WWFF: World Wide Flora and Fauna in Amateur Radio Explained

Operating from a park or nature reserve is one of the most popular ways to enjoy portable amateur radio, and more than one program exists to organize it. WWFF, short for World Wide Flora and Fauna in Amateur Radio, is the international one, with a motto that fits in four words: make nature your shack. This guide explains how WWFF works for people who go out to operate (activators) and for those who sit at home working them (hunters). It covers the references, the 44-QSO rule, the logging fields that matter, the LogSearch database, and the main awards, using the information published on the WWFF website. Check the site for current details before you plan an activation.

What WWFF Is

The WWFF website describes the program as encouraging licensed ham radio operators to leave their shacks and go outside, operating portable in Protected Flora and Fauna areas (PFF) all over the world. More than 40,000 PFF areas are registered in the WWFF Directory, and hunters and activators can apply for awards globally and nationally. The About page adds that the aim is to draw attention to the importance of protected nature areas: amateur operators set up in designated nature parks and PFF areas, which generates attention for those places while giving the ham community an interesting activity to contact.

WWFF is an international, non-commercial program run by the WWFF team in cooperation with national coordinators of many national flora and fauna programs. Both the global program and the national programs are run by volunteers. That structure explains why you will see reference numbers with national prefixes, and why the details of what counts as a protected area depend on the national coordinator.

References and the Directory

Every protected area in the program has a reference number made of a program prefix and a number. Examples on the website include KFF-3774, in the United States program, and the awards page uses GFF-0001, GMFF-0001 and DXFF-0001 as illustrations. The Directory page lists the programs by prefix, with entries from all continents; for example, the list of prefixes includes LYFF, which is the Lithuanian program. You look up your park in the directory, note its reference, and use that reference in your logs and announcements.

The directory and the rest of the site are the place to check whether your intended location qualifies. Not every park is registered, and the program has a process for proposing new references through the national coordinators. If you want to activate a place that has no reference, ask the national coordinator before you go.

Activators and Hunters

An activator is the operator who goes to the reference, sets up a station and calls CQ. A hunter is a station that calls the activators, usually from home, and wants to log as many references as possible. Both are needed, and the program awards both sides. Like other portable programs, WWFF encourages QRP and simple equipment, and the same planning ideas apply: a lightweight antenna, a reliable power source and a plan for the weather. Our guides to battery and power options for portable operation and QRP operating cover those points, and the same techniques used for Summits on the Air work well in a park.

If you already take part in Parks on the Air, you can often use the same operating session to count for both programs when the location is registered in both, as long as you follow the rules of each. The logs are submitted separately, and the references are different.

Getting Started: Registering

The website uses a login with manual approval. The login page says to always use your callsign as the username, and that all other applications are rejected. The Rules and FAQ page lists the topics a new member needs: the WWFF rules and how to activate a park, how to use the forum, how to confirm an activity and send in a log, what to do if you change callsign, how to complete your profile and change your password, how to use LogSearch and apply for awards, and how to confirm with eQSL correctly for portable activations. Read those pages before your first activation, because they set out what counts as a valid activation.

The 44-QSO Rule and Activation Logs

The awards page contains an important rule for some awards: activations must be logged in the WWFF global database, with a minimum of 44 QSOs logged per activity, to count toward certain certificates. In practice, most activators plan to reach 44 contacts at each reference. It is a useful target, because it is enough to be worth the trip and low enough to achieve in an hour or two on a good day. The WWFF Points award uses a similar rule of thumb, where each completed block of 44 QSOs from a reference earns a point.

The ADIF fields matter for confirmation and for the park-to-park (P2P) award. The awards page says that for your activation log you should always include MY_WWFF_REF with the activated WWFF reference, using the official ADIF 3.1.3 fields. For a park-to-park contact you also include WWFF_REF with the worked reference. Older, unofficial fields exist: MY_SIG set to WWFF and MY_SIG_INFO with the reference, plus SIG and SIG_INFO for the worked reference. For a P2P credit to be confirmed, the two logs must match on callsign, reference, date, band and mode. Our guide to POTA logging apps shows tools that export these fields, and the awards page mentions FLE and Ham2K Polo as software with special options for logging P2P QSOs directly in ADIF.

LogSearch and Awards

The awards are free. The global awards page says certificates are available in electronic format (PDF or JPG) at no charge, and that all awards are based on QSO information in the WWFF LogSearch database. Other sources, including QSL cards, LoTW and eQSL, are not accepted. Awards are claimed in two categories, activators and hunters.

The steps on the References activator award are set out on the page: below 440 references in steps of 11, between 444 and 862 in steps of 22, and above 888 in steps of 44. The hunter and P2P awards use steps beginning at an entry level of 10 references, then steps of 44 up to 444, then 100 up to 4,444, then 200 up to 8,444 and 400 above that. The WWFF Points award, launched on 1 January 2020, has an entry level of 10 points. The page includes a worked example: a station that makes 32 contacts in a first activation earns no point, and reaching a total of 44 contacts earns one point; 132 contacts in a single reference give three points; and a DX expedition with 542 contacts earns ten points. Study the rules before you start so you can plan activations to gain the most value.

A Sample Activation Day

Planning is easier with a concrete timeline. Suppose you choose a registered nature reserve about an hour from home. The week before, you check the directory for its reference, read the reserve’s rules on access and antennas, and write the reference on the first page of your logbook. The evening before, you pack the radio, a battery, a simple wire antenna with a light support, a notebook for backup logging, water and a rain cover. On the day, you arrive early, set up away from paths and sensitive areas, and test the antenna with an analyzer before calling.

When you are ready, you post a spot or an announcement so that hunters know your reference and frequency, then call CQ with your callsign and the reference. The first contacts usually arrive within minutes if the announcement is visible. Keep exchanges short, repeat the reference for new hunters, and log each contact immediately. After 44 contacts, you can decide whether to keep going, move to another band, or switch to a different mode to give other hunters a chance. When you pack up, check the area, remove every piece of equipment and rubbish, and go home to upload the log. A day like this gives an activator the best of both worlds: the enjoyment of a portable operation and a log that counts toward awards.

Community, Marathon and Further Reading

The WWFF site is more than a database. It has a forum with a 24-hour help desk, news and monthly summaries called the WWFF Monthly Pulse, categories for park-to-park and activation stories, and pages for the WWFF Marathon with its rules and standings. These pages show how active the community is, and they are a good place to read first-hand accounts of activations before you plan your own. The site also notes that WWFF is supported by volunteers who work on the directory, the LogSearch software, statistics and the award processing, and invites people to look at the vacancies page if they want to help.

It is a good idea to read a few of the activation stories on the site before your first trip. They show what real activators do about antennas, access, noise and the weather, and they tend to include small tips that are not found in the rules, such as where to stand to avoid a noisy power line or how to handle a pileup with a low-power station.

Equipment Checklist for a Park Activation

• A radio and a power source with enough capacity for the planned operating time, plus a spare.
• An antenna that you have tested at home, and a way to support it without damaging trees or park property.
• A logging method, ideally with the ADIF fields for WWFF, and a paper backup.
• A way to announce your activity, such as a phone with a data connection or a friend who can post a spot for you.
• Weather protection for you and the equipment, and a first-aid kit.
• A copy of the park rules and the permit, if one is required.

Practical Tips for Activators

• Find the reference and the park rules. Check access, permits and any restrictions on antennas, vehicles and noise.
• Announce yourself. Use the WWFF website’s spotting and the DX cluster resources it links to, so hunters know where you are.
• Aim for at least 44 contacts. This is the number that counts for several awards.
• Log carefully. Use the official ADIF fields from the start and check your log before you upload it.
• Leave no trace. The aim of the program is to draw attention to protected areas, so respect them.

Practical Tips for Hunters

• Watch for spots. The site links to a DX cluster page for the program; add the alerts you want.
• Work different references and entities. Variety is what the awards measure.
• Keep your log accurate. Your contacts must match the activator’s log for confirmation.
• Be patient with small stations. Activators often run QRP and low antennas; clear calling helps them.

The Bottom Line

WWFF is a volunteer-run, worldwide program that turns protected nature areas into places to operate portable. Find a reference in the directory, register with your callsign, aim for at least 44 contacts per activation, log with the official ADIF fields, and use the free awards to measure your progress as an activator or as a hunter. If you already enjoy POTA or SOTA, WWFF is an easy addition that gives your trips a second purpose.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does WWFF stand for?

World Wide Flora and Fauna in Amateur Radio. Operators set up in Protected Flora and Fauna (PFF) areas.

How many references are there?

The website says that more than 40,000 PFF areas are already registered in the WWFF Directory.

Are the awards free?

Yes. Certificates are available in electronic form at no charge, and they are based on the WWFF LogSearch database rather than on QSL cards or LoTW.

How many contacts do I need per activation?

Certain awards require a minimum of 44 QSOs logged per activity. Plan to reach at least that number at each reference.

Which ADIF field marks my activated reference?

MY_WWFF_REF with the reference. For a park-to-park contact, add WWFF_REF with the worked reference.

Can I log WWFF contacts with other programs at the same time?

Many operators activate a location that is registered in several programs, but each program has its own logging and rules, so submit logs to each one separately.