Story | 31 Aug, 2017
Canada’s newest and largest Marine Protected Area: Tallurutiup Imanga – Lancaster Sound
Since the late 1960s, the Inuit living in the Baffin region of the Canadian Arctic have sought protection for their traditional territory – an area which has provided their people with food, clothing and shelter for millennia. On 14 August 2017, the Government of Canada (Parks Canada), the…
Story | 11 Jul, 2017
IUCN WCPA announces finalists for the Kenton Miller Award 2017
Named for Dr Kenton R. Miller, one of the leading figures in international protected area conservation, the award honours innovation in protected area management. The winner of the award will be announced at IMPAC4, the 4th International Marine Protected Areas Congress, taking place in September…
Press release | 04 Jul, 2017
African national park taken off World Heritage ‘danger list’ following IUCN advice
Comoé National Park in Côte d’Ivoire has come off the List of World Heritage in Danger today, as its wildlife recovers from impacts of civil unrest. The decision follows a recommendation from IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature – the official advisory body to UNESCO’s World…
Story | 29 Jun, 2017
Iroise, the jewel of France's west coast
The Iroise Marine Nature Park, the first marine protected area in France, achieved IUCN Green List status in 2014. It was created in 2007 off the coast of Finistère between the islands of Ushant, Molène and Sein and the coasts of Crozon headland and Douarnenez, and protection for 350,000…
Story | 15 Jun, 2017
Astola Island – Pakistan’s first ever Marine Protected Area
The Astola Island has been designated as Pakistan’s first-ever Marine Protected Area. The notification in this regard has been issued by the Government of Balochistan, today, June 15, 2017.
Story | 28 Apr, 2017
The Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia (PNNC) hosted this year’s annual WCPA Steering Committee meeting in Cartagena, Colombia. The meeting was the first since Kathy MacKinnon was elected Chair and focused on the Commission’s achievements and challenges, the 2017-2020 Joint Work Programme…
Story | 23 Feb, 2017
Canada protects unique glass sponge reefs
The conservation community is celebrating a new marine protected area (MPA) for Canada’s ancient and unique glass sponge reefs, which provide a vital habitat to a wide range of marine animals including endangered rockfish. The designation came about through the tireless work of The Canadian…
Story | 26 Jan, 2017
World Wetlands Day: Strengthening resilience and collaboration to reduce disaster risk
On February 2nd the world celebrates its wetlands – complex ecosystems that provide a wide variety of services and benefits for people and nature. Wetlands such as estuaries, mangroves, marshes, and swamps play, beyond their biological role, a key part in helping people cope with disasters. Yet…
Story | 14 Dec, 2016
Update on global statistics from Protected Planet Report 2016
The latest update to the Protected Planet Report 2016 shows that there are now just under 15,000 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) spread across 18.5 million square kilometres of ocean and sea. Up to 13% of territorial waters are now protected, and dramatic progress has been made towards achieving…
Story | 17 Nov, 2016
Safety net: climate change response and recovery in northern Panay, Philippines
Typhoon Haiyan wrought destruction in the Philippines exactly three years ago, in November 2013. The island communities of northern Panay were particularly hard-hit. Recovery efforts relied heavily on coastal resources, and especially on fish for subsistence survival, yet boats, nets and other…