When the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) was founded in Switzerland on 29 April 1961, none of the founders could have imagined that this small private natureconservation initiative would become one of the biggest environmental bodies operating world-wide, with some 60 national sections and 4000 staff supporting more than 2000 nature and environmental protection projects in about 100 countries. In the last few years the scope of the WWF has evolved from species protection pure and simple to all-round environmental protection, and especially to campaigning against the anthropogenic greenhouse effect. This change has been accompanied by a global shift in attitude towards protecting nature and the environment. In 1986, to mark the 25^th anniversary of its founding, the name of the WWF was accordingly adapted to its altered spheres of activity and changed to the “World Wide Fund For Nature”. The world-famous panda logo, which has become the world-wide symbol of environmental protection, was however retained.

Since birds are particularly susceptible to human-caused changes in the landscape, to mark the “50 years of the WWF” anniversary Philatelie Liechtenstein is bringing out the issue “Endangered bird species in Liechtenstein”. This has been created by the Liechtenstein artist Jacques Sonderer and depicts on each of eight individual stamps (face value CHF 1.00) in a stylised natural environment a bird species endangered in Liechtenstein. As well as the bird species threatened with extinction in Liechtenstein such as the nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) and wryneck (Jynx torquilla) these include the seriously endangered hobby (Falco subbuteo), the common redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), the pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum), the red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio), the golden oriole (Oriolus oriolus) and the whinchat (Saxicola rubetra). The issue is being produced as an eight-stamp se-tenant sheetlet in which all eight face designs feature in a coherent pictorial composition. The individual stamps are hexagonal and selfadhesive. The WWF panda logo is moreover printed on each stamp.