IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

 IUCN Washington, D.C. is host to the Coordination Unit of the Global Island Partnership (GLISPA). As an important GLISPA partner, IUCN agreed to host GLISPA’s coordination unit and to staff it with a Coordinator. IUCN is a member of the GLISPA Steering Committee and supports the GLISPA Coordination Unit. The GLISPA website is available at www.cbd.int/island/glispa.shtml.

The Global Island Partnership (GLISPA) assists islands in addressing one of the world’s greatest challenges — to conserve and sustainably utilize the invaluable island natural resources that support people, cultures and livelihoods in their island homes around the world. Recognizing that islands have unique and isolated natural systems and are particularly vulnerable in a rapidly changing world, this Partnership brings together island countries and countries with islands — small and large, developing and developed — to mobilize leadership, increase resources and share solutions in a cost-effective and sustainable way that will catalyze action for conservation and sustainable livelihoods on islands.

GLISPA is recognized by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as a partnership to advance the implementation of the CBD 2010 target to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss and the Programmes of Work on Island Biodiversity (IBPoW) and Protected Areas. GLISPA was created to help bridge local and global initiatives, build upon existing networks and programmes, and share knowledge among all of islands.

Since GLISPA’s formation in 2005, countries, territories, agencies, organizations and leaders at all levels have made inspiring commitments and taken actions to protect island habitats around the world. Each commitment acts as a beacon to others, offering hope for success and help along the way. All leaders and groups committed to taking significant action to sustain livelihoods, conserve nature and address global change on islands are encouraged to join or participate in the Global Island Partnership.

Up to 2012, GLISPA will be supported by a collaborative Strategy, a small dedicated Coordination Team hosted by IUCN and a Steering Committee of lead partners to support the growing Partnership. GLISPA’s focus for the next three years sees it continuing to work with island leaders and organizations on strategic initiatives to strengthen island action on critical issues, including:

• Supporting leadership and commitments to action on ecosystem-based adaptation and mitigation including the threat of invasive species.
• Integrating island conservation and sustainable livelihoods into the development dialogue.
• Supporting current GLISPA initiatives to promote successes and lessons including through exchanges and sharing of effective practices.
• Supporting the Seychelles with the emerging Western Indian Ocean Challenge—focused on adaptation.
• The Global Island Partnership is committed to continue supporting the outstanding leadership and extraordinary commitments of all its dedicated participants, and to sharing island successes and lessons with the world. 

The GLISPA Coordination Unit works closely with IUCN's Islands Initiative based with the Ecosystem Management Programme in IUCN HQ in Gland, Switzerland. For more information on the Islands Initiative please contact Olivier Tyack, Programme Officer, Islands at olivier.tyack@iucn.org and for more information on the Islands Initiative please click here.

The scope of IUCN’s Islands Initiative is those islands, whether large or small, whose conservation and ecosystem management challenges are substantially shaped by “island” characteristics, including high levels of species diversity and endemism, openness of coastal ecosystems to land-based impacts, competition by people for limited resources including land and fresh water, and vulnerability to external forces, both natural and human-induced. The Initiative is thus not solely focused on Small Island Developing States, but looks more broadly at the qualities and issues that islands share regardless of their size or political status.