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…
Story | 07 Nov, 2016
World Commission on Protected Areas - Marine: making a big splash for the future of our ocean
The 2014 World Parks Congress in Sydney saw a significant scaling-up of recognition of ocean issues by IUCN, WCPA-Marine and partners. Since then, much has taken place behind the scenes to expand WCPA-Marine action areas,whilst strengthening existing programmes, membership services and…
Story | 28 Jun, 2016
The tourist-proof region of Cerbère-Banyuls
Cerbère-Banyuls Natural Marine Reserve is located on the Catalan coast of Southern France in Languedoc-Roussillon in the Midi-Pyrénées. It’s a small area, taking up 6.5 km of coastal waters, and covering just 650 hectares overall. It was founded in 1974 as the first Natural Marine Reserve in…
Story | 01 Feb, 2016
World Wetlands Day: Wetlands & Sustainable Livelihoods
Each year, 2 February marks World Wetlands Day, to celebrate our planet’s wetlands but also to draw attention to the challenges that their degradation brings.
Story | 22 Nov, 2015
Valuing natural capital key to tackling climate change – says IUCN
Edinburgh, UK, 23 November 2015 -- IUCN Director General Inger Andersen highlighted the vital role of natural capital in addressing climate change in a…
Press release | 19 Nov, 2015
A global re-assessment of polar bears highlights loss of sea ice habitat due to climate warming as the single most important threat to the long-term survival of the species, according to the latest update of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ released today by IUCN, International Union for…
Story | 03 Nov, 2015
IUCN and UNESCO explore how World Heritage can protect the high seas
Watch this video to learn why IUCN has joined forces with UNESCO’s Marine World Heritage Programme to explore how the World Heritage Convention could protect the high seas.
Story | 07 Oct, 2015
If you want to go far, go together: Community-based conservation in Vamizi Island, Mozambique
The Vamizi Community Sanctuary (CS) is located on the western side of Vamizi Island, covering an area of about 10,000 hectares of reefs, mangroves, sand flats and deeper waters, and extending five kilometres out to sea. Even though it is only ten years old, it is one of the most successful…
Story | 07 Oct, 2015
A sea change: new global commitments to oceans and sustainability
As the UN, governments, NGOs and civil society organisations met at the Sustainable Development Goals Summit in New York last month, the world seems to be waking up to recognise the critical roles that a healthy environment, and healthy oceans can play in addressing current challenges, including…