If you’re looking for the perfect excuse to get outdoors and soak up the gorgeous fall foliage, international amateur radio organization World Wide Flora and Fauna (WWFF) has you covered.
Founded in 2010, the organization’s aim is to get hams out of their shacks and into the great outdoors. Hams can choose where to operate portable or mobile setups from a list of more than 26,000 designated nature parks or Protected Flora@Fauna (PFF) areas on the WWFF Directory. Hunters and activators who participate can win all sorts of national or global awards. Visit the WWFF site for a complete explanation of rules of activation.
Designed to draw attention to the importance of protecting flora and fauna, the organization has partnerships in more than 50 countries. And, oh, the places you can activate! There really are some downright amazing parks and protected areas that you can say you’ve seen and operated from, or at the very least, add to your ever-growing “gotta-get-to” ham bucket list.
Plus, you don’t have to be an experienced operator to join. All licensed amateurs and shortwave listeners are welcome. And if you operate portable but aren’t yet part of the program, check to see if your regular ham haunts qualify—the activity boost will make it well worth the effort! Check out this ham’s heavy-duty pileup during his activation in the Lake District National Park in the UK.
A few of our favorite WWFF activation sites are below:
Conway Reef: (YT1AD, 3D2CR, OC-112)
Dubbed “the most beautiful island in the world,” Conway Reef (Theva-i-Ra in Fijian) is the ultimate three-for-one deal. The tiny island cay is remotely located in the South Pacific Ocean 450km southwest of the main Fiji Islands. It boasts a dastardly reputation for giving ships who venture to its borders a notoriously hard time.
The atoll reef surrounding the sand beach in its center measures just 320m L x 73m W x 1/8m H, making it highly walkableif you can successfully navigate the surrounding reef and waters to embark on its shores. But island life is incredibly limited. In 1983, there were reports of sparse vegetation but by 1985, that vegetation was completely gone—the island once again bare. But an expedition here will earn you a whole heap of honors as a PFF and IOTA (Islands on the Air) activator, plus earn you much-coveted bragging rights for helping others check off #50 (as of August 2023) on the Clublog DXCC Most Wanted list.
Fauna:
This island is located in the southwest corner of the Gulf St. Vincent in South Australia, a few miles out from Edithburgh. Part of the Troubridge Island Conservation Park, it features a wide variety of flora and fauna, plus an IOTA-listed lighthouse that has managed to make it through an earthquake, fire, and continuously shifting sand due to erosion. The island is home to more than 60 native bird species—21 of conservational significance and 22 migratory species. Plus, an inexplicably declining population of 3,000-5,000 little penguins.
Flora:
Fauna:
Norfolk Island: (VK9N; OC-005)
For flora and fauna you won’t find in any other location around the globe, Norfolk Island is the place to operate. Situated between Australia and New Zealand in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, more than 14% of the island’s land area is part of the Norfolk Island National Park and Botanic Garden. And it’s home to some truly captivating sights, including palm tree forests, the tallest fern trees on the planet, and endangered wildlife like the Norfolk Island green parrot or morepork that were saved from extinction by the determined efforts of conservationists. Plus, it’s another locale that doubles as a DXCC entity (#138 as of August 2023) on Clublog’s Most-Wanted List .
Fauna:
• More than 116 bird species total
Reptiles and Mollusks
- Lord Howe Island gecko
- Lord Howe Island skink
- Land snails (five critically endangered species)
Feel free to drop a photo or a brief description of your WWFF activations in the comments below.
