Story | 20 Jul, 2013
Improving ecosystem functionality and livelihood
This paper examines how interventions intended to improve functionality and productivity of forested landscapes to improve livelihoods of the poorest populations, might actually yield co-benefits in terms of biodiversity conservation. It argues in favour of a ‘landscape’ approach to achieve…
Story | 18 Jul, 2013
Extracting value from the forest - Acre, Brazil
Originally important in the 19th century as a source of latex rubber, the region subsequently lost out following the rise of the Malaysian rubber industry. As a result, large swathes of the region’s forests were converted for farming and cattle ranching resulting in a loss of forest cover and…
Story | 16 Jul, 2013
Moving Closer to Nature - Miyun Landscape, China
Substantial efforts have been made over the last 30 or 40 years to reforest the Miyun landscape. These efforts were a response to the very urgent need to protect the Miyun reservoir and its watershed, which supplies up to 80% of the water used in Bejing, China’s capital city. Over the last…
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.
Press release | 21 Feb, 2013
Secrets of world’s richest marine area revealed
A new study finds that sea surface temperature, as well as the size and variety of habitats are the main factors responsible for the proliferation of marine life in the Coral Triangle – the most biologically diverse marine region in the world.
Story | 02 Aug, 2012
IUCN invests in rainforest rehabilitation to offset Congress footprint
To help compensate for the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the 2012 World Conservation Congress in Jeju, IUCN has selected a credible, sustainable project for effective offsetting. The project is Infapro, by Face the Future, and is based on improved forest management in Borneo.
Story | 04 Jul, 2012
Last few hours for discounts on Congress fees
2012 is a busy year for environmental decision-making, with many large-scale conventions taking place. But the IUCN World Conservation Congress is a unique event with a unique audience. It is the only global summit that represents every aspect of conservation, bringing together leaders of all…
Story | 16 Jun, 2012
Up the road from Rio - fresh forests and green jobs
Several centuries of farming have left the Atlantic rainforest north of Rio de Janeiro scarred and with just a few patches of forest left as havens to rare birds and mammals. Recovery of this forest would seem a tall order. But for Mauricio Ruiz, founder of Instituto Terra de Preservacao…
Press release | 31 May, 2012
Invest in nature, improve our world
Background: In advance of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), or ‘Rio+20’ as it is commonly known, IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) calls upon policy-makers to rethink economic growth, promote social equity and ensure environmental protection.…
Story | 18 Aug, 2011
Young writers' forest letter contest - Barbados and China win!
A Great Oak in Guyana’s Windsor Forest and an observant little tree ‘prepared to care for humanity’ helped 15-year-old Charlée Gittens from Barbados and 13-year-old Wang Sa from China to win gold medals in the Universal Postal Union’s 40th International Letter-Writing Competition for Young…