WWF and Canon celebrate ten year anniversary

Canon became the first Conservation Partner for the WWF in 1998, and since that time has worked with the organisation to specifically tackle global warming and the extinction of endangered species.

Through the partnership, Canon provides the WWF with funds for conservation and helps to raise awareness through internal and external communications and networking opportunities.

WWF-Canon initiatives

Together both parties have collaborated on a number of successful initiatives since 1998, including:

The WWF-Canon Photo Gallery

The WWF-Canon Photo Gallery was launched in 1999 in order to digitise the WWF Photo Library. Thousands of images were made available online to the WWF organisation and photographers through Canon support and technology. This superb collection of pictures, revamped in 2007, is an invaluable communications tool and an ideal way for conveying the WWF's message.

The WWF-Canon Panda Bus

The WWF-Canon Panda Bus, a travelling roadshow that teaches children about conservation, was launched in 2000. Between April and November 2000 the bus toured 13 European cities, including Copenhagen, Dublin, Moscow, Oslo and Paris and was visited by more than 20,000 people across Europe.

The Canon-WWF PAN (Protected Area Network) Parks Program

Since 2003 this annual conservation scheme has allowed Canon Europe employees to gain 'hands-on' experience by contributing to valuable conservation and maintenance efforts. Based on the network of eight PAN Parks across Europe founded by the WWF to protect the continent's wildlife, the program is also designed to raise awareness of environmental issues and provide the opportunity for environmentally-minded participants to exchange ideas with their colleagues throughout Europe.

The WWF-Canon Polar Bear Tracking Program

Launched in 2007, Canon Europe's support has enabled the tagging of two polar bears in the Svalbard Arctic with radio collars to allow WWF scientists to monitor their positions via satellite. Running alongside the tracking program is the Canon Kids' Zone, a children's microsite which mirrors the WWF Polar Bear Tracker with games and educational content to encourage children aged 7-11 years to make a positive environmental contribution in their own lives.

With an audience of over 35 million people since its launch, the WWF-Canon Polar Bear Tracking website has become the WWF's most popular microsite and has been refreshed in 2008 with new and appealing interactive content for children, parents and teachers.

James Leape, Director General of WWF International, said:

"Canon Europe's collaboration with WWF has been a pioneering example of a company using its expertise to contribute in a sustained and substantial way to helping a global conservation effort. We are delighted with the outcomes of this partnership and look forward to further collaboration with Canon."

James Leipnik, Chief of Communication and Corporate Relations, added:
"Canon recognises its responsibility for the environment. We are proud of our long partnership with the WWF which not only shows our commitment to conservation but also actively contributes to the WWF's actions to stop and, hopefully, reverse the degradation of the planet's natural environment."