger fish stocks and greater fishing revenues. As loans are repaid, the money can be reinvested to continue the cycle. We’re pioneering this approach on Canada’s Grand Banks, transforming the site of the world’s most infa- mous fishery collapse into a model for the way forward. We’re building the business case, and despite the signifi- cant challenges, we’ve already attracted strong inter- est. “Everyone wants to see it happen,” says WWF Vice President Robert Rangeley. “In fact, it’s impossible to envision healthy, sustainably used oceans without some form of new investment into nature’s services.” With this approach, governments could end costly subsidies to the fishing industry, fishermen could profit from more productive fish stocks, consumers could enjoy more responsibly sourced fish, and investors could earn an impressive monetary, social, and environmental return on their dollar. Just how impressive? According to Rangeley, the value of an investment in biodiversity could result in a 10- to 100-fold return in ecosystem services over the long term. “That,” he says, “is a darn good investment.”
Innovation
Rosamond Ivey:
© Robert Rangeley / WWF-Canada
Supporting made-in-Canada
solutions
It was learning to scuba dive that
introduced Roz Ivey to the stunning
diversity of marine life and prompted her lifelong
commitment to marine conservation.
That’s why she has taken a strong interest in WWF’s
work to help protect ocean health. She supports WWF’s
ongoing engagement with the Marine Stewardship
Council and our efforts to develop best practices for
conserving our oceans—for their beauty and wonder as
well as for the livelihoods they support.
“People are learning more and more about how ocean
sustainability is important for Canada and the world,”
says the chair of the Ivey Foundation, a long-time
supporter of WWF. “We need to be good at this.”
As overfishing, mismanagement, and climate change put
the future of our oceans in danger, Ivey recognizes that
it’s the responsibility of countries like Canada to develop
sustainable solutions.
“The fisheries are a Canadian story,” she explains. “We
need to be showing the world that Canada has expertise
to share and to prove that we can overcome the problems
that we’ve had with the collapse of the cod fishery 20
years ago.”
Ivey praises WWF’s science-based approach and the
passion that drives our work. “I think WWF is leading
the way in coming up with new and novel, innovative
ways to help fishermen and everyone and thing that de-
pends on our oceans,” she says. “The opportunity to sup-
port the work that’s being done here is really thrilling.”
© alyssa bistonath / WWF-CanadaA year in smart fishing
September 2011 September 2011 January 2012
WWF and Dalhousie The Northwest Atlantic Stakeholders endorse
University launch a Fisheries Organization WWF’s action
pilot project with the adopts a recovery plan for improving
commercial swordfish management plan for Newfoundland’s cod
fishery to reduce shark Grand Banks cod. fishery, helping lay the
bycatch. foundation for Marine
Stewardship Council
(MSC) certification.
May 2012 June 2012 September 2012
High Liner Foods Loblaw puts its 75th WWF attends the 2012
commits to sourcing all MSC-certified product Northwest Atlantic
its wild-caught seafood on store shelves. Fisheries Organization
from fisheries certified Today, it’s surpassed meeting in Russia,
by the MSC by 2013. the 100 mark. looking for 13 specific
measures to improve
fisheries management.
WWF-Canada Annual Review 2012 | page 11Science
“Enlisting the best science and the best people to achieve conservation
goals is what we should all be striving for. We need to be more
vigilant than ever in protecting the environment.”
—Nan Shuttleworth, Toronto, Ont.
WWF supporter since 1988© Andrew S. Wright / WWF-Canada Shhh … Conserving the waters where whales sing Drop a microphone in the waters of British Columbia’s Great Bear Sea and you’ll hear the songs of humpback whales. You’ll hear the whistles and clicks of dolphins. And you’ll hear the sounds of shipping. As marine traffic has intensified around the world, the ocean’s noise levels have gone up an average of 10 deci- bels over the past 30 years—the difference between a telephone dial tone and a blaring train whistle. Just as smog can cloud out light, noise in our oceans pollutes the “sound space” that whales and dolphins depend on to avoid predators, track prey, and communicate. So what does that mean for B.C.’s 30-plus species of cetaceans? This year, WWF commissioned a map illustrating shipping noise along Canada’s Pacific coast, which revealed an interesting pattern. While the coast is generally a quiet place where whale populations have begun to recover and thrive, prime habitat for some of B.C.’s threatened species such as orcas overlaps with the noisiest areas. Approved and proposed development projects in the region would dramatically increase tanker traffic, significantly disrupting the North Coast’s traditionally quiet waters. But there are ways to lower the risk of ocean noise by identifying and protecting “acoustic refuges.” Research tells us that the quietest areas of the coast are found in the north and central coast. We can also use better technology to reduce underwater noise from human activities. This past February, at the first-ever acoustics forum on the B.C. coast, WWF brought together researchers, citizen scientists, port authorities, and government officials to share knowledge and discuss noise-related concerns and management strategies. “B.C. has an opportunity to play a leading role in noise management,” says Hussein Alidina, WWF’s senior officer of marine and science planning. “We want to partner with industry to promote good acoustic practices, and we want plans for ocean use to recognize and prevent noise pollution and protect quiet areas.”
Science
© Janie Wray and Hermann Meuter / WWF-Canada
Janie Wray and
Hermann Meuter:
Tuning in to the
underwater world
Amid the soaring cedar forests and rocky shorelines
overlooking B.C.’s Squally and Whale Channel sits Cetacea
Lab. Researchers Janie Wray and Hermann Meuter
established this remote research station in the heart of the
Great Bear region more than a decade ago. Their goal now:
to designate this pristine area as critical habitat for whales
to help ensure their lifelong protection.
“It’s very hard to describe the connection that we have
to whales because it is so sacred,” says Wray. “They’re so
intelligent and unique. I cannot imagine a planet without
their presence.”
The lab uses submerged hydrophones to tracks orcas,
humpbacks, and fin whales 24 hours a day, building a
comprehensive library of sounds.
Their ear on the ocean has made Wray and Meuter realize
just how dependent whales are on sound to find their
prey and communicate with one another. High levels of
ambient noise force whales to remain quiet or expend
more energy trying to communicate over the din.
Since 2004, both fin and humpback whale populations
have resurged in the peaceful refuge around Cetacea
Lab. “We believe that they are coming back to these
waters because it’s still so quiet,” Wray explains. “They
can actually communicate without being constantly
interrupted by boat noise.”
What worries Wray and Meuter are a slate of industry
proposals that would drastically increase tanker traffic
throughout the region. One project alone would see 220
tankers a year travelling through Squally Channel.
That is why Cetacea Lab has been working with WWF to
put this issue on the radar. “We’ve ignored underwater
ambient noise for far too long,” says Wray. For whales to
keep singing, that has to change.
© Andrew S. Wright / WWF-CanadaA year advancing marine species & habitat conservation
December 2011 February 2012 April 2012
WWF hosts the first- WWF, in collaboration WWF files a petition to
ever multidisciplinary with researchers, the Auditor General to
shark workshop on the completes a “sound advocate for action on
West Coast, bringing map” identifying a management plan for
together government, underwater noise the Bowie Seamount-
industry, researchers, pollution created Sgaan Kinghlas Marine
and conservation by shipping along Protected Area.
groups to focus on the B.C.’s coast.
most pressing causes
of shark declines.
June 2012 June 2012 August 2012
Australia creates In collaboration with WWF and CPAWS
the world’s largest a recreational shark release a report
network of marine fisherman, WWF revealing that climate
park reserves— develops best practices change is reducing fish
3.1 million square to ensure sharks caught habitat on B.C.’s coast.
kilometres in total. in recreational and
commercial fisheries are
handled and released
in the best condition
possible to ensure
survival.
August 2012 September 2012
WWF’s written North Atlantic
submission to the Joint Fisheries Organization
Review Panel on the introduces measures
Enbridge Northern to protect vulnerable
Gateway Project details marine ecosystems
risk to habitats, species, and closes 11 areas
and ecosystems and to protect cold water
explains why the project coral and sponge
is not in the national forests and six
interest and should seamounts.
therefore be rejected.
WWF-Canada Annual Review 2012 | page 15Partnership
“I respect what the environment provides us and don’t take it for granted.
I believe if we take from it, we need to give back—it’s a reciprocal
relationship that needs to be nurtured and respected on our end.”
—Trish Crowe-Grande
Living Planet @ Work Champion, P&G© National Geographic Stock / Jim Richardson / WWF Here comes the sun: Mapping a future powered by renewable energy With our windswept prairies, mountain streams, long hours of summer sunshine, and millions of tonnes of agriculture and forestry waste, Canada boasts world- leading renewable energy potential. The problem is, nobody knows just how big the potential is or where the most promising opportunities lie. The current patchwork of data leaves plenty of gaps. And because the data come from different sources, are measured on different scales and in different units--the big picture simply doesn’t exist. That’s why WWF is teaming up with the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE) to produce the first national map of Canada’s renewable energy potential and prompt a much-needed discussion around energy in this country. “Changing Canada’s climate future means changing how we use and produce energy. Right now, the federal government is making an all-in bet on the tar sands,” says Josh Laughren, director of WWF’s climate and energy program. “They’re staking our energy strategy and our economy on the most expensive, most carbon-intensive form of oil on the planet while the rest of the world moves on to 21st- century energy, low-carbon strategies.” Partnering with WISE gives us access to sophisticated tools, knowledge, and expertise from a wide range of disciplines. “This is a top-tier institution with the ambition and capability to tackle broad, complex issues with real-world approaches,” Laughren says. The resulting map will reveal the scale of opportunity and identify where renewable energy can realistically replace fossil fuels. That information could catalyze a major shift in Canada’s energy decisions and help achieve WWF’s global vision of a world powered by 100 per cent renewable energy by 2050. “It’s a perfect example of how WWF leverages partnerships to create national and global impact,” says Laughren.
Partnership
Jatin Nathwani:
© University of Waterloo
Shaping Canada’s energy agenda
When WWF went looking for a partner
to develop the first national map of
Canada’s renewable energy potential,
the WISE was a perfect fit. Housed
at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, WISE brings
together 93 professors from 22 departments to tackle
complex energy issues and influence public policy.
The project had plenty of attraction for WISE’s executive
director, Jatin Nathwani. “I believe that the universities
have an obligation to serve the public interest and get
engaged with the issues out there,” he explains. “It’s not
enough to do research and publish papers. We need to
bring the outside world to the university and take us to
the world outside.”
The multimillion-dollar study will employ 10 WISE
members with expertise in mapping, energy modelling,
and integration. Together with WWF, they will produce
a map that identifies not only key sources of renewable
energy, but also the practical obstacles to integrating
them into Canada’s existing energy infrastructure. Take
the example of Hudson Bay, says Nathwani. Yes there’s
lots of wind energy there, but building transmission
corridors to take advantage of that energy would be
prohibitively expensive.
What decision-makers need is a credible, detailed, and—
most importantly—realistic assessment of the renewable
energy Canada could be tapping. And that’s exactly what
this project will deliver. “If what you say is based on a
solid set of facts that are technically and scientifically
defendable, then you can be sure that you will get a good
hearing,” says Nathwani. “Then you’ve got an audience.”
© National Geographic Stock / Jim Richardson / WWFA year in climate & energy advancements
August 2011 December 2011 March 2012
Ontario announces WWF contributes to Ontario commits to
funding for electric- a robust analysis of boost its green energy
vehicle charging Ontario’s renewable capacity to 10,700
stations. energy strategy. megawatts by 2015.
March 2012 March 2012 April 2012
Quebec launches WWF publishes Mexico passes an
Electric Circuit, the Greenhouse Gas ambitious climate
first public charging Reduction Potential change law, committing
network in Canada. of Electric Vehicles, the country to cut
detailing how electric its greenhouse gas
vehicles could play emissions in half
a significant role in by 2050.
reducing Canada’s
carbon emissions.
May 2012 July 2012 October 2012
B.C. announces new Australia introduces WWF launches our
funding incentives for a nationwide price on campaign to put 600,000
electric-vehicle charging carbon emissions to help electric vehicles on
$
stations. curb climate change. Canada’s roads by 2020.
WWF-Canada Annual Review 2012 | page 19Global Solutions
“I’m supporting our planet because really, if you actually think about
it, this is the only planet we have and if we don’t support it, it’s not
like we can create a new one.”
—Allison Crease (age 16), Windsor, Ont.
Organized a concert for WWF© Staffan Widstrand / WWF On top of the world: Conserving the Arctic’s most critical ice habitat At the top of the world, ice binds together a fragile web of life. Plankton grows in its nooks and crevices. Narwhals seek shelter here from killer whales. Seals give birth to their pups, while polar bears hunt. And for thousands of years, ice has been the foundation— literally and figuratively—of Inuit culture. Climate change puts all that at risk. Nowhere are rising temperatures felt more acutely than in the Arctic; this September marked the lowest extent of sea ice in recorded history. In response, WWF is leading a bold global initiative to ensure the most valuable ice habitat on the planet is conserved for the people and species that depend on it. It’s called the Last Ice Area. Together with our WWF colleagues in other Arctic countries, we’re working to identify and conserve the most important habitat here: the areas where ice is most likely to endure into the next century. This major undertaking means working with hundreds of different stakeholders across national boundaries, political jurisdictions, and cultures to plan the best possible future for Arctic ecosystems. The time is now. While climate change continues to accelerate, melting ice is opening up the Arctic to industrial development. That creates a crucial window of opportunity to manage that process thoughtfully and sustainably. According to Martin von Mirbach, director of WWF’s Arctic program, Canadians have a vital role to play. “Because 80 per cent of the Last Ice Area lies within Canadian territory, that gives us a special responsibility and opportunity for leadership,” he says. Already, we’ve begun laying the groundwork for the Last Ice Area. Over the past year, we’ve briefed federal agencies, opened an Iqaluit office, and brought together key stakeholders from Greenland and Nunavut to start building a shared vision for this crucial habitat. “If we get it right, we’ll be able to set an example for the world community,” says von Mirbach.
Global Solutions
Vicki Sahanatien:
© Martin von Mirbach / WWF-Canada
Coming home to the ice
Seeing the sea ice drifting in
Frobisher Bay was the perfect
homecoming for one of WWF’s
newest hires, Vicki Sahanatien.
“I love the open spaces, the vastness of the land and
sea. I’m especially fascinated by sea ice,” says our
senior officer of government and community relations.
She brings the right credentials with her. Sahanatien
spent 12 years managing Arctic conservation programs
for Parks Canada, working closely with local communi-
ties. Meanwhile, her recent Ph.D research focused on
polar bears and sea ice habitat in Foxe Basin, north of
Hudson Bay.
From WWF’s new Iqaluit office, Sahanatien will work
with government institutions, Inuit organizations and
local communities to strengthen WWF’s Arctic program
and promote a sustainable vision for the Last Ice Area,
one that will conserve vital sea ice habitat into the
next century.
Sea ice underpins Arctic marine ecosystems as trees do
in a forest, Sahanatien explains. “There is a vast flora
and fauna on, under, and within sea ice. It’s dynamic
and alive.”
Sea ice is an essential part of everyday life for Inuit. It’s a
highway for travel between communities and to outpost
camps. Sea ice is also critical for many hunting and fish-
ing activities. Inuit are key stakeholders in Arctic conser-
vation and important sources of traditional knowledge.
In her new role, Sahanatien is looking forward to
reconnecting with the Arctic community where she has
spent many years. The familiar faces at the airport,
happy to welcome her back, are excited too. “People are
very interested in what WWF will get up to and how we
will contribute to Arctic conservation,” says Sahanatien.
© Staffan Widstrand / WWFA year in Arctic conservation
August 2011 September 2011 October 2011
WWF supports WWF opens an Coca-Cola launches
community participation office in Inuvik to its “Arctic Home”
in a satellite tagging advance sustainable campaign, raising
project to track seven development in the $1.8 million to plan
narwhals near North Beaufort Sea. a future for the
Baffin Island, creating Last Ice Area.
insights into their
feeding and migration
behaviour.
November 2011 December 2011 July 2012
WWF launches The National Energy At hearings into the
RACER, a new tool Board upholds its proposed Mary River
for identifying key stringent requirements Iron Ore Mine on North
places throughout for oil drilling in the Baffin Island—the
the Arctic that can Arctic, after WWF makes largest mine ever to
conserve ecosystem the scientific case for a be contemplated in
resilience in a rapidly precautionary approach. the Canadian Arctic—
changing climate. WWF highlights the
opportunity to set
a benchmark for
sustainable Arctic
development.
July 2012 August 2012
Researchers, journalists, WWF opens a new
and WWF staff set sail office in Iqaluit to
from Greenland on a support our Arctic
six-week voyage to program.
the Last Ice Area to
conduct research and
open up a dialogue
with communities.
WWF-Canada Annual Review 2012 | page 23Community
“If we can’t protect, restore, and preserve the quality and
integrity of our water bodies and wetlands, what is the
point of all the efforts at conservation?”
—John McCutcheon, Toronto, Ont.
WWF freshwater investor and
supporter since 1993© Robert Rangeley / WWF-Canada New Brunswick’s lifeblood: Giving voice to the St. John River The St. John River, a maze of blind bays, tributaries, lakes, and marshlands, is the lifeblood of New Brunswick. Talk to the old-timers and they’ll tell you how the wa- ters used to heave with salmon—an icon so powerful, it graces the province’s coat of arms. Today, in most places, those salmon have all but disappeared—an indication of how the river has changed. The waterway was found to be in poor condition in WWF’s 2009 Canada’s Rivers at Risk report because its natural flows have been altered so significantly. Now, however, communities have identified both the need and opportunity to envision a different future for the St. John. WWF is working collaboratively with local groups, bringing the best science to bear to understand what that future might look like and the best way to get there. “There’s a huge opportunity,” says Tony Maas, WWF’s freshwater director, “but change on this scale takes time and has to come from the ground up.” WWF is opening up a conversation with local communities about what they want the future of the river to be, creating space for important questions about the health of the river and nurturing the communities’ spirit of collective stewardship. Our successful community tour last fall started the dialogue. In 2013, we’ll host the first-ever St. John River Summit to bring together as many people as possible from across the watershed to map out current projects, identify existing and emerging challenges, and develop a shared vision for the river and the people that depend on it. “There’s a foundation to build on here,” says Maas, ac- knowledging the hard work that’s already been done to get the river’s health back on track. Our goal is to work with everyone who is committed to this river’s future to take the next big steps in restoring the St. John, and to start taking those steps together. “If we can do that,” Maas says, “we can create a national model for river restoration that’s rooted in communities.”
Community
Simon J. Mitchell:
© Martin von Mirbach / WWF-Canada
Working for the river we love
Simon J. Mitchell wakes up every
morning to a view of the St. John
flowing through fields and hardwood
forests, bald eagles soaring overhead.
“That’s why a lot of people live in New Brunswick,”
says the forester-come-water-conservationist. “They
appreciate the quality of life, and our rivers are a big
part of that.”
The new adviser to WWF’s Living Rivers Initiative
is no stranger to the issues surrounding this historic
waterway. Mitchell spent six years working for the St.
John River Society and a further eight years with the
Meduxnekeag River Association.
Over the last half-century, the natural flows of the St.
John River have changed drastically. Left as is, this
will continue to negatively impact the river’s health and
will only be exasperated by the changing climate.
Salmon numbers have plummeted, while much of the
river is too polluted to swim in. “To me, that’s a sad
state of affairs,” says Mitchell.
He now sees the community appetite for change and
the opportunity to develop plans for the St. John River
that respect the needs of residents, users, and nature.
“It’s not going to be an easy task,” Mitchell
acknowledges, “but the timing is right to have this
important conversation.”
He also has plenty of local support. “People get it,” he
says. “We are a river nation. We are a river province.
And those water bodies need to be in good condition in
order to support us and everything that lives in them.”
© Robert Rangeley / WWF-CanadaA year in freshwater conservation
October 2011 November 2011 November/December 2011
WWF co-hosts a WWF co-hosts The St. John River Tour
symposium with a workshop with Series starts a dialogue
the Grand River B.C. Ministry of the around local water concerns
Conservation Authority Environment on and river health in eight New
and Trout Unlimited incorporating protection Brunswick communities, with
Canada on managing for environmental flows the Conservation Council
environmental flows in B.C.’s proposed Water of New Brunswick and the
in Ontario. Sustainability Act. Canadian River Institute.
March 2012 April 2012 June 2012
WWF works to rally WWF, Deloitte, and RBC’s Blue Water
diverse support behind the Alliance for Water Project donates
science-based plan to Stewardship host $500,000 to WWF’s
restore natural flows a dialogue about Living Rivers Initiative.
and levels in the St. innovative approaches
Lawrence River and to understanding—
Lake Ontario. and helping mitigate—
water-related risk
for businesses and
investors.
September 2012
WWF and the Canadian
Freshwater Alliance
host the inaugural Living
Waters Rally, bringing
together 100 of Canada’s
freshwater leaders to
build collective capacity
for a growing
national water
movement.
WWF-Canada Annual Review 2012 | page 27You
“We need a clean, safe, and healthy
planet, including healthy soil so our
food is good for us, in order to have
healthy people.”
—The girls from GirlSpace,
Yellowknife, N.W.T.
Ran a bakesale and
lemonade stand to
raise funds for WWF© WWF / Troy Fleece Your voice and thousands of voices: Speaking up for nature Can one voice change the world? You bet. Every time you participate in a WWF event, volunteer, or make a donation, you’re speaking up for nature. You’re showing that you believe sustainability is not only possible but essential. You’re sending a message to politicians and industry leaders that conservation is an issue that Canadians care about deeply. Finally, your voice, added to the thousands of voices of fellow supporters, amplifies our ability to call for transformative change. Now, more than ever, that change is crucial. A changing climate, over-consumption, and short-term thinking are putting the squeeze on planet Earth. The time has come to fundamentally transform the way we manage our oceans, fresh water, and energy. But we can only take on these grand, game-changing challenges with the support of Canadians like you. That’s why public mobilization events such as Earth Hour, Sweater Day, and the Canada Life CN Tower Climb for WWF are important and why we’ve teamed up with other conservation partners to inspire action through the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup and Black Out Speak Out. It’s why we’re launching Canadians for the Great Bear to stop the proposed Northern Gateway oil pipeline. Not only do these events keep conservation top of mind in Canada, they also show solutions are possible. If workplaces can turn down the thermostat for one day, why not every day? If communities gather to clean up a local shoreline once a year, why not year-round stewardship? If millions of Canadians across the country can switch off their lights for one hour, why can’t our political leaders take action on climate change? We believe humans can, and must, live in harmony with nature. Every voice that speaks up amplifies the mes- sage. Every person who takes action accelerates change. Thanks to you, we’re reshaping the future of our planet.
You
Captain Canada takes a
© Jenn Walton / WWF-Canada
stand for the Great Bear
Scott Niedermayer has had success
at every level of his hockey career,
racking up four Stanley Cups and
two Olympic gold medals. Now, he
brings that same spirit and winning record to his role as
spokesperson for Canadians for the Great Bear, cham-
pioning one of the richest and most spectacular ecosys-
tems in the world.
Standing in the middle of a stream—literally up a creek—
on B.C.’s North Coast, he reflects on nature’s amazing
interconnectedness. Salmon swim upstream past his
ankles to spawn, while the dead fish that line the banks
provide food for wolves and bears and fertilize the soar-
ing cedars.
He realizes that it would only take one oil spill to destroy
this delicate cycle. “Here in Canada, I think we have a
responsibility to do all we can to protect these amazing
places,” says Niedermayer. That’s why he has chosen to
work with WWF, inspiring other Canadians to speak up
against the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline that
would cut through the Great Bear region.
What lessons from the ice rink does he bring to eco-
logical conservation? “Persistence does pay off,” says
Niedermayer. “You need to believe in what you’re doing
and believe you can accomplish it.”
As a child in Cranbrook, B.C., he treasured the moun-
tains, rivers, and lakes around him. Now, he volunteers
with WWF to ensure this valuable wilderness remains a
part of the Canadian experience.
“I will do whatever it takes to make sure that, one day
many years from now, my grandchildren will be up a
creek too,” Niedermayer promises.
© WWF / Troy FleeceYour year: Taking action for the planet
September 2011 February 2012 March 2012
19th annual Great On WWF’s second Earth Hour is bigger
Canadian Shoreline annual National Sweater than ever, as 152
Cleanup, organized Day,* more than a countries and more than
by WWF and the million Canadians put 6,500 cities around the
Vancouver Aquarium.* on a sweater and turn world turn off the lights
down the thermostat. in this global call for
Forty shopping malls, climate action.
52 cities, and 94
business improvement
60
areas get in on the act.
April 2012 May 2012 May 2012
More than 4,700 WWF kicks off our WWF supports 30
supporters go the nationwide Canadians planet-friendly school
distance—346 vertical for the Great Bear projects across Canada
metres—in this year’s campaign, with “captain” through our Green
Canada Life CN Tower Scott Niedermayer, CommUnity School
Climb for WWF, raising to speak out against Grants Program.*
more than a million the Northern Gateway
dollars for conservation. pipeline.
June 2012 September 2012
More than 36,000 people Less than a year
and 600 organizations after launch, WWF’s
join Black Out Speak Living Planet @ Work
Out to protest proposed program championed
changes to federal by HP recruits its 250th
environmental laws company.
and policies.
*These vital community engagement programs are
generously funded by Loblaw Companies Limited.
WWF-Canada Annual Review 2012 | page 31One Mission
© Andrew S. Wright / WWF-Canada
Many Voices
“Vibrant economies and human well-being are inextricably
linked to healthy ecosystems. I support environmental
stewardship initiatives, for I regard them as an investment
in my children’s long-term well-being.”
—A.S. Wright, Ph.D, Vancouver, BC
Photographer and WWF donorQ&A with Pat Koval, Honorary Chair of Philanthropy
What do you hope to achieve as WWF’s first honorary chair of philanthropy?
© Torys LLP
WWF is fortunate to have a group of donors who care deeply about conservation.
I see my role as helping to increase their satisfaction and their engagement and
involvement with WWF. My second objective is to introduce new people to WWF:
people who could potentially contribute to our work, financially or in other ways.
How do you define philanthropy?
Philanthropy can involve giving money, and that support is critical. But philanthropy
can also mean giving of your time and your expertise. Every contribution helps
our work.
With so many other causes out there, why should Canadians
support conservation?
There are many, many good causes to support, but the environment is overarching. No
matter where you live, what your background, or what issues you’re dealing with, this
area affects you. All species, including humans, depend on a living planet.
Today, that’s more important than ever. The urgency of environmental problems like
climate change, unsustainable consumption of natural resources, and poaching and
illegal wildlife trade is at all-time record highs.
What impact can that support make?
You’re making a contribution that will better your life and the lives of generations to
come. Tackling issues like climate change or protecting the Great Bear Sea are long-
term projects, but through WWF, you can make a measurable difference.
What drives your own commitment to WWF?
As long as I can remember, I’ve been passionate about wildlife and wild places.
When I first began working as a young lawyer and wanted to support conservation
and biodiversity, I did my homework. I liked the fact that WWF collaborated with
businesses, governments, and other organizations, and worked both locally and
globally. I liked WWF’s mission, which is to ensure that we have a healthy, diverse,
and sustainable planet. There are many excellent conservation organizations working
around the world, but I personally believe that WWF is the most effective.
What has being involved in WWF meant to you?
I believe in giving back to the community. I believe in doing good. So knowing that I’m
making a difference by contributing to this organization is tremendously satisfying. It’s
enriched my life and, in my own small way, I hope I’ve enriched WWF.
WWF-Canada Annual Review 2012 | page 33Celebrating Our Environmental Leaders
On October 21, 2011, at the first Canadian Panda Ball, WWF announced
the recipients of three inaugural environmental leader awards. These
awards celebrate extraordinary commitments to WWF’s conservation
work and to the future of our living planet.
Sonja I. Bata, Sonja Bata has always believed that we should protect our connection to our natural
Leader for
environment. For more than four decades, she has brought leadership, passion, and
boundless energy to WWF as a director of our International Board of Trustees and as a
Conservation founder and former chair of our Canadian organization.
Over the course of her remarkable tenure, Sonja has infused WWF with an intellectual
creativity and global perspective that has attracted the world’s power brokers and
© Sonja I. Bata, OC
decision-makers to our cause.
She lent her weight to key WWF fundraising events, including 1001: A Nature Trust
and the 200 Canadians initiative. She spearheaded the Spirit of Wild Art Auction
and the Inuit Print Project, not only raising critical capacity for WWF’s early Arctic
conservation work, but also bringing the wonder of Canada’s North to the world stage.
Today, as we build on those substantial foundations, Sonja continues to guide and
inform our work. Her generosity—in the fullest sense of that word—is unquantifiable,
but her impact is reflected in decades of conservation accomplishments.
That’s why we chose Sonja as our 2011 Leader for Conservation, an award that
recognizes an individual who exemplifies the passion and generosity that enables WWF
to preserve and protect our natural world.
WWF-Canada Annual Review 2012 | page 34Loblaw Companies When the country’s largest buyer and seller of fish and shellfish makes a commitment
Limited, Partner in
to procure 100 per cent of those products from sustainable sources, the impact is
transformative.
Conservation That’s why WWF chose to honour Galen G. Weston and Loblaw Companies Limited
with our Partner in Conservation Award, which recognizes organizations making an
unprecedented commitment to tackling today’s greatest environmental challenges.
© Loblaw Companies Limited
Loblaw’s world-leading commitment to sustainable seafood has not only touched
hundreds of vendors and hundreds of vendors and products, but has inspired a
sector-wide shift that’s helping redefine what it means to be a sustainable industry.
As a direct result of its seafood commitment, Loblaw is putting better choices in the
hands of its consumers.
Better choices also lie at the heart of Loblaw’s bold charge-for-plastic-bag program,
which, at the end of 2011, has helped divert 3.8 billion plastic shopping bags from
landfills. Since 2009, Loblaw has donated part of the proceeds from the program—
$1 million annually—to WWF conservation programs.
From turning down the thermostat to joining a shoreline cleanup to helping organize a
green project in a local school, a million more individuals have taken action because of
Loblaw. Together, we’re creating positive change.
Birgit Freybe As a team, Robert and Birgit Bateman have been loyal and generous supporters of WWF
Bateman &
and many other environmental organizations for more than three decades—a commit-
ment that reflects their lifelong devotion to conservation.
Robert McLellan From national movements to grassroots campaigns, Robert and Birgit have championed
Bateman, the cause of nature. They have not only raised millions of dollars through donations of
art, photography, and illustrations, but also raised their voices on many important issues.
Living Planet At the same time, they have celebrated nature through their art. Robert’s paintings are
Legacy infused with a genuine understanding of ecology, capturing the spirit and character of
the wildlife his work portrays. Birgit’s photographs remind us that, even in the midst of
© Birgit Freybe Bateman & Robert McLellan Bateman, OC
our manufactured landscapes, we are a part of the natural world that surrounds us.
These partners have quietly shaped a collective conservation consciousness, inspiring a
deeper human connection and empathy with nature. In this way, Robert and Birgit have
nurtured the cultural foundation that makes WWF’s work possible.
To honour that work, we presented them with the Living Planet Legacy Award: an
award that recognizes an exemplary dedication to nature and conservation that spans
decades, inspires generations, and makes transformative change possible.
WWF-Canada Annual Review 2012 | page 35In Your Words
We asked WWF supporters of all stripes from across the country:
Why do you invest in nature? Here’s what you told us.
I love being
outdoors and we
need to protect the
environment in
order to live.
I support the animals
WWF gets
—Talia Hennessy (age 13),
because they’re mostly Chelsea, Que.
endangered because of us
and I want to help
Donated her 13th
birthday party things done!
to WWF —Claude Giffin,
them survive.
Dartmouth, N.S.
—Maja Bonham (age 10), WWF supporter
Vancouver, B.C. since 2003
Donated her 10th birthday
party to WWF
When we
need to replenish
heart and soul, we head
for the wilderness. It takes
everyone to keep our wilderness
environments available for all and
for the generations to come.
—Mary Thomson and Jan Ruby,
Toronto, Ont.
WWF supporters I am always
since 1991 inspired by the
The health of our beauty, the immensity,
river systems is one of the
and fragility of nature.
Thus, I support the
most important environmental environment, because the
issues facing us today. We support
environment supports us!
WWF because [it is] one of the few
—Quy Le, Vancouver, B.C.
Communications Support
organizations that is tackling this
Volunteer
key issue on a national scale.
—The Schad Foundation
Investor in WWF’s Living Rivers
initiative
WWF-Canada Annual Review 2012 | page 36It’s highly fulfilling
to support a cause I
I believe believe in and make even a little
in sustainability. difference. Volunteering at the
Creating a world that we WWF allows me to make an impact,
learn, and feel very rewarded.
can live comfortably in and
be proud of and to protect it
for future generations. WWF —Rudra Sanjeev Ramdial,
and I share these same goals. Toronto, Ont.
Environmental WWF Volunteer
—Natalie Peon,
Toronto, Ont.
stewardship is
WWF Volunteer critical, now more than
ever. To understand and respect
the symbiotic relationship we
share with the natural world is to
ensure the well-being of our future,
for the future of all livings things.
—Mike Robertson,
I want to help Living Planet @ Work
provide a safe and Champion, Ontario
healthy environment Power Authority My late
for humans and animals. husband Bill and I
have always felt a close
—Tammy Hebert, association with environmental
L’ile-bizard, Que.
WWF supporter since 2005
issues and have been pleased to
be able to donate funds to aid and
We think it’s
care of conservation efforts in
Canada, particularly.
important to have —Anne C. McKenzie,
a voice defining what a London, Ont.
Made her first gift
successful Canada and a better to WWF in 1993
world looks like.
—Martha and Mike Pedersen,
We owe it to Toronto, Ont.
future generations to WWF supporters since 2009 Nul besoin d’être
keep fighting for a healthy un écologiste ultra
Earth; where animals are engagé pour assimiler le
living things and not just contenu de la WWF, il suffit
pictures in a textbook. d’être simplement intéressé à
comprendre et a faire des petits
—Heather Mulholland,
pas pour un avenir meilleur.
Vancouver, B.C.
Volunteer Photographer —Annie
As a member WWF-Canada Facebook fan
of the Mi’kmaq
Nation, protecting
Mother Earth is a part of
our culture. To give back
what we take and respect all
life that allows us to live.
—Sabrina There is no
WWF-Canada
Facebook fan
planet B.
—Lyss
WWF-Canada
Facebook fan
WWF-Canada Annual Review 2012 | page 37Generosity. Creativity. Commitment.
© Carmen Marra / WWF-Canada
© Roy Val / WWF-Canada
© Erin Hogg / WWF-Canada
Carmen Marra Roy Val Erin Hogg
Name
Donor relations volunteer First-time donor WWF supporter for
in our head office more than 20 years
Volunteered Contributed Contributed more than
317.5 hours $13,000 $190,000
I n v es t m e n t
over the past year to WWF’s Arctic over the last 24 years
Home campaign
“Speaking with donors “It’s a way to help secure “I continue supporting
I n t h ei r across the country has our grandchildren’s WWF, as I believe it is
own words been quite rewarding and birthright to a sustainable the leader in science-
has spurred me to seek environment.” based work critical to
future opportunities to the survival of wildlife
contribute.” and its habitat.”
Nurtures WWF’s Is helping to safeguard Contributed to many
Impac t relationship with the Arctic’s Last Ice Area Arctic successes, from
our supporters, the for polar bear, narwhals, protecting caribou to
people who make seals, and the people who creating a sanctuary for
our work possible depend on these species bowhead whales
WWF-Canada Annual Review 2012 | page 38Here are some of the ways WWF supporters made an impact
for our Living Planet in 2012
© Dr. Sabah Petros / WWF-Canada
© Robert Poulton / WWF-Canada
© ??? / WWF-Canada
Mike Paustian’s Grade 5P class
Dr. Sabah Petros Frances Edmonds at Namao School, Alberta
Canada Life Director of Environmental Community Pandas for the
CN Tower Climber Programs, HP Canada Great Bear Campaign
At the age of 80, climbed Led a major partnership between Raised $700 by selling
1, 776 steps HP Canada and WWF to create
Living Planet @ Work, devoting
homegrown flowers and
vegetables and raised
in 28 minutes 5 seconds 1 0 0 s of hours to the awareness by writing letters to
project over the past year parents, friends, and politicians
“It feels great to “Sustainability is a team “It really seemed to empower
make a difference sport. I feel very privileged my students to see the positive
for the planet.” to be working with such impact they were able to have.”
great colleagues, both inside
HP and WWF.”
Together with Developed tools to help Joined Canadians across
other climbers, more than 250 companies the country in helping
raised more than a choose greener ways of doing conserve a global treasure:
million dollars for business and support WWF the Great Bear region
conservation through workplace giving
WWF-Canada Annual Review 2012 | page 39Thank you!
© Martin Harvey / WWF-Canon
Your support means the world.Our Donors and Supporters
Our work at WWF is made possible through the generous investments
of individual donors, corporate partners, foundations, governments,
organizations, and dedicated volunteers. The following pages recognize
those who have contributed over $1,000 in support—through financial
donations, sponsorship, donated media, advertising, and other gifts-in-
kind—between July 1, 2011, and June 30, 2012. We are deeply grateful for
your trust and commitment.
Not e
A plus sign (+) following a name recognizes in-kind or in-kind plus cash donations.
Gifts received after June 30, 2012, will be gratefully acknowledged in the 2013 Annual Review.
Above $1,000,000 The Coca-Cola Company
Loblaw Companies Limited
UB Media +
$500,000 – $999,999 Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
$100,000 – $499,999 Adcentricity + E states
AGF Management Limited Estate of David and Paula Blackmore
Astral + Estate of Bertram Hawthorne
Canon Canada Inc. Estate of Muriel Doreen Kennedy
Cineplex + Estate of Margaret Rae MacKay
Corus Entertainment + Estate of Susan Peters
CSL Group Inc. Estate of Vlasta Scheybal
CTV + Estate of Ruth Ramsay Smith
The Government of Canada’s
Habitat Stewardship Program
for species at risk
HP (Canada) Co.
Metroland Community Papers +
Oak Foundation
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation
Pattison Outdoor Advertising LP +
RBC Foundation
RSA Canada
Torys LLP +
WWF-Canada Annual Review 2012 | page 41You can also read
