Conservation Careers: Conservation in the homeland of the panda

This month we’re joined by our incredible WWF UK colleague Elisabeth Kretschmer from the conservation programmes team!

Elisabeth joined the organisation as a Senior Programmes Advisor for Asia one and a half years ago and is lucky enough to oversee the exciting conservation work which we fund in China. Joining team panda from a niche background to working in the homeland of the panda has been a perfect fit for Elisabeth, keep reading to find out why... 

What does a typical day doing your job look like?   

A typical day for me would start with a call with my colleagues at WWF China, discussing any updates and changes on conservation projects which WWF UK is supporting in China. Working within an international network such as the WWF’s means working across many different time zones – I’m an early bird so early morning calls, when my Chinese colleagues are at the end of their working day, work well for me!  

Given the nature of the projects I’m supporting, we may discuss anything from restoring the connectivity of Asian elephant habitats in Southwest China to policy asks around nature positive topics. These discussions are very useful to think through the different challenges we’re facing and jointly finding solutions. I love learning from the insights my colleagues share around their work, for example how they are designing campaigns to engage the public through relatable stories on how climate change is impacting the lives of ordinary people.  

After catching up with colleagues, the rest of my day will involve following up on further actions, this often includes working on new proposals to secure future funding of work or researching and coordinating with colleagues at WWF UK around our organisational priorities. I get to work with a very diverse mix of people every day, which is what I enjoy most - bringing different cultural perspectives and topical expertise together enriches every project! If I had to pick a highlight of my role, it would have to be the opportunity to travel to China to work in person with my Chinese colleagues and visit our project sites. These trips are incredibly important to make sure I have a full picture of the work on the ground but also to build relationships with the local partners we work with on various projects. 

Tell us about something you're currently working on.  

While there is lots of classic conservation work driven by WWF in China itself, such as protecting the habitat of the giant panda, a large chunk of my work is focusing on policy work around China’s global environmental footprint.  

As part of this, I’m currently working with my Chinese colleagues to identify which key issues we want to address at upcoming events from the Forum for China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED). These are platforms where WWF has a seat at the table and are good opportunities to bring important environmental topics to the attention of the Chinese government as well as international businesses and policy makers.  

How did you get into specialising within this region?   

With an academic background in Chinese studies and economics, I was searching for a role where I could utilise my skills contributing to a cause that’s driving impactful and positive change. I was very lucky to have found this role at WWF UK, which is not only working on the most pressuring problems of our time but also one of the few international NGOs established in China.  

Tackling the environmental crisis means taking a holistic approach and looking at economic factors driving the loss of nature and climate change. With China being a key global economic player impacting global supply chains and being the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, I think that addressing environmental challenges in these areas can only succeed if we are taking a collaborative approach, even if it is difficult at times. WWF has a long track record of successful conservation work in China, which enables us to have our voices heard on the highest level. I’m proud to be contributing to this legacy.  

If you could give one piece of advice to someone looking to apply for a similar role, what would you say?  

Given my background I will have to say: find your niche and embrace it! Working on conservation programmes requires an individual skillset, from knowledge of environmental topics, to understanding of regional contexts as well as particular soft skills. For me it turned out that my niche China-focused skillset was just what fitted.  

Coming to WWF without a classic background in conservation has not been a barrier at any point and I think the organisation is thriving through the diversity of professional and academic backgrounds. I’ve learned (and am still learning!) a lot about conservation from experienced colleagues and great internal resources. As everywhere, the key thing is to stay curious and be open to learn new things. 

Finally, what gives you hope in our mission to bring our world back to life?  

What gives me hope in our mission are the amazing people I get to work with every day. I see my colleagues across the WWF network striving against the odds in often quite difficult political environments where economic gains come before environmental protection. I am inspired by the dedication and passion they bring to their work, despite dealing with a crisis that can be daunting and overwhelming at times. Whatever everyone’s individual motivation behind this may be, bringing these efforts together is an incredibly strong force. This is something where I think one of WWF biggest strength lies – working as a network of WWF offices that spans (almost) the entire globe. One of our slogans that sums this up nicely and is definitely the biggest motivator for me personally: together possible!