Falklands Conservation is a charitable organisation

Charitable organization

A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...

 formed to protect the wildlife

Wildlife

Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....

 and the natural environment

Natural environment

The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....

 of the Falkland Islands

Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...

 in the South Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...

. Its objectives are to:

• undertake scientific research in the wildlife and environment of the Falkland Islands and their surrounding seas and to publish the results of such research
• conserve the wildlife and environment of the Falkland Islands and its surrounding seas for the benefit of the public
• educate the public in the principles and practice of nature conservation
• protect and preserve the cultural and historic heritage of the Falkland Islands
• carry out any other charitable activity

History

The origins of FC go back to 1979 when a group of naturalists, including Peter Scott

Peter Scott

Sir Peter Markham Scott, CH, CBE, DSC and Bar, MID, FRS, FZS, was a British ornithologist, conservationist, painter, naval officer and sportsman....

, established a UK registered charity, the Falkland Islands Foundation (FIF), to protect the wildlife of the Falklands as well as its historic shipwrecks. In 1980 another body, the Falkland Islands Trust (FIT) was formed in the Islands. In 1982, following the Falklands War

Falklands War

The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...

, FIF became a membership-based organisation. With the merger of FIT and FIF in 1991, it was formally launched on 1 August by David Attenborough

David Attenborough

Sir David Frederick Attenborough OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS, FZS, FSA is a British broadcaster and naturalist. His career as the face and voice of natural history programmes has endured for more than 50 years...

 as Falklands Conservation.

Falklands Conservation is a BirdLife International

BirdLife International

BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...

 partner, representing the Falkland Islands, and a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.