• The 1st WWC convenes, introducing the wilderness concept as an issue of international importance, and beginning the process of defining the term in biological and policy contexts.
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• The 4th WWC launches the first “World Wilderness Inventory,” prepared by the Sierra Club, and the first inventory of “Wild Rivers of the World” (also by the Sierra Club). A follow up freshwater wilderness assessment is presented by Conservation International at the 8th WWC in Alaska.
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• The 4th WWC is the first environmental conference to be opened by a minister of finance (Sec. of the Treasury James Baker III).

• The 4th WWC is the first environmental gathering to introduce the concept of a World Conservation Bank. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) of the World Bank credits the 4th WWC for providing the early thinking and impetus for establishing the GEF, which to date has disbursed over $12 billion in funding. Read more  >>>

• Early WWCs consistently lobby for the inclusion of a wilderness protected area classification under the World Conservation Union’s (IUCN) protected areas classification system – Category 1b Wilderness is officially included in 1994.
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• WWCs launch numerous wilderness and wildlife protection organizations and networks including: the Wilderness Action Group (South Africa), The Cheetah Conservation Fund (Namibia), the Wilderness Associazione Italiana (Italian Wilderness Association), the Kissama Foundation (Angola), the International League of Conservation Photographers, the Native Lands and Wilderness Council, the Government Network of Wilderness Professionals.

• WWCs launch the first wilderness designations on private lands in South Africa and Mexico (see below).

Wilderness areas with new or improved protection:

• Queensland’s Premier establishes protections for several new areas of intact rainforest adjacent to Queensland’s Daintree National Park at the 2nd WWC.
Read more about Australia’s rainforests form the 2WWC proceedings  >>>

• Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser announces the expansion of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef National Park and recommends submission for World Heritage status at the 2nd WWC.
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• At the 7th WWC a consortium of government agencies and non-governmental organizations announces an initiative to expand South Africa’s Baviaanskloof ("Baboon's Ridge") Nature Reserve from 200,000 hectares (494,000 acres) to (500,000 hectares/1.235m acres) and receives a USD 1m dollar grant from the GEF.
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• Angola's Kissama National Park receives a USD 1m dollar grant from the GEF at the 7th WWC.
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• Adrian Gardiner, owner of the Shamwari Game Reserve, the Wilderness Foundation – South Africa and WILD announce the first wilderness designation on private property in Africa at the 7th WWC. The area is approximately 3,000 hectares (7,500 acres). The same organizations announce a second 15,000 hectare (45,000 acre) area on the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve at the 8th WWC.
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• The CEMEX corporation launches the El Carmen Wilderness Area (30,365 hectares/75,000 acres) on critically important habitat it owns in Northern Mexico at the 8th WWC.
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• A consortium of non-governmental organizations announces the designation of The Bonobo Peace Forest Initiative in the Democratic Republic of Congo at the 8th WWC.
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