Apps for Earth: Apple launches special programme to support Earth Day and give proceeds to WWF

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Apple’s latest campaign, Apps for Earth, aims to help us to make a difference to the planet without doing much you don't do already. Until Sunday (24 April) if you buy any of 27 apps, or even make in-app purchases in those apps, the entire proceeds will go to the WWF (that’s the World Wide Fund for Nature rather than the Wrestling organisation).

What’s more, the apps will feature special exclusive content designed for the campaign to focus on the ideas of conservation of forests, oceans and more.

The impetus comes from the fact that 80 per cent of species who live on land live in forests, so as forests are threatened, so are the species. Especially since forests are lost at a massive rate: an area the size of a football field is lost 48 times every minute.

WWF is also concerned with the ecosystems in the oceans, and aims to protect these. The charity does much more, and money from this initiative will support different parts of its work.

The apps you can buy to support WWF are pretty varied. There are fames which are unquestionably popular, such as Angry Birds 2, Cooking Dash 2016 and Candy Crush Soda Saga, in a specific in-game event, called Bamboo Hill. These games are all free so your support comes from in-app purchases. Hay Day, the farm sim, is also free, but currently has a bag of diamonds emblazoned with the WWF logo for £3.99.

Angry Birds 2, by the way, is working with WWF to protect the oceans, with special levels and an extra spell available.

Fancy something more relaxing? Try Recolor one of those colouring books for adults apps. A special colouring pack is available for £2.29.

Dragon City has a new Panda Island available with six special dragons only there until 24 April. You can also buy the casually named “Some Gems” pack for £1.49, with all proceeds going to WWF.

The photo editing app Enlight has new presets and a nature-themed tutorial added. The app costs £2.99.

Cut the Rope: Magic (99p) has a special pack, Unlock Panda Grove and lets you turn Om Nom, the green monster whom you’re feeding with candy when the ropes are correctly cut, into a panda.

Unsurprisingly, WWF Together, a free app from the charity, is also taking part, with its Planet Earth Story in-app purchase (£1.99) providing funds for the initiative.

To join in, go to the App Store and click on the banner marked Combat Climate Change where you’ll find all 27 apps.