Fauna and Flora International

Fauna & Flora International (FFI), also known as Fauna & Flora, is a United Kingdom-based conservation charity and non-governmental organization focused on protecting biodiversity, endangered species and important ecosystems. It is constituted under English law as a company limited by guarantee and operates as a registered charity. Its headquarters are in Cambridge, where it is based in the David Attenborough Building. Through country programmes, sister organizations and partner institutions, FFI works across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Eurasia, the Caribbean and Central America. The organization was established in 1903 as the Society for the Preservation of the Wild Fauna of the Empire. Its initial purpose was to respond to severe declines in large African mammals caused by over-hunting, habitat conversion and related colonial-era land-use policies. During its early decades, the Society lobbied for game reserves, restrictions on hunting and controls on the ivory trade. It contributed to the establishment or protection of several areas that later became important national parks and reserves, including landscapes associated with the Serengeti, Kruger and Kenyan conservation systems. Modern assessments also note that these early conservation efforts were closely connected to colonial administration and could marginalize local communities, a historical issue that informs discussion of the organization’s legacy. FFI has supported both field conservation and conservation science for more than a century. Its journal, originally established in 1904 and now published as Oryx—The International Journal of Conservation, provides a forum for peer-reviewed research and conservation practice. Since 2008, FFI has also published the Cambodian Journal of Natural History with the Royal University of Phnom Penh. The organization’s work has expanded beyond protected areas and wildlife law enforcement to include habitat restoration, marine conservation, community-based conservation, conservation finance, institutional capacity building and responses to human-wildlife conflict. One of FFI’s best-known historical programmes was Operation Oryx. Developed with Phoenix Zoo during the 1960s in response to the disappearance of the Arabian oryx from the wild, the programme used captive breeding and later reintroduction to help restore populations in Oman, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The approach became an influential model for later species-recovery projects. FFI also helped establish the Mountain Gorilla Project in Rwanda in 1979 after a request associated with David Attenborough’s public advocacy. The programme later became the International Gorilla Conservation Programme, jointly run with FFI and WWF. More recent conservation initiatives have included support for Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, where FFI helped facilitate the conversion of a former cattle ranch into a wildlife sanctuary; Iberian lynx reintroduction work in Portugal; bear and wolf conflict reduction in Romania’s Carpathian Mountains; and protection of marine and coastal habitats. In Cambodia, an FFI-led expedition rediscovered the Siamese crocodile in the Cardamom Mountains in 2000, followed by captive breeding and release work. The organization has also supported conservation education, protected-area development and action against illegal sassafras oil production linked to forest destruction. FFI began work in Myanmar in 2008 and was involved in research describing the Myanmar snub-nosed monkey in 2010 and Popa’s langur in 2020. Its Myanmar activities have also included forest protection and sea-turtle conservation. These programmes have generated debate about indigenous rights, land tenure and the risk that protected-area proposals could displace communities or interfere with local political agreements. FFI has stated that indigenous and local people should be central to conservation decisions and that protected-area boundaries should not be established without free, prior and informed consent. The organization remains active in policy advocacy as well as field programmes. It supported UK action against cosmetic microbeads because of their contribution to marine plastic pollution, called for a moratorium on deep-sea mining in 2020, and advocated substantially greater global investment in biodiversity protection. FFI has also maintained international relationships through its United States and Australian sister organizations and a Singapore subsidiary. Its royal patronage dates to 1928; Queen Elizabeth II served as patron for 68 years before the role was delegated to Prince William in 2020. Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands is identified as the organization’s president.

Fauna & Flora International originated in 1903 as the Society for the Preservation of the Wild Fauna of the Empire. The founding group included Edward Buxton and other British and American figures concerned about the rapid decline of large mammals in southern and eastern Africa. Its early programme emphasized the creation of game reserves, restrictions on hunting and controls on the ivory trade. Between 1903 and 1914, the Society lobbied British colonial authorities to alter wildlife policies and preserve habitat. Its work was associated with the development of several early protected areas and reserve systems that later influenced national parks in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. This early history is significant but contested. Conservation in the colonial period was frequently designed and administered by imperial authorities, and the creation of reserves could restrict local land use or exclude communities from decision-making. Contemporary scholarship therefore views the Society’s formative work both as an important contribution to wildlife protection and as part of broader colonial systems of territorial control. The organization’s later emphasis on local participation and community-based conservation reflects the evolution of conservation practice, although its projects have continued to face questions about consent, land rights and governance. The organization’s scientific role dates to 1904, when its conservation journal began publication. The periodical eventually became Oryx—The International Journal of Conservation and is published by Cambridge University Press. It has provided a long-running platform for research on endangered species, protected areas, conservation policy and practical field methods. During the 1960s, the organization worked with Phoenix Zoo on Operation Oryx after the Arabian oryx had disappeared from the wild. Captive breeding created a managed population for later release, and subsequent work helped re-establish wild populations in Oman, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The project became an early example of coordinated ex situ and in situ conservation and influenced later species-recovery programmes. In 1979, following public concern about mountain gorillas and a request associated with David Attenborough, FFI established the Mountain Gorilla Project in Rwanda. The programme later developed into the International Gorilla Conservation Programme, jointly operated with WWF. FFI also became involved in the reintroduction of the Iberian lynx in Portugal and in wider efforts to strengthen conservation institutions and protected-area management. The organization changed its name from the Fauna Preservation Society to the Fauna and Flora Preservation Society in 1981, and adopted the name Fauna and Flora International in 1995. These changes accompanied a broadening of its mandate from large-game protection to a wider biodiversity agenda covering plants, ecosystems, marine environments and local conservation capacity. In Cambodia, an FFI-led expedition in the Cardamom Mountains in 2000 rediscovered the Siamese crocodile in the wild, a species previously believed to be extinct there. FFI subsequently supported captive breeding and release at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre. It also worked with Cambodian authorities and partners to address illegal sassafras oil production, which was linked to deforestation and the removal of the threatened Cinnamomum parthenoxylon. The organization later helped develop conservation education and postgraduate biodiversity training with the Royal University of Phnom Penh. Cambodia’s designation of a marine protected area around Koh Rong in 2016 followed years of work by FFI and other organizations. In 2004, FFI helped facilitate the purchase and conversion of a former colonial cattle ranch in Kenya into Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a sanctuary for black rhinoceroses and other rare wildlife. Its field work has also included reducing conflict between farmers and elephants, addressing poaching of bears and wolves in Romania’s Carpathian Mountains, protecting sea turtles and supporting habitat restoration. FFI began work in Myanmar in 2008. Research involving the organization contributed to the description of the Myanmar snub-nosed monkey in 2010 and Popa’s langur in 2020. Myanmar conservation work also generated public controversy. In 2018, critics argued that proposals to protect a large forest area could displace Karen villages, disregard ancestral land claims or complicate a ceasefire between the Myanmar government and the Karen National Union. FFI responded that indigenous people were central to its work and that protected-area boundaries would require free, prior and informed consent. In the twenty-first century, FFI has combined field projects with international campaigning. It supported UK action on cosmetic microbeads, called for a moratorium on deep-sea mining, and advocated substantially increased global spending on biodiversity protection. The organization now works through its Cambridge headquarters, country programmes, sister organizations in the United States and Australia, a Singapore subsidiary and a network of local partners. It remains an active conservation charity focused on endangered species, habitat protection, marine conservation, community participation and conservation science.

• 2020

  Patronage delegated to Prince William

  [1]Fauna & Flora Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  After Queen Elizabeth II’s long period as patron, the patronage was delegated to Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.

• 2016

  Koh Rong marine protected area designated

  [1]Fauna & Flora Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Cambodia designated a marine protected area around Koh Rong following collaboration involving FFI and other partners.

• 2008

  Work begins in Myanmar and Cambodian journal launched

  [1]Fauna & Flora Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  FFI began its Myanmar programme and started publishing the Cambodian Journal of Natural History with the Royal University of Phnom Penh.

• 2004

  Support for Ol Pejeta Conservancy

  [1]Fauna & Flora Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  FFI helped facilitate the conversion of a former Kenyan cattle ranch into a wildlife sanctuary.

• 2000

  Siamese crocodile rediscovered in Cambodia

  [1]Fauna & Flora Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  An FFI-led expedition rediscovered the Siamese crocodile in the Cardamom Mountains.

• 1995

  Adopted the name Fauna and Flora International

  [1]Fauna & Flora Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  The organization adopted its current international name.

• 1981

  Renamed Fauna and Flora Preservation Society

  [1]Fauna & Flora Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  The organization changed its name as its remit expanded beyond fauna-focused protection.

• 1979

  Mountain Gorilla Project established

  [1]Fauna & Flora Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  FFI established the Mountain Gorilla Project in Rwanda; the initiative later became the International Gorilla Conservation Programme.

• 1960

  Operation Oryx

  [1]Fauna & Flora Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  FFI and Phoenix Zoo developed a captive-breeding and reintroduction programme for the Arabian oryx.

• 1928

  Royal patronage begins

  [1]Fauna & Flora Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Edward, Prince of Wales, became the organization’s patron.

• 1904

  Launch of the conservation journal

  [1]Fauna & Flora Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  The organization’s scientific journal began publication; it later became Oryx—The International Journal of Conservation.

• 1903

  Founding as the Society for the Preservation of the Wild Fauna of the Empire

  [1]Fauna & Flora Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was established to address the decline of large African mammals and advocate protected areas, hunting controls and habitat preservation.

International conservation charity combining species recovery, habitat protection, community-based conservation, scientific publishing, capacity building and environmental policy advocacy.

• Species recovery programme · 1960

  Operation Oryx

  A pioneering Arabian oryx recovery initiative developed with Phoenix Zoo during the 1960s. It combined captive breeding with later reintroduction and helped restore wild populations in Oman, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The programme became an influential model for coordinated ex situ and in situ conservation.

• Primate conservation programme · 1979

  International Gorilla Conservation Programme

  A successor to FFI’s Mountain Gorilla Project in Rwanda. The programme is jointly run with WWF and supports mountain-gorilla conservation through protected-area management, research, monitoring and collaboration with surrounding communities.

• Species recovery programme · 2000

  Siamese crocodile conservation programme

  Following the rediscovery of the Siamese crocodile in Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains, FFI supported captive breeding and release work at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre, alongside broader habitat and protected-area conservation.

• Protected-area conservation · 2004

  Ol Pejeta Conservancy support

  FFI helped facilitate the purchase and transformation of a former colonial cattle ranch in Kenya into Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The sanctuary protects black rhinoceroses and other rare megafauna and forms part of wider work on human-wildlife conflict.

• Scientific publication · 1904

  Oryx—The International Journal of Conservation

  FFI’s peer-reviewed conservation journal, whose publishing history reaches back to 1904. It covers biodiversity science, conservation policy, protected areas, endangered species and practical conservation methods and is published by Cambridge University Press.

• 2018

  Myanmar forest-protection and indigenous-rights controversy

  FFI faced criticism from ethnic Karen representatives and indigenous-rights advocates over proposals to protect a large forest area in Myanmar. Critics argued that the initiative might displace villages from ancestral lands without free, prior and informed consent and could affect a ceasefire arrangement. FFI said indigenous people were central to its work and that protected-area boundaries would not be set without consent.

  Source

Read more

• 2020Deep-sea mining moratorium campaign

  Global

  FFI called on governments to impose a moratorium on deep-sea mining, citing risks to marine life and poorly understood deep-ocean ecosystems.

  Outcome. The organization’s policy position was publicly stated; no final global moratorium is identified in the supplied material.

  Source
• 2020Global biodiversity investment campaign

  Global

  FFI launched a campaign urging governments and institutions to invest $500 billion annually in wildlife protection.

  Outcome. The campaign established a large-scale public investment target; the supplied material does not report a completed funding result.

  Source
• 2019Microbead ban campaign

  United Kingdom

  FFI supported calls to prohibit microbeads in cosmetic products because these small plastic particles contribute to marine pollution.

  Outcome. The campaign contributed to public and policy pressure for restrictions on cosmetic microbeads, although the supplied material does not specify a quantified organizational outcome.

  Source

• 2020

  Public opposition to deep-sea miningStrategy

  Background

  Potential industrial activity in the deep ocean raised concerns about irreversible impacts on poorly studied marine ecosystems.

  Action taken

  FFI called for governments worldwide to adopt a moratorium on all deep-sea mining.

  Aftermath

  The organization strengthened its role in international marine-policy advocacy; the supplied material does not identify a final regulatory outcome.

  Source

• 2016

  Support for Cambodia’s Koh Rong marine protected areaStrategy

  Background

  Coastal and marine biodiversity around Koh Rong required formal protection and coordinated management.

  Action taken

  FFI collaborated with Cambodian authorities and other organizations over several years to support marine conservation and protected-area designation.

  Aftermath

  Cambodia designated its first marine protected area around Koh Rong.

  Source

• 2000

  Shift from rediscovery to Siamese crocodile recoveryStrategy

  Background

  The Siamese crocodile was rediscovered in Cambodia after having been considered extinct in the wild there.

  Action taken

  FFI supported captive breeding and release work at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre and related habitat conservation.

  Aftermath

  The programme expanded from scientific discovery into an ongoing species-recovery effort.

  Source

• 1979

  Establishment of the Mountain Gorilla ProjectStrategy

  Background

  Mountain gorillas faced severe conservation threats, and international attention increased after David Attenborough’s public advocacy.

  Action taken

  FFI established a dedicated conservation project in Rwanda, later developed into the International Gorilla Conservation Programme with WWF.

  Aftermath

  The initiative became a long-running joint programme focused on mountain-gorilla protection and surrounding landscape conservation.

  Source

1. 1Fauna & Flora Internationalen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Fauna & Flora International official websitefauna-flora.org