World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

WWF is an international non-government organization founded in 1961 with the aim of preservation and conservation of nature and its different species. As of today, it is the world’s biggest conservation organization.

Important Reports and Programmes

  • Living Planet Report— Published every two years by WWF since 1998; it is based on a Living Planet Index and calculation of ecological footprint.
  • Earth Hour - Held every year on the last Saturday of March, Earth Hour engages millions of people in more than 180 countries and territories, switching off their lights to show support for our planet. It goes beyond the symbolic notion of switching off the lights; it has become a catalyst for positive environmental impact, driving major legislative changes by harnessing the power of the people and collective action.
  • Debt-for-nature swaps – It is a financial transaction in which a portion of a developing nation’s foreign debt is forgiven in exchange for local investments in environmental conservation measures.
  • Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) — It is an independent non-profit organization which sets a standard for sustainable fishing.
  • Healthy Grown Potatos — It is an eco-brand that provides high-quality, sustainably grown, packaged, and shipped potatoes to consumers by leveraging integrated pest management(IPM) farming practices on large scale farms.

Critically Endangered Animals (India)

Critically Endangered Mammals

  • Pygmy Hog (Porcula salvania).
  • Andaman White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura andamanensis)
  • Jenkin’s Andaman Spiny Shrew (Crocidura jenkinsi)
  • Nicobar White-tailed Shrew (Crocidura nicobarica)
  • Kondana Rat (Millardia kondana)
  • Large Rock Rat or Elvira Rat (Cremnomys elvira)
  • Namdapha Flying Squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi)
  • Malabar Civet (Viverra civettina)
  • Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)
  • Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus)

Critically Endangered Reptiles

  • Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)
  • Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
  • Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
  • Four-toed River Terrapin or River Terrapin (Batagur baska)
  • Red-crowned Roofed Turtle or the Bengal Roof Turtle (Batagur kachuga)
  • Sispara day gecko (Cnemaspis sisparensis)

Critically Endangered Fishes

  • Pondicherry Shark (Carcharhinus hemiodon)
  • Ganges Shark (Glyphis gangeticus)
  • Knife-tooth Sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidata)
  • Large-tooth Sawfish (Pristis microdon)
  • Long-comb Sawfish or Narrow-snout Sawfish (Pristis zijsron)

Critically Endangered Corals

  • Fire corals (Millepora boschmai)

Critically Endangered Amphibians

  • Anamalai Flying Frog (Rhacophorus pseudomalabaricus)
  • Gundia Indian Frog (Indirana gundia)
  • Kerala Indian Frog (Indirana phrynoderma)
  • Charles Darwin’s Frog (Ingerana charlesdarwini)
  • Kottigehar Bubble-nest Frog (Micrixalus kottigeharensis)
  • Amboli Bush Frog (Pseudophilautus amboli)
  • Chalazodes Bubble-Nest Frog (Raorchestes chalazodes)
  • Small Bush Frog (Raorchestes chotta)
  • Green-eyed Bush Frog (Raorchestes chlorosomma)
  • Griet Bush Frog (Raorchestes griet)
  • Kaikatt’s Bush Frog (Raorchestes kaikatti)
  • Mark’s Bush Frog (Raorchestes marki)
  • Munnar Bush Frog (Raorchestes munnarensis)
  • Large Ponmudi Bush Frog (Raorchestes ponmudi)
  • Resplendent Shrub Frog (Raorchestes resplendens)
  • Sacred Grove Bush frog (Raorchestes sanctisilvaticus)
  • Sushil’s Bush Frog (Raorchestes sushili)
  • Shillong Bubble-nest Frog (Raorchestes shillongensis)
  • Tiger toad (Xanthophryne tigerinus)

Critically Endangered Spiders

  • Rameshwaram Ornamental or Rameshwaram Parachute Spider (Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica)
  • Gooty Tarantula, Metallic Tarantula or Peacock Tarantula (Poecilotheria metallica)

Endangered Mammals (India)

  • Tigers (including Bengal Tiger)
  • Asiatic Lion (Included Gir Lions)
  • Red Panda
  • Dhole/Asiatic wild dog or Indian wild dog (Cuon alpinus)
  • Eld’s deer/thamin or brow-antlered deer (Panolia eldii)
  • Golden langur (Trachypithecus geei)
  • Himalayan / White-bellied Musk Deer
  • Hispid hare/ Assam rabbit (Caprolagus hispidus)
  • Hog deer
  • Lion-tailed macaque/ wanderoo (Macaca silenus)
  • Nilgiri tahr
  • Kharai Camel – India’s swimming camels

Conclusion

Climate Change is the defining issue of our time and we are at a defining moment. From shifting weather patterns that threaten food production, to rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding, the impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in scale. Without drastic action today, adapting to these impacts in the future will be more difficult and costly. India is progressing decently as per meeting its Paris Climate Agreement target but more needs to be done with respect to switching to environment-friendly transportation, preserving flora and fauna, etc. to be immune to the impacts of climate change.

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