Story | 13 Jul, 2020
Uzbekistan makes a big step forward towards achieving global biodiversity targets
The surface of protected areas in Uzbekistan has increased 36% since its previous update 23 years ago, revealed the July release of the World Database of Protected Areas. This data submission is boosting the progress towards the achievement of Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 set by the Convention…
Story | 02 Feb, 2020
Cold Winter Deserts of Central Asia among potential World Heritage sites, new IUCN report finds
Cold Winter Deserts in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are among six globally significant biodiversity sites in Central Asia that could potentially qualify for World Heritage status, according to a new report launched today by IUCN, the official advisor on natural World Heritage.
Story | 08 Jan, 2020
Creating value in the wildlife economy
Dr Sue Snyman used studies of southern African protected areas, their tourist facilities, and their communities, to answer questions of why conservation in these African nations makes the wildlife economy valuable (at the Global Wildlife Program annual conference, 2019, in Pretoria, South Africa…
Story | 05 Dec, 2019
IUCN-outsourced paper finds no proof Rufiji dam project can meet Tanzania’s development needs
A strategic environmental assessment meant to guide decisions on the Rufiji hydropower project in Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve World Heritage site is completely inadequate, according to an independent technical review commissioned and issued today by IUCN. The document does not assess the…
Story | 23 Oct, 2019
The world of protected areas in one book, now in Spanish
The entirety of protected area management and governance has been available in one book since the IUCN World Parks Congress 2014, in Sydney. The Spanish version of this publication, 'Protected Area Governance and Management’, was launched in Lima, on 15 October 2019, at the third Latin American…
Story | 07 Jun, 2019
IUCN advises “in danger” status for three World Heritage sites
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 Macedonia.
Story | 23 Apr, 2018
The wonders of Shouf Biosphere Reserve, Lebanon
Al-Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve, accounting for a quarter of the remaining cedar forest in Lebanon, was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in July 2005. Covering approximately 50,000 hectares - or 5% of the total area of Lebanon, the legendary cedar is still revered and remains prominent in…
Story | 11 Dec, 2017
Participatory scenario planning
By Ignacio Palomo
How can we manage a large protected area system with reduced public funding resources and new challenges arising from multiple drivers of change? This was the question that EUROPARC Spain, an institution that mobilises multiple stakeholders around protected areas in…
Press release | 17 Nov, 2014
Global appetite for resources pushing new species to the brink – IUCN Red List
Pacific Bluefin Tuna, Chinese Pufferfish, American Eel, Chinese Cobra and an Australian butterfly are threatened with extinction
Press release | 02 Feb, 2014
IUCN welcomes Total’s ‘no-go’ commitment in World Heritage sites
Oil and gas company Total has confirmed that it will not carry out extractive operations within natural World Heritage sites, including Virunga National Park. IUCN welcomes this decision and calls on all oil and gas companies to follow suit.