WWF Europe
- website: WWF Europe: www.wwf.eu
- website: WWF Adria: www.wwfadria.org
- website: WWF MM: www.wwfmmi.org
- website: ANP|WWF Portugal: www.natureza-portugal.org
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Headquarters
EPO: 123 rue du Commerce, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
MMI: Via Po, 25/C Rome 00198 Italy
Adria: Boškovićeva 2; 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Portugal: AUDAX, R. Adriano Correia de Oliveira 4A Lab A1, 1600-312 Lisboa, Portugal -
Company Size
EPO: 50 staff members
MMI:12 staff members
Adria: 33 staff members
Portugal: 32 staff members -
Established in
EPO: 1996
MMI: 2018
Adria: 2015
Portugal: 2018 - Expertise: Conservation programs for marine, freshwater, forestry and wildlife; European policy and advocacy; Communication; Fundraising; Corporate partnership, European policy and advocacy
Company Representative
- Laure Guillevic
- Luca Eufemia
- Hrvoje Čeprnja (WWF Adria)
- Rita Sá (ANP|WWF)
Company Profile
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) was established in 1961. It changed its name to World Wide Fund for Nature in 1987 and currently has 4.7 million regular members and supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF EPO and our affiliates are part of the same network (WWF) and are all connected to WWF International. Both WWF EPO and the three affiliates, WWF MMI, WWF Adria, WWF Portugal are linked through the umbrella of WWF International. WWF EPO is the lead WWF partner in this project. The WWF network in Europe is the strongest part of the global organisation in terms of membership, numbers of staff and policy activities. WWF in Europe has 22 National Organisations, Programme Offices and Sub-Regional offices.
The international secretariat of WWF, WWF International, is based in Switzerland. WWF EPO aims to keep the WWF network informed about important political developments in Brussels having an impact on conservation in Europe and around the world. The EPO enables the WWF network to influence regulatory and policy decisions in Brussels and in the Member States that will help to support conservation. WWF PT started operating in the late 90s with the mission to protect marine biodiversity and to promote fisheries sustainability. WWF Adria was established in 2015 to work on the sustainable management of water resources, forests and protected areas, and the conservation of the sea, rivers and wildlife.
WWF Mediterranean Marine Initiative (MMI) brings together WWF offices and programmes from across the region in a concerted, coordinated effort to bring the Mediterranean Sea back to health. WWF MMI work ranges from influencing government policy to working with fishing communities, from shaping business models to mobilising millions of people to conserve the Mediterranean’s natural riches.
As part of the WWF global network, WWF Adria was officially established in 2015 to work on the sustainable management of water resources, forests and protected areas, and the conservation of the sea, rivers and wildlife. Through our partner organizations, though, we have been a conservation presence in the region since the beginning of this century. We are working in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo**, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia.
We’d like to see key species, habitats and ecosystems protected and recovering, with good governance systems in place, enabling sustainable management and equitable use of natural resources. Of course, nothing can be done without major transformation in business practices towards sustainability and corporate and social responsibility. And, speaking of partners, we want to see civil society informed, educated and empowered to engage in environmental stewardship and decision-making.
We are trying to achieve change on the ground: connect local communities with their protected areas, encourage those areas to have better management plans and focus on sustainable, low impact tourism, inspire investors to choose sustainable hydropower, and people to recognize the values of the ecosystems that surround us and to seek out sustainable seafood.
Our Vision
We bear witness to the accelerating decline of nature and our climate, with serious consequences for life on Earth, including our own.
Because people are part of nature and our fate is intertwined, WWF’s mission is to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature. As a science-based, nonpartisan, civil society organization, we work to conserve and restore biodiversity, the web that supports all life on Earth; to reduce humanity’s environmental footprint; and to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources to support current and future generations.
We celebrate and respect diversity in nature and among the people, partners and communities with whom we work. Across the many cultures and individuals that represent WWF, we are unified by one mission, one brand, and one common set of values:
- Courage:We demonstrate courage through our actions, we work for change where it’s needed, and we inspire people and institutions to tackle the greatest threats to nature and the future of the planet, which is our home.
- Respect:We honour the voices and rights of nature and people, and we work to secure a sustainable future for both.
- Integrity:We live the principles we call on others to meet. We act with integrity, accountability and transparency, and we rely on local knowledge and science to guide us and to ensure we learn and evolve.
Collaboration: We deliver impact at the scale of the challenges we face through the power of collective action and innovation.
Our Mission
Globally, over 88% of assessed fish stocks are classed as overfished or maximally sustainably fished. The effective implementation of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) would ensure that all fishing activities carried out by the EU fleet are environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. Improved compliance with fisheries rules by all stakeholders both in and out of EU waters to help fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, deliver more robust traceability of seafood products sold in the EU, and achieve fully-documented, low-impact fisheries that take bycatch, marine ecosystems and sensitive species into account will help to secure not only the long-term viability of the fisheries sector, but boost ocean resilience in the face of the climate and biodiversity crises.
Despite a wide range of tools available to improve fishing operations, implementation of the CFP is facing significant challenges, as numerous fish stocks remain overexploited and hundreds of thousands of marine species are threatened by unsustainable practices, which puts the long-term future of fisheries and fair standards of living for coastal communities at risk.
What WWF is doing
At the WWF EPO, we use our Brussels-based presence and positive relationships with all stakeholders, including the EU institutions (European Commission, European Parliament and Council of the European Union) to strengthen legislative measures of key marine and fisheries files. We offer evidence-based solutions for improved practices and for successful implementation of the legislation to achieve the targets currently in place, and ensure coherence between the EU’s environmental, climate and fisheries policies.
As part of the Fish-X project, the EPO is also working with companies specialised in ocean data and seafood traceability, as well as other civil society organisations focusing on ocean conservation and digital transitions. Our aim is to provide fishers and authorities with new technologies to improve monitoring and control of fishing fleets, facilitate the uptake of modern fisheries management measures by operators, and spur advancement in making information available to consumers through better traceability of seafood products.
WWF Adria’s marine program aims to protect and restore marine ecosystems in the Adriatic Sea, focusing on sustainable fisheries, marine biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience. The organization collaborates with governments, scientists, and local communities to establish effective marine protected areas, promote sustainable fishing practices, and reduce bycatch. They also work on integrating ecosystem-based management approaches, supporting policy reforms, and enhancing knowledge sharing across the region. Through partnerships and advocacy, WWF Adria seeks to create a more sustainable balance between human activity and marine ecosystem health, contributing to the long-term preservation of marine resources.
What WWF is doing
WWF Adria’s marine program focuses on the protection and restoration of the Adriatic Sea, advancing sustainable fisheries, marine biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience. In collaboration with WWF’s European Policy Office (EPO) and the WWF Mediterranean Marine Initiative (MMI), WWF Adria leverages its network to advocate for stronger EU legislative measures in marine and fisheries policies. This work ensures alignment across environmental, climate, and fisheries directives, providing evidence-based solutions that promote sustainable practices and support the effective implementation of EU ocean health targets.
As part of the Fish-X project, WWF Adria is working to introduce digital tools specifically tailored for the small-scale fisheries (SSF) sector. These innovations, along with support to national authorities, are designed to enhance monitoring and control of fishing fleets, streamline data collection, and encourage modernized fisheries management across the region. By integrating these sustainable and cutting-edge practices, WWF Adria aims to build a resilient and accountable marine environment in the Adriatic, balancing ecological health with the needs of local communities and marine stakeholders.
