Washington, DC (PRWEB) October 05, 2012

Jim Sano, one of the foremost experts in adventure travel and sustainable tourism, has joined World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as Vice President of Travel, Tourism and Conservation.

Sano, the long-standing president of the San Francisco-based adventure travel company Geographic Expeditions, will work on the nexus of travel, conservation and philanthropy. He will serve as WWFs senior advisor on sustainable tourism programs, develop new opportunities for WWFs most engaged members to experience WWFs work, and bolster the organizations philanthropic initiatives.

This is a natural fit, said Mr. Sano. The most magnificent and pristine places on Earth that WWF is working to protect are also premier tourist destinations. Travelers to these locations receive great joy from their experience and are looking for a way to give back.

Sano joined Geographic Expeditions in 1988, growing it from a company of just eight employees to one with a staff of 50 and multiple accolades, including the distinction of best adventure travel company in the world in 2012.

He previously worked as a National Park Service ranger at Yosemite National Park in California. Additionally, he was the founding president of the Mono Lake Foundation, founding director of the Natural Step and the Yosemite Restoration Trust, and director of the Trust for Public Land and WWFs National Council. Sano received five National Park Service Special Achievement awards, and also led the first American men and womens expedition to Mt. Everest in Nepal. He is a frequent speaker at U.S. and international tourism conferences because of his commitment to conservation and his expertise in adventure and sustainable travel.

Jim is a rock star in the active-adventure travel field. He knows how to build adventures that show people the heart and soul of the places we cherish, and engage them in making a difference. We're grateful he's chosen to bring his talents and experiences to WWF to advance our mission, and I can't wait to work with him, said Carter Roberts, president and CEO of WWF.

WWF is working to increase the number of ecotourism programs within local communities around the world. Currently, WWF works in the Galpagos on sustainable tourism to both support conservation and improve peoples livelihoods. In Namibia, WWF helps to manage conservancies to foster a growing ecotourism program as well. In Nepal, WWF supports community-based tourism initiatives by training local people in establishing a sustainable tourism infrastructure. Furthermore, WWF offers a variety of member tours in which a portion of the trip cost goes to support WWFs global conservation efforts.

ABOUT WORLD WILDLIFE FUND WWF is the worlds leading conservation organization, working in 100 countries for nearly half a century. With the support of almost 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment and combat climate change. Visit http://www.worldwildlife.org to learn more.

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Sustainable Tourism and Adventure Travel Leader Jim Sano Joins World Wildlife Fund