The world’s conservation community will come together in Barcelona, in October 2008, with Spain selected today as the host country for the next IUCN World Conservation Congress.

The 65th IUCN Council meeting has admitted 24 new members to the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The new members include government agencies and international and national NGOs. In addition, Council recognized the IUCN National Committees of Jordan and Paraguay and the IUCN Subregional Committee of Central Africa.

Council appointed Ibrahim Thiaw as the Acting Director General of the World Conservation Union starting on 1 June 2006, the day after the departure of Achim Steiner. Ibrahim Thiaw, currently Regional Director of IUCN's West Africa Office will lead the Union until the new Director General has been recruited.

The Council of the World Conservation Union today appointed Keith Wheeler to succeed Denise Hamu as Chair of the Commission on Education and Communication. Juanita Castaño was appointed deputy Chair.

For the first time, the World Conservation Union will have a Gender and Biodiversity Task Force. Today, the IUCN Council approved the proposed task force and thereby paved the way for the Union to strengthen its work on gender issues.

The IUCN Council approved the new “Future of Sustainability” Initiative today and asked IUCN to take it forward. The IUCN Director General is asked to appoint a steering group to guide the initiative and to engage IUCN members worldwide.