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NEWS RELEASE
Major donors affirm confidence in IUCN's Programme
Gland, Switzerland, 28 June, 2001 (IUCN) - The Dutch and Norwegian development assistance agencies (DGIS and NORAD) this week signed funding agreements totalling approximately SFR 7 million (SFR4 and 3 million respectively) for IUCN's conservation work in 2001.
The signing took place at the annual meeting of IUCN's major donors led by President Yolanda Kakabadse and Director General Achim Steiner. The meeting included representatives from Canada, Denmark, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA.
The agreements demonstrate growing donor confidence in IUCN's new programme approach. Earlier this year, the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) and the US State Department signed agreements worth another SFR 7 million -- SFR 5,4 million and SFR 1,6 million respectively.
Since the early 1990s, these agreements provide IUCN with the core funds to support the management of its global programme and operations. In the remainder of 2001, IUCN expects to renew agreements with Denmark (DANIDA), Canada (CIDA), Italy (DGCS) and the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At the Rio de Janeiro World Summit in 1992, governments agreed to Agenda 21, the Climate Change Convention and Convention on Biological Diversity. Governments from the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) were asked to provide at least 0.7% of Gross National Product to support the actions of Agenda 21.
IUCN applauds the social and environmental responsibility of Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden and Norway, all of which have provided in excess of 0.8% of the GNP towards environmental and sustainable development assistance. Latest figures show that Denmark provides 1.06%, the Netherlands 0.82%, Sweden 0.81%, Norway 0.8% and Luxembourg 0.7%. No other country has yet reached the target of 0.7%.
IUCN - The World Conservation Union was founded in 1948 and brings together 79 states, 112 government agencies, 760 NGOs, 37 affiliates, and some 10,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries in a unique worldwide partnership. Its mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. Within the framework of global conventions, IUCN has helped over 75 countries to prepare and implement national conservation and biodiversity strategies. IUCN has approximately 1000 staff, most of whom are located in its 42 regional and country offices while 100 work at its Headquarters in Gland, Switzerland.
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