Story | 01 May, 2014
Viet Nam ratifies the Nagoya Protocol
Montreal, 1 May 2014 – With four new ratifications in the last week, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization has received 66% of the necessary ratifications, with only 17 more ratifications needed for it to…
Publication | 2014
Assessment of python breeding farms supplying the international high-end leather industry
This report is the first one delivered under the Python Conservation Partnership. Established in November 2013, the Partnership aims to contribute to the improved sustainability of the python skin trade and to help facilitate industry-wide change. The present report provides information on how…
Story | 25 Mar, 2014
World’s Rarest Gorilla Gets New Roadmap for Survival
In spite of the continued threats of poaching and habitat destruction, future prospects for the world’s rarest gorilla - the Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla dielhi) - have improved but are still dependent on continued local and international partnerships, according to a new action plan…
Story | 20 Mar, 2014
Supporting our forest guardians
Almost exactly a year ago, on the 14th of March 2013, 33-year old Thaweesak Chomyong, a ranger working in Thailand’s Pang Sida National Park was fatally shot when a group of poachers fired upon his patrol team before fleeing the scene. This was not an isolated incident. The neighbouring Thap Lan…
Story | 23 Feb, 2014
(Un)protected Areas: Rosewood Poaching in Thailand’s Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai World Heritage Site
The Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex encompasses some of the most pristine forests and wildlife habitats in Thailand and is globally important for its biodiversity; that is why it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. However, in recent years, the four national parks and…
Story | 04 Feb, 2014
Entrepreneurship for World Heritage in Africa: sign up to the workshop
The African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), in partnership with the Centre for Heritage Development in Africa (CHDA) and Ecole du Patrimoine Africain (EPA), launch the call for applications for the training workshops on entrepreneurship.
Press release | 02 Feb, 2014
IUCN welcomes Total’s ‘no-go’ commitment in World Heritage sites
Oil and gas company Total has confirmed that it will not carry out extractive operations within natural World Heritage sites, including Virunga National Park. IUCN welcomes this decision and calls on all oil and gas companies to follow suit.
Press release | 02 Dec, 2013
As delegates gather to discuss the plight of the African Elephant at a summit convened by the Government of Botswana and IUCN, new analyses released today find that if poaching rates are sustained at current levels, Africa is likely to lose a fifth of its elephants in the next 10 years.
Story | 14 Nov, 2013
Myanmar seeks global standards to conserve its natural heritage
Myanmar is renewing efforts to implement the World Heritage Convention. As the country opens up to international conservation processes, IUCN is providing expertise to help identify potential natural heritage sites.
Story | 08 Oct, 2013
Two dams stopped after IUCN advises against World Heritage nomination
Viet Nam has dropped plans for two proposed hydropower plants that would have affected a protected area, which has been on the tentative list for possible World Heritage nomination since 2006.