Page | 04 Feb, 2022
Since 1972, IUCN is the official advisor on nature under the World Heritage Convention. The Convention is known as "the most widely accepted international conservation treaty in human history”, ratified today by 195 States Parties. Natural World Heritage sites conserve the planet’s most…
Story | 20 Jan, 2022
The Government of Rwanda through its Ministry of Environment has unveiled three former African Heads of State as patrons for the upcoming inaugural IUCN Africa Protected Areas Congress (APAC).
Story | 06 Dec, 2021
Endangered Caspian Seal Habitat Awarded Important Marine Mammal Area Status
Today, the IUCN Task Force on Marine Mammal Protected Areas, a joint task force of the IUCN Species Survival Commission and the World Commission on Protected Areas, announces that Caspian seals have been awarded three Important Marine Mammal Areas, or IMMAs, as part of a tranche of 14 new IMMAs…
Story | 10 Nov, 2021
Global launch of the Great Blue Wall
Movement launched to conserve and restore marine and coastal biodiversity while unlocking the development of a regenerative sustainable blue economy
At the UNFCCC COP26 in Glasgow, Western Indian Ocean states and partners including International Union for Conservation of…
Story | 29 Oct, 2021
This International Black Sea Action Day, 31st October, 11 habitats of Red-List Endangered Black Sea harbour porpoises and bottlenose dolphins as well as Vulnerable Black Sea common dolphins have been formally awarded Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA) status by the…
Story | 27 Oct, 2021
Gland, Switzerland, 22 October, IUCN – This new report is an important step to close the plastic pollution knowledge gaps in three regions: Eastern and Southern Africa, the Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia – showcasing inter- and intra-regional similarities and…
Story | 19 Oct, 2021
Marine Heatwaves: a serious threat to marine biodiversity and livelihoods
Back in 2011, extremely warm water temperatures persisting over thousands of kilometres along the coastline of Western Australia caused coral bleaching, mass die-out of marine life and wiped out kelp forests. Since then, this phenomenon of abnormally high-water temperatures has been recorded in…
Story | 13 Oct, 2021
Plankton are the superstars of the ocean and MAPMAKER is the tool that follows them
Without marine plankton our planet would be a different place. Future projections and impact metrics of plankton diversity around the world are now able to be seen graphically through the MAPMAKER tool. MAPMAKER's new visualisation tools allow data-driven decision-making on marine biodiversity…
Story | 17 Jun, 2021
Exploring the potential for marine OECMs in the Mediterranean
IUCN along with the World Commission for Protected Areas (WCPA), the IUCN Commission on Ecosystems Management - Fisheries Expert Group and other international organisations are promoting conservation beyond protected areas by providing guidance on identifying, recognising, supporting and…
Press release | 19 May, 2021
World met target for protected area coverage on land, but quality must improve