Species Conservation

Turtles and Whales

The WWF Network focuses particular attention on a small number of globally important flagship species including the giant panda, tiger, marine turtles, great apes, whales, elephants and rhinos in both Africa and Asia. WWF South Pacific works with two of the flagship species, whales and turtles, which feature prominently in Pacific culture.

Our objectives are working with communities to ensure sustainable traditional harvesting of turtles, reduce commercial harvesting and incidental fatalities of turtles. WWF also promotes the establishment of Whale Sancturies and research into the status of whale populations in the Pacific and the process that threaten them.
WWF Flagship Species - Read more>>

Gaharu (Eaglewood)

Papua New Guinea's lowland forests could be the last frontier for the world's substantial wild stocks of Gaharu (Eaglewood). In PNG, the high local prices for top-grade gaharu suggest that, if managed correctly, it could provide local communities with a viable eco-enterprise option to replace the promised benefits of industrial logging agreements.

WWF Papua New Guinea Programme conducts sustainable harvest training for communities that harvest the wood, surveys to determine the distribution of Gaharu in Hunstein, Kerama, Libano and Bosavi. A government policy framework on Gaharu has been established, with minimum trade prices, and a cooperative action plan.
Deep in the perfumed forests of Papua New Guinea>>

Coconut Crabs

Mitiaro Island is one of the 15 remote sparsely populated islands that make up the Cook Islands in the Central Pacific. Its inhabitants rely heavily on the marine life for subsistence and the survival of their economy. When the elders of Mitiaro Island realised that population of the coconut crab (u'nga) was depleting they sought WWF's assistance.

Through drafting a strategic management plan for the coconut crab, coconut conservation is being implemented by community representatives and resource owners. The community has now taken a more proactive role in implementing its own Management Plan for crab conservation.