IUCN Council

The IUCN Council is the principal governing body of IUCN - The World Conservation Union in between sessions of the World Conservation Congress - the general assembly of the Union's members.

The Council is responsible for the oversight and general control of all the affairs of IUCN, subject to the authority of the World Conservation Congress.

The Council is composed of:

  • the President;
  • the Treasurer;
  • three Regional Councillors from each of IUCN's eight Statutory Regions (Africa, Meso and South America, North America and the Caribbean, South and East Asia, West Asia, Oceania, East Europe, North and Central Asia and West Europe);
  • a representative of IUCN's Host Country - the Swiss Confederation;
  • the Chairs of IUCN's six Commissions; and
  • five additional Councillors chosen by Council on the basis of diverse qualifications, interests and skills.

The elected members of Council hold office from the close of the World Conservation Congress to the close of the next ordinary session of the Congress.

IUCN Council 2005