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IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature calls on the Brazilian and other governments and citizens to help halt the fires in Amazonia
25.08.2019

The Amazon is one of the most important biomes on the planet. Shared by nine countries, it covers more than 8 million square kilometres and is home to some 30% of the world’s biodiversity. The Amazon is also one of the most important carbon stores in the...

IUCN Director General’s Statement on International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2019
09.08.2019

We cannot achieve conservation and wellbeing for people and planet unless we respect and value the rights of indigenous peoples. For centuries, indigenous peoples across the world have preserved much of Earth’s biodiversity. At this precipice of history,...

Unsustainable fishing and hunting for bushmeat driving iconic species to extinction – IUCN Red List
18.07.2019

Gland, Switzerland, 18 July 2019 (IUCN) – Overfishing has pushed two families of rays to the brink of extinction, while hunting for bushmeat and habitat loss have led to the decline of seven primate species, according to the latest update of The IUCN Red List...

The looming extinction of the vaquita puts Gulf of California on World Heritage danger list
03.07.2019

The World Heritage Committee today followed IUCN’s advice to list Mexico’s Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California as a World Heritage site in danger. The site’s population of vaquitas – the world’s smallest and most endangered species of...

Selous reserve could lose World Heritage status if dam project goes ahead – IUCN
27.06.2019

The Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania faces irreversible damage if plans to build the Stiegler’s Gorge dam go ahead, according to IUCN – the official advisor on natural World Heritage. Ultimately, this could lead to the reserve being removed from the World...

One-year countdown to world’s leading biodiversity event begins
13.06.2019

“Biodiversity is now on the international agenda to the same degree as the fight against climate change. It is essential to create an international dynamic in favour of biodiversity, with increased awareness and the involvement of the general public. By...

IUCN advises “in danger” status for three World Heritage sites
07.06.2019

IUCN, the official advisor on natural World Heritage, recommends for three natural sites to be listed as “World Heritage in danger”: the Sundarbans in Bangladesh, Mexico’s Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California and the Ohrid region in North...

IUCN Director General’s statement on World Oceans Day 2019
07.06.2019

Exploring gender dimensions of humankind’s relationship with the ocean   Humanity’s historical bond with the ocean brings to mind fishermen and seafarers. Yet, as highlighted by today’s Oceans Day theme, women are the often unseen protagonists of...

IUCN Director General’s statement on International Day for Biological Diversity 2019
21.05.2019

Few are not familiar with the story of a unique goose and the golden eggs that made its master rich, until greed drove him to kill the bird. This ancient fable of Aesop’s has many equivalents around the world, reaching back millennia. Yet in all this time, we...

Huge sub-Antarctic area among five sites recommended by IUCN for World Heritage List
20.05.2019

The official advisory body on natural World Heritage, IUCN - International Union for Conservation of Nature, recommends listing four new World Heritage sites for their outstanding natural value in Brazil, France, Iceland and Iran, and approving the extension...

IUCN and Lacoste team up again to inspire support for threatened species
16.05.2019

The Lacoste-IUCN partnership has launched its second awareness-raising campaign to support species conservation action worldwide.

Rewriting genes could have broad knock-on effects on nature – IUCN report
09.05.2019

The emerging field of synthetic biology could affect nature in ways that go beyond single genetically engineered organisms, according to an IUCN report published today.

IUCN welcomes the Intergovernmental Platform’s Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
06.05.2019

IUCN welcomes the Global Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services report, which reveals the severity of the loss of living nature and its grave consequences for humans. The report was published today by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform...

Almost half of World Heritage sites could lose their glaciers by 2100
30.04.2019

Glaciers are set to disappear completely from almost half of World Heritage sites if business-as-usual emissions continue, according to the first-ever global study of World Heritage glaciers, co-authored by scientists from the International Union for...

IUCN welcomes Kosovo as its newest Member
16.04.2019

Kosovo has officially joined IUCN, thereby entering a neutral forum in which governments, NGOs, Indigenous peoples' organisations, scientists, businesses, local communities, and others shape and implement solutions to environmental challenges together.

IUCN calls for a moratorium on projects impacting the Critically Endangered Tapanuli orangutan
16.04.2019

IUCN is deeply concerned about ongoing and new threats to the Critically Endangered Tapanuli orangutan in Sumatra, Indonesia. IUCN therefore calls for the development and adoption of a conservation management plan for the Tapanuli orangutan based on an...

IUCN welcomes the Kingdom of Bahrain as new State Member
31.03.2019

IUCN ROWA looks forward to a mutually rewarding cooperation between the Kingdom of Bahrain Government and the Regional Office 

IUCN guide to help new sports venues minimise impact on nature
12.03.2019

Nairobi, Kenya, 12 March 2019, (IUCN) – A guide designed to help integrate biodiversity considerations into new sports venues, minimising their impacts on nature and delivering conservation benefits, was released today by IUCN, International Union for...

IUCN Director General’s statement for International Women’s Day 2019
04.03.2019

We are all fighters in the global battle for gender equality. And as we fast approach International Women’s Day we should rightly celebrate our successes, while also highlighting the areas where the world urgently needs more progress.

IUCN Director General appointed to head UNEP
21.02.2019

IUCN Director General Inger Andersen has been appointed to the post of Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) by the United Nations General Assembly.

IUCN study identifies tree species for climate-resilient reforestation
07.02.2019

An IUCN study has identified tree species native to Indonesia’s Kutai National Park that are resilient to climate change and support threatened East Bornean orangutan populations, recommending their use in reforestation efforts. The study was funded by the...

Statement by IUCN Director General on the Brumadinho tailings dam collapse in Brazil
30.01.2019

IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature,  expresses solidarity with everyone impacted by the Brumadinho tailings dam collapse in Brazil and conveys condolences to families that have lost loved ones. In addition to the inestimable impact of...

IUCN lists 15 new sites as world’s best protected areas
24.11.2018

Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, 24 November 2018 (IUCN) – The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has admitted 15 new natural sites to the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas – the first global standard recognising best practice in...

Report shows 15% of terrestrial and 7% of marine areas now covered by protected areas
18.11.2018

Around 15% of the world’s terrestrial area is better safeguarded by conservation measures, as well as over 7% of the world’s oceans, ensuring the world is on track to meet important conservation targets, according to the latest Protected Planet Report.

Fin Whale, Mountain Gorilla recovering thanks to conservation action – IUCN Red List
14.11.2018

Gland, Switzerland, 14 November 2018 (IUCN) – Conservation action has brought renewed hope for the Fin Whale and the Mountain Gorilla, according to today’s update of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Fin Whale has improved in status from Endangered...