IUCN, The World Conservation Union is
primarily concerned with species loss and ecosystem integrity.
However, IUCN recognizes that the causes of environmental
problems are largely political, economic and social. Thus,
the IUCN Program 2005–2008 recognizes a need for the
Union to simultaneously focus on the direct and underlying
causes of biodiversity loss. The 2005–2008 Program
equally recognizes the link between environmental health
and human wellbeing and explicitly seeks to address the
elements of the UN Millennium Development Goals and the
World Summit on Sustainable Development’s Johannesburg
Plan of Implementation that relate to the environment-development
nexus.
The IUCN Program 2005-2008, “Many Voices, One Earth”
was adopted at the World Conservation Congress in November
last year. The Program is described in terms of the three
‘pillars’ of sustainable development –
economic, social and environmental – and it explicitly
seeks to improve the attention of decision makers on the
role of a healthy environment in sustainability by expanding
the role of the environment in sustainable development.
The Program recognizes that sustainable development will
ultimately depend on the condition of the natural environment
and it challenges whether current approaches to sustainable
development actually achieve sustainability.
The Program is presented through a strategy of knowledge,
empowerment and governance. IUCN will integrate, manage
and disseminate conservation-related knowledge; build
the capacity of people and institutions to plan, manage,
conserve and use nature and natural resources in a sustainable
and equitable manner (empowerment); and promote effective
environmental governance at global, regional, national
and local levels.
The Program document provides the framework on which
all of IUCN’s Commissions, Regional Programs, Global
Thematic Programs and support units in the Secretariat
plan, implement, monitor and evaluate their activities
with and on behalf of members.
http://www.iucn.org/ourwork/ppet/files/ProgrammeEnglish.pdf
