WWF Italia Founder Fulco Pratesi Passes Away at 90

Rome: WWF Italia founder Fulco Pratesi has died at 90, the organisation announced Saturday. Pratesi passed away in a Rome clinic overnight.

According to Ansa News Agency, Pratesi was widely celebrated as an architect, journalist, author, designer, and a stalwart of environmentalism in Italy. He was a pioneering figure who guided a generation of naturalists and was the president of WWF Italy for many years. WWF Italy expressed deep condolences to the Pratesi family, including his children Isabella, Carlo Alberto, Francesco, and Olympia, as well as his grandchildren.

Pratesi was born in Rome in 1934 and spent his early childhood in the countryside of Viterbo, which fostered his connection with nature. Initially, he was drawn to hunting, but a life-changing encounter with a bear and her cubs in the forests of Anatolia, Turkey, in 1963 led him to abandon hunting for conservation. Upon returning to Italy, he traded his rifle for a camera and sought to establish the Italian chapter of the World Wildlife Fund in 1966.

Despite financial challenges, Pratesi’s determination and enthusiasm led to the founding of WWF Italy. His efforts were key in the enactment of critical environmental protection laws, including the law on fauna and parks in 1991. He took pride in the establishment of over 100 WWF Oases throughout Italy.

Pratesi also served as a member of parliament with the Greens from 1995 to 1997 and was the Honorary President of WWF Italy. He was the Editor-in-Chief of the Panda magazine, contributing actively until his last days. Luciano Di Tizio, president of WWF Italy, described Pratesi as a man who deeply loved his family and regarded WWF as his “fifth son.”

Prominent figures in Italian politics paid tribute to Pratesi. Green leader Angelo Bonelli referred to him as “the father of Italian environmentalism.” Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein emphasized the importance of Pratesi’s legacy, while 5-Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte hailed him as a pioneer. Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto praised Pratesi’s sensitivity, and Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli highlighted his contributions to the sustainable development of Italy.

The Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development (ASviS) recognized Pratesi as a “fundamental reference point” in environmental and pro-animal advocacy, reflecting on his enduring impact on Italian environmental culture.