WWF-Russia 2013

Over a period of more than 10 years, WWF-Russia lobbied for amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation that would raise the penalties for the illegal harvesting, trade and trafficking of endangered species. As of July 2013 — at last — such crimes would now be subject to a criminal penalty up to 7 years imprisonment.

Four Persian leopard cubs were born last summer at the Breeding and Rehabilitation Center in Sochi National Park.

Within the WWF Bison reintroduction programme in Russia, 10 more animals were released in the Caucasus during 2013.

In winter 2012–2013, WWF conducted regular anti-poaching operations targeting poachers who used wire snares. This campaign resulted in the reduction in the number of poacher-trappers in the Argut River Basin down to almost zero, while the total number of traps dropped by 75–80% compared to 2010.

In November 2013, President Vladimir Putin signed a list of instructions to the Government of Russian Federation concerning the Amur tiger and leopard.

In 2013, WWF completed the drafting of a complex and ambitious program for the restoration of the Caspian tiger that was developed in collaboration with the Government of Kazakhstan.

• As a result of consultations with WWF, the North-West Phosphoric Company (NWPC) dropped plans to build an industrial road in the future Khibiny National Park that would have split the park into two.
• Three new protected areas were established in the arkhangelsk and khabarovsk provinces and in chukotka.
• For over 10 years, WWF has tried to persuade the Government of the Khakassia Republic to develop a network of nature parks in one of the most valuable conservation areas and tourist-attractive sites in the Altai-Sayan ecoregion.

In 2013, about 700,000 ha of land were given protected status in Kazakhstan and Kirgizia.

In September 2013, the Government of the Russian Federation approved the Russian Forest Policy Document.

Over 127,000 people supported the WWF appeal to reinstate a ban on industrial logging in protective forests.

Over 200,000 ha of large intact forest tracts will be protected from logging within the habitat of the Amur tiger — such is a condition of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between WWF, some other environmental NGOs and the Terneyles group, one of the leading forest logging companies in the Russian Far East.

In 2013, WWF publicised facts about the illegal cutting of valuable tree species in the Russian Far East having reached a critical scale.

Approximately 70% of Alaska pollock harvesting in the Okhotsk Sea and 70% of cod and haddock harvesting in the Barents Sea are certified according to Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standards.

In 2013, Russia revised its state prognosis and targets on greenhouse gases for the period between 2020 and 2030 and, for the first time, a decline in emissions was predicted instead of a growth.

For the first time ever, WWF’s project on the conservation of cedar pine-broadleaved forests in the Russian Far East has received so-called «climate funding». The funds that have been transferred to the TIGER indigenous community will allow for the protection of forest and its wildlife from illegal logging and poaching and also for the development of traditional forms of resource use, such as the harvesting of nuts and medicinal plants.

Public pressure resulted in Gasprom cancelling plans to construct the Altai gas pipeline that would have built through the Ukok Nature Park.

Thanks to the well-organised eff orts of environmental NGOs, Sakhalin Energy has postponed its decision on the construction of a new oil rig in the Sea of Okhotsk, a key habitat of the grey whale.

• The year 2013 saw the beginning of new three-year joint program between WWF and Tetra Pak that is aimed at developing sustainable forestry and FSC certification.
• A rehabilitation enclosure for Amur tigers in trouble will be built in the Russian Far East thanks to WWF and the Bosch and Siemens Home Appliances Group.
• Thanks to M.Video, BAT Russia, KPMG, Lokata and the Moscow Brewing Company, the 15th annual small grant competition for protected areas took place.
• At last, there is now a long-awaited opportunity to buy gifts that feature the WWF logo.
• In 2013, WWF-Russia welcomed 4,300 new supporters, while a total of 17,000 loyal supporters regularly make donations to the Fund.
• In 2013, the Golden Panda Club celebrated its 5th anniversary.
• In November 2013, an unusual programme called Let’s Preserve Endangered Species was launched.
• In 2013, two bronze tiger cubs found a home on the embankment in Vladivostok where they symbolise the concern of people living in Primorye about the future of the Amur tiger.
• In total during 2013, WWF was mentioned in the media more than 15,000 times.
• During 2013, our partners provided free advertising valued at more than 7 million euros.