World Wildlife Fund - Annual Report 2007 - (Page 44)

Pooling Efforts in the World’s Aquarium Legendary oceanographer and environmentalist Jacques Cousteau called the Gulf of California "the world's aquarium.” In doing so, he paid tribute to the spectacular marine life of this place also known as the Sea of Cortez. This natural aquarium and the species it holds face the same threats plaguing oceans around the world: pollution, overfishing, and rampant development, largely for tourism. Both WWF and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) have focused unprecedented attention on this strip of subtropical sea between the mainland of Mexico and the Baja California peninsula. Because this area is an economic engine for growth in northwest Mexico, it has become urgent that we step up the scale of our programs and make a greater investment by working as partners than we could by working as individual organizations. “The TNC-WWF partnership demonstrates how two powerful institutions, with complementary strengths, can pool resources to get things done at a pace and scale that make a meaningful difference.” Steven J. McCormick President and CEO, The Nature Conservancy “We’ve stitched everything together to create a powerful, practical solution, and we’ll be working on this together for at least the next 10 years,” says Steve Cox, WWF vice president and priority leader for the Gulf of California. “We’ve designed an integrated approach that takes full advantage of the partnership.” To get to that approach, WWF and TNC did a critical review of each organization’s strategy for the Gulf area and an assessment of the underlying science. We identified 14 biological targets and 54 key areas that, if protected, could have a significant and lasting impact. We’re tackling overfishing, rapid growth in the tourism sector, and a burgeoning second-home industry. Our work with the Gulf shrimp industry is testing new low-impact fishing technologies; opening new markets for sustainably harvested shrimp; and, in places where stocks are overfished, helping artisanal fishers move into other livelihoods. TNC’s expertise in protected areas blends well with WWF’s policy expertise in fisheries. WWF collaborates with local conservation groups, scientists and industries to understand the market dynamics fueling the threats, and TNC contributes a half-century of experience in working with landowners and governments. “Most important is WWF and TNC’s shared commitment to building strong alliances with the Mexican organizations who are the real champions in this story,” says Steve. “There has never been such a large-scale, sustained partnership between two international nongovernmental organizations. It’s what the Gulf needs.” ■ 44 worldwildlife.org http://worldwildlife.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of World Wildlife Fund - Annual Report 2007

WWF - Annual Report 2007 Contents The Landscapes of People's Lives The President’s Report Africa, Land of the Soul Building Prosperity from Africa’s Natural Wealth A Namibian Odyssey Natural Capital: Putting a Price on Nature Investing in Fish and Fishermen Wildlife in the Balance Africans on the Move WWF Results Across the Globe A Different Kind of Fieldwork A River Dammed Pooling Efforts in the World’s Aquarium More Than Just the Daily Catch All Along the Equator A Partnership for Freshwater Funding and Financial Overview Statement of Activities Ways to Give Staff National Council Board of Directors

World Wildlife Fund - Annual Report 2007

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