Latest news from the International Union for Conservation of Nature
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Drylands mustn't go to waste
How can we manage something that we can’t measure? The value of drylands is often overlooked and yet they are a crucial source of income and other benefits for millions of people worldwide, as well as for the environment. IUCN works to ensure that dryland resources are valued, recognized and taken into account by decision makers. …
24 May 2010 | News story
Seismic threat to Critically Endangered whales
A seismic survey planned by the Russian petroleum company Rosneft in summer 2010 poses a major threat to the Critically Endangered Western Gray Whale population. In a letter to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the Director General of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Julia Marton-Lefèvre, urges the Russian government to intervene to postpone the seismic survey and prevent a serious setback for animal conservation. …
24 May 2010 | International news release
One step forward to halting biodiversity loss?
Governments have made “positive moves” towards coming up with a plan to reduce the current loss of biodiversity, which is threatening the future of our planet. Over the past two weeks, delegates at a meeting in Nairobi have been discussing the scientific and technical aspects behind a new “big plan” to save all life on earth, the planet’s biodiversity. Scientists from IUCN, who have been taking part in the discussions, say that they’re encouraged by the commitment shown by governments to develop a new Strategic Plan for the next ten years, which would set targets to reduce the global rate of biodiversity loss. …
23 May 2010 | International news release
Celebrating International Biodiversity Day: Nature’s solutions for poverty reduction
Today IUCN celebrates the International Day for Biological Diversity focusing on the links between biodiversity, human development and people’s livelihoods. This has special significance for every plant and animal on Earth, particularly during this International Year of Biodiversity, and comes at a time when world leaders are setting new targets to stop biodiversity loss. …
21 May 2010 | News story
What’s in it for me? Engaging local communities in conservation
Edmund Barrow, Regional Forest Advisor from IUCN’s Forest Conservation Programme in Africa, is based in Nairobi but supports the Forest Programme across the whole continent. Engagement with local communities is a very important part of his work. Here he talks about the challenges that this entails and how conservation work can bring real-life benefits both to people and to the environment. …
21 May 2010 | Audio
Japanese vision – the New Strategic Plan, a decade of biodiversity and raising awareness with origami
After the scientific and technical discussions in Nairobi, the eyes of the conservation world will be moving towards Nagoya, Japan, where Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will meet in October this year to make binding decisions on the future of the world’s biodiversity. The Japan Committee for IUCN has been working to make every effort to ensure that this event, which is crucial for the future of our planet, has a high profile in Japan. Professor Masahito Yoshida is the Chair of the Japan Committee for IUCN. Here he answers questions about the Committee’s work, its role in the CBD conference and how the Japan Committee for IUCN uses origami to raise awareness of the need to conserve biodiversity, all life on earth. …
21 May 2010 | News story
Are protected areas in Africa harbouring invasive species?
Protected areas, long thought of as safe refuges for animals and plants, are under increasing threats from invasive species which not only affect biodiversity but also people’s livelihoods. Protected areas can have huge social and economic value, particularly in Africa, where national parks are a major tourist attraction and a significant source of income. But according to the Global Invasive Species Programme, of which IUCN and CABI are partners, many managers of protected areas in Africa are not aware of the severity of the problem which is on their doorsteps nor how to address it. …
20 May 2010 | International news release
New prescription needed for medicinal plants
Medicinal plants are valuable species: they provide income and healthcare to thousands of people around the world. Greater numbers of people rely on traditional medicine, mostly based on herbs, for their primary healthcare than ‘conventional’ or western medicine. But 15,000 species of medicinal plants are globally threatened from, amongst others, loss of habitat, overexploitation, invasive species and pollution. …
18 May 2010 | International news release
Oil, risk and technology: the choices we need to make
This opinion article by Dr. William Jackson, IUCN Deputy Director General, is published in the BBC's Green Room at this address http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8689201.stm …
18 May 2010 | News story
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Saving biodiversity isn't rocket science
The best possible science needs to be available to governments and policy makers as they strive to find solutions to the biodiversity crisis. Independent, credible scientific advice delivered in a relevant and readily usable way for decision making is the key to effective policies. …
17 May 2010 | International news release
