Story | 04 Aug, 2017
Saving sea turtles in Viet Nam by touching the hearts of local communities
On a sunny day in May 2016, coast guards in Quang Nam Province in Viet Nam found six endangered marine turtles caught by a local fisherman. The shiny shells of the beautiful green turtles and the rare hawksbill turtle reflected the bright sunlight. They were still alive. “It is illegal to catch…
Story | 31 Jul, 2017
How mangroves got their roots back in East Java
Clean air and food on the table. For World Mangroves Day, we're highlighting the ways mangroves offer sustainable solutions to those communities whose livelihoods depend on the resources provided by a resilient coast.
Story | 18 Jul, 2017
Developing a management plan for the wise use of the Gulf of Mottama
On January 23-24, 2017 in Mawlamyine, the second at state/region consultation workshop on developing a management plan for the wise use of the Gulf of Mottama was organised as a part of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Community-Led Coastal Management in the Gulf of Mottama…
Story | 12 Jul, 2017
Europe agrees to step up the fight against invasive alien species
Following the opinion of the Committee on Invasive Alien Species (IAS), the European Commission adopted yesterday 12 new species onto the EU’s list of IAS of Union concern. These species, which include the raccoon dog, muskrat and giant hogweed, all pose serious threats to Europe’s biodiversity…
Story | 27 Jun, 2017
Blog: IUCN changed my life # 3
When I decided to join the IUCN Sea Turtle Volunteer Program in Con Dao in 2015, it had been a few months since I had quit my job. It was a stable office job but with many pressures that exhausted me: the daily traffic jam, fingerprint scans before and after work, office uniforms, business-style…
Story | 26 Jun, 2017
Back in 2015, I was a university student who travelled and went backpacking often. However the volunteer trip to Bay Canh Island in Con Dao National Park organized by IUCN was a very different experience for me and unlike any other trip I had been on.
Story | 26 Jun, 2017
New tools to assess vulnerability of wetlands in the Mekong
From June 19 to 21, IUCN staff, partners, and local officials from the Xe Champhone and Beung Kiat Ngong Ramsar sites in Lao PDR gathered in Champhone District for a training on the use of a new series of tools to assess the vulnerability of the areas’ wetlands. The…
Story | 14 Jun, 2017
IUCN and Anantara collaborate to protect marine turtles in Sri Lanka
At a time where increasing pressure is being placed on the environment, the private sector is realising the importance of conserving natural habitats and biodiversity in order to protect the viability of their businesses. In Sri Lanka, as a symbol of their pledge to…
DG Statement | 07 Jun, 2017
IUCN Director General's statement on World Oceans Day
Where did life on Earth begin? The fact is, no one really knows. Charles Darwin imagined a “warm little pond”, while some scientists today speculate about tide pools and hot springs. Increasingly, however, scientists are narrowing in on one hypothesis: that life began around a deep sea…
Story | 01 Jun, 2017
Towards a solid ‘Mediterranean Wetlands Alliance’
After a first workshop held in October 2016, in which participants discussed the potential need, added value and main focus of the creation of a possible Mediterranean Wetlands Alliance. Malaga is hosting the second Mediterranean Wetlands Alliance Meeting on June 1st, 2017.