Story | 11 Jan, 2018
SDGs and environment sidelined in EU budget debate
This week EU officials, ministers and experts debated the next EU budget in a high-level conference. Although the event was called ‘Shaping our future’, disappointingly nature and the environment received only passing mentions.
Story | 12 Dec, 2017
EU auditors find CAP ‘greening’ measures ineffective
The European Court of Auditors (ECA) has found that the ‘greening’ of direct payments under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has been environmentally ineffective.
Story | 29 Nov, 2017
EU ideas for agriculture hold some promise for nature but questions remain
Today, the European Commission unveiled its strategy for the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which calls for more environmentally friendly farming in the EU; however key questions remain regarding implementation and budgetary commitments.
Story | 21 Nov, 2017
EU Court orders Poland to stop Białowieża logging or face €100,000 daily fine
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ordered Poland to cease logging in the ancient Białowieża forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or face a possible fine of at least €100,000 per day. The Polish Ministry of the Environment has argued that the logging is necessary to counter a…
Story | 16 Nov, 2017
MEPs ask European Commission to start planning to protect biodiversity after 2020
IUCN welcomes today’s Resolution from the European Parliament on the EU Action Plan for Nature, People and the Economy and joins the Parliament in asking the Commission to start working without delay on the next EU Biodiversity Strategy, for the period post-2020.
Story | 24 Jul, 2017
Places of extraordinary natural value inscribed as World Heritage
UNESCO's 41st session of the World Heritage Committee took place in Kraków, Poland from 2 to 12 July 2017. Four natural wonders that have been inscribed on the World Heritage list in 2017 followed the advice of the IUCN’s advisory body on nature to the World Heritage Committee. Two new…
Press release | 05 Jul, 2017
Kraków, Poland, 05 July 2017 (IUCN) – The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has adopted a decision today urging Poland to immediately halt all logging and wood extraction in the old-growth forests of Białowieża. The decision follows the advice of the International Union for Conservation of Nature…
Press release | 30 Jun, 2017
Gland, Switzerland, 30 June 2017 (IUCN) – Illegal fishing, logging and poaching are impacting two-thirds of the 57 natural World Heritage sites monitored by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) this year, putting some of the world’s most precious and unique ecosystems and…
Story | 31 Mar, 2017
Envisioning a world that considers nature’s rights: an introductory discussion in Europe
Enhancing the value of nature can play an important role in addressing some of the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges. Acknowledging nature’s rights may be a useful tool to help leverage nature and aid in reaching Europe’s biodiversity targets. On 29 March 2017, Nature’s Rights – a…
Story | 08 Mar, 2017
Empowering women in water management - International Women's Day 2017
IUCN is committed to gender equality. To support International Women's Day, the Water Programme compiled some of their most recent efforts to empower women in decisions and actions for sustainable water management.