Press release | 02 Jul, 2013
World’s oldest and largest species in decline – IUCN Red List
The latest update of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ shows worrying declines for conifers – the world’s oldest and largest organisms – freshwater shrimps, cone snails and the Yangtze Finless Porpoise. The Santa Cruz Pupfish, a lizard known as the Cape Verde Giant Skink and a species of…
Story | 01 Jul, 2013
Keeping the spirit of the 2012 Congress alive
IUCN is pleased to announce the launch of the IUCN Conservation Trends Platform, which illustrates trends for conservation based on analysis undertaken during the Forum of the 2012 IUCN World Conservation Congress on a…
Press release | 26 Jun, 2013
222 Natural World Heritage sites to protect
Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 27 June, 2013 (IUCN) – From vast deserts in Namibia and Mexico to high mountain ranges in China and Tajikistan and Mount Etna in Italy, five exceptional natural areas were added to the World Heritiage List, following IUCN’s recommendations. This brings the total number of…
Story | 23 Jun, 2013
Virunga National Park in peril from armed conflict and oil exploration
Two guards of the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature lost their lives following attacks by armed groups in the Virunga National Park World Heritage site, a recent report has revealed. Topped with oil exploration, continued unrest could lead to irreversible damages and ultimately…
Press release | 23 Jun, 2013
Pakistan makes it to the Guinness World Records by planting 847,275 mangrove saplings in a day
“The Sindh Forest Department has set a Guinness World Record for planting a maximum number of mangroves saplings at Keti Bunder”, informed the Additional Secretary Sindh Forest and Wildlife Department, Mr. Aijaz Ahmed Nizamani at a press conference held here on June 22, in Keti Bunder.
Story | 21 Jun, 2013
Global natural World Heritage coverage — the gaps identified
A new IUCN report identifies ‘gaps’ in the World Heritage List. The study also represents the first global effort to identify the most irreplaceable sites of outstanding biodiversity values for species conservation that may merit inscription on the prestigious list.
Press release | 20 Jun, 2013
World Heritage status for Namibia’s Sea of Sand
The Namib Sand Sea — a unique coastal fog desert with a diverse range of large, shifting dunes — was granted World Heritage status today at the annual UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Press release | 20 Jun, 2013
Tianshan mountains in China become World Heritage Site
Following IUCN’s recommendation, the Xinjiang Tianshan mountain range in China was declared a natural World Heritage Site at the World Heritage Committee meeting currently taking place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Legacy Article | 20 Jun, 2013
Tajikistan gets its first natural World Heritage Site
Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 21 June 2013 (IUCN) -- Tajik National Park became Tajikistan’s first natural World Heritage site. The decision was taken today by the World Heritage Committee, following the expert recommendation of IUCN.
Press release | 20 Jun, 2013
Iconic Mount Etna gains World Heritage status
Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 21 June 2013 (IUCN) - One of the world’s most active volcanoes, Italy’s Mount Etna has been named a World Heritage Site at the World Heritage Committee meeting currently taking place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, following IUCN’s recommendation.