Fauna & Flora International (FFI), formerly the Fauna and Flora Preservation Society, is an international conservation charity and non-governmental organization.
| Type | Conservation charity |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1903 |
| Website | http://www.fauna-flora.org/ |
FFI was originally founded in 1903 as the Society for the Preservation of the Wild Fauna of the Empire by a group of British naturalists and American statesmen in Africa. It was then called the Fauna Preservation Society, before being renamed Fauna and Flora Preservation Society in 1981. The goal of the society was to safeguard the future of southern Africa’s large mammal populations, which had declined alarmingly due to over-hunting and habitat encroachment. Working in tandem with landowners, government and sport hunters, the Society helped pass legislation which controlled hunting in vast stretches of East Africa and South Africa. This ultimately paved the way for the formation of National Parks, such as Kruger National Park and Serengeti National Park.
FFI has been referred to by many historians as the world's first conservation society, and the society's early work in Africa was also trend-setting in ecotourism. The organization also played a key role in establishing much of today’s global conservation infrastructure - including The World Conservation Union (IUCN), The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). FFI has members in over 80 countries.
FFI has a seven-step approach to conserving biodiversity:
The logo of the society is the Arabian Oryx, after the very successful Operation Oryx, a flagship Arabian oryx captive breeding project undertaken by the society.
Queen Elizabeth II is FFI's Patron and Lindsay Bury is the President of the organization. FFI also has a number of high profile Vice Presidents including Sir David Attenborough, David Bellamy, Stephen Fry, Charlotte Uhlenbroek, Rove McManus, Lord Browne of Madingley and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands.[1]
FFI currently works on a project in Ecuador with the charity Cool earth, working with local groups to ensure the Awacachi corridor is protected.[2]
In line with their seven step approach to conservation, Fauna & Flora International have recently endorsed the Forests Now Declaration, which calls for new market based mechanisms to protect tropical forests.