IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

The IUCN Environmental Law Programme Newsletter is currently published annually. The Newsletter is sent to members of the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law (CEL) and IUCN staff, members, and friends. An electronic version of the Newsletter is available through this web site.

The ELP Newsletter has long served two critical functions - connection and information.

The ELP is the world's environmental law network and its members, staff and partners span the globe. The CEL, the Environmental Law Centre (ELC), IUCN Regional and Country Offices and partners include lawyers, jurists and other professionals engaged in many different aspects of environmental practice. One of the most crucial tasks of the leaders of this programme is enhancing the interconnection of these physically separated but uniquely bonded individuals. In furtherance of this function, the Newsletter provides

• reports on major CEL meetings and activities;
• updates on recent and relevant activities and projects undertaken by CEL, the ELC, IUCN programs, regional and country offices and partners with whom we share memoranda of understanding, including regional 'centres of excellence';
• descriptions of major events attended ; and
• opportunities for individual participation and involvement in the work of the ELP.

Beyond its role of linking members to one another, the newsletter aims to serve the function of linking ELP members to information and knowledge in areas within IUCN's unique and important expertise. Its approach is based on three facts:

1. It is extremely difficult today to stay completely up-to-date on all areas of environmental law.
2. Due to the lessons of their area of specialisation, environmental lawyers are (perhaps uniquely) aware that developments in any area of environmental law are interconnected to all others. Hence, they are more keenly aware of the need to know what's happening within all areas of environmental law.
3. Most law journals seek to be comprehensive, providing a level of detail that makes it difficult to use them as a basis for "staying abreast of developments."
In its substantive articles, the ELP Newsletter recognises that conservation and sustainable use issues are of critical importance throughout environmental law, but are areas in which few lawyers are able to build a focused speciality. Hence, it is important to provide a summary that helps to inform lawyers of developments in the field, in a form that is accessible to those that have not specialised in the particular issue under discussion. In this way, its resources have also proven to be of value to conservation professionals in the sciences and social sciences, and served as a tool for building relationships with other IUCN commissions, partners, and professionals in many disciplines.

The greatest strength of the ELP Newsletter is in its contribution from CEL members, IUCN Members, and IUCN staff. Contributions are always welcome.
Articles should be from 500-2000 words. If you wish to submit an article please contact the Editor of the Newsletter. Contact the ELC.