The European Union countries, which hold the majority in the Berne Convention, rejected the Swiss proposal because the study on the protection status of the wolf had been published too late for the Governments to be able to make a decision. Switzerland has also been asked to complete its documentation on the reasons that would justify a reduction of the wolf’s protection despite the small number of animals present in the country.

This means that the wolf will remain a strictly protected species, at least for a year, when the Standing Committee will meet again.

Switzerland aims to maintain its proposal, with the intention of minimizing conflicts between wolves and farming, and making it clearer in the Convention where States are allowed to shoot wolves under specific circumstances.

Bruno Oberle, head of the Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape (SAEFL), said in a statement that the herd protection measures will nonetheless remain the most important focus of the Swiss Government's policy. Switzerland will also collaborate with France and Italy in a common management of wolves.

Thank you for helping put pressure on the Swiss Government! WWF will keep up that pressure over the next year to ensure the long term protection of the wolf in Europe.

Common sense won the day when ministers agreed to start the talks about future reductions in carbon pollution. The agreement also opened the door to broader participation from developing countries in the future.

The meeting displayed the groundswell of support for real action on climate change. This was especially visible through the participation of an unparalleled number of mayors, young people, business leaders, and elected representatives from around the world.

The planet is the clear winner, despite tremendous pressure first from the US administration, then from Russia, to slow down progress in curbing global warming. Climate change is real, the solutions are here, and it is time for the world to take firm collective action.

Having successfully hosted the climate talks, Canada must now continue with its extraordinary effort as caretaker to the Kyoto process to ensure that the Montreal momentum translates into real results for the global climate.

Thank you to everyone who took action. With your help we are making a difference.

Following our appeal, Passport holders sent more than 15,000 emails to the then Premier of New South Wales, Bob Carr, and his successor, Morris Iemma, calling on them to commit to clean energy.

This action was closed following Premier Iemma's announcement on 29 November 2005. Although the Premier has not ruled out that new coal fired power stations will be built, he did confirm the New South Wales Government's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2050 and to reduce emissions to 2000 levels by the year 2025.

WWF welcomes this commitment and will closely monitor the implementation of these goals over the next few years.

Thank you to everyone who took part in this action.

On 24 November 2005 the European Council of Agricultural Ministers reached a decision to reform the European Union (EU) sugar regime. In place since 1968 the regime has led to the over-production of sugar in Europe, environmental damage there and untold harm to poor people and environment across the world.

Over the last two years WWF has been working with Oxfam and other organizations to influence the reform process. We wanted less sugar grown in Europe, an end to subsidised exports, greater imports from developing countries and assistance to the world’s poorest producers to grow sustainable sugar.

November’s decision gave us some - but not all of that.

Although many compromises, aimed at delaying the full impact of the reforms, were given to the European industry the outcome is that European production will drop by as much as a third when the changes finally come into effect. In addition, from May 2006, the EU will have to cut its exports of sugar from around 7 million tonnes a year to only 1.3 million - a substantial improvement.

However when it comes to helping developing countries directly through increasing imports the Ministers performed less well. They hinted that they will set limits to the growth in imports from the world’s poorest nations after 2009 - when they are supposed to have free access. The Ministers also failed to agree to give these countries the help they need to reach their full potential to supply Europe with sugar grown to the highest environmental standards. Our efforts to improve the situation now move to the up-coming World Trade Organisation trade and Development talks in Hong Kong and decisions to be taken in Europe on the next development assistance budget.

Together with Oxfam and Birdlife International more than 13 000 emails and letters were sent to the Council. Your help brought home to the European Council the depth and extent of support for a more sustainable EU sugar regime.

Thank you for your support.

Thank you to everyone who sent appeals. You have made a difference.

Statkraft, Norway's largest electricity company, had planned to dam the Vefsna River and drill giant tunnels to drain it for hydropower development.

The Vefsna in Northern Norway is a paradise for anglers with its large populations of sea trout and inland trout, and has the second largest spawning area in Norway for the threatened wild Atlantic salmon. Statkraft's large-scale development plans would have taken place near the only healthy population of Arctic fox on mainland Norway, and have a detrimental effect on traditional Sami areas and reindeer herding grounds.

On February 15th, the Norwegian parliament was set to decide on whether to include the Vefsna in the revised list of protected rivers in Norway, so Passport holders urged Statkraft's CEO, Mr Bard Mikkelsen, to drop the hydropower plans and appealed to Mr Oeyvind Halleraker, key Member of the Norwegian Parliament, to give Vefsna the protected status it deserves. The outcome was a uncertain promise to protect Vefsna later.

The new Norwegian government under the leadership of incoming prime minister Jens Stoltenberg, of the Social Democratic Party, announced on 13 October 2005 that Vefsna will now be protected against hydropower development.

This is a complete victory for the environment!

The efforts of WWF and Passport activists to raise international attention have been significant in achieving this. It became clear to Statkraft and Norwegian politicians that concessions to the hydropower industry in a Natura 2000 quality area will not go unnoticed. Around 15,000 e-mails were sent to the CEO of Statkraft and to the Norwegian Parliament. The Norwegian newspapers also wrote about the international focus on the Vefsna and highlighted that Norway is lagging behind the European Union in many areas when it comes to nature protection. This has been embarrassing for the Norwegian parliament and government and created a push to deliver on the promise of protection.

With your help we made a difference. Thank you!