Story | 23 Jan, 2018
IUCN reviews eight World Heritage nominations for 2018
The IUCN World Heritage Panel recently gathered in Gland, Switzerland to review eight natural areas nominated for potential inscription on the World Heritage List in 2018. Among these sites, three are in Asia, two in Europe, while the remaining three are located in North America, South America…
Story | 21 Nov, 2017
EU Court orders Poland to stop Białowieża logging or face €100,000 daily fine
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ordered Poland to cease logging in the ancient Białowieża forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or face a possible fine of at least €100,000 per day. The Polish Ministry of the Environment has argued that the logging is necessary to counter a…
Story | 07 Sep, 2017
EU Overseas - champions in marine and coastal protection
With 33% of national waters protected the EU Overseas spearhead efforts in global marine conservation
Story | 22 Aug, 2017
Waste not, want not - Wastewater focus of World Water Week
Every year World Water Week draws the global spotlight onto the world’s water challenges and opportunities. This year, the focus is on wastewater. Over 80% of global wastewater is released untreated back into nature, causing detrimental impacts on water supplies, human health, the economy, and…
Story | 24 Jul, 2017
Places of extraordinary natural value inscribed as World Heritage
UNESCO's 41st session of the World Heritage Committee took place in Kraków, Poland from 2 to 12 July 2017. Four natural wonders that have been inscribed on the World Heritage list in 2017 followed the advice of the IUCN’s advisory body on nature to the World Heritage Committee. Two new…
Press release | 05 Jul, 2017
Kraków, Poland, 05 July 2017 (IUCN) – The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has adopted a decision today urging Poland to immediately halt all logging and wood extraction in the old-growth forests of Białowieża. The decision follows the advice of the International Union for Conservation of Nature…
Press release | 30 Jun, 2017
Gland, Switzerland, 30 June 2017 (IUCN) – Illegal fishing, logging and poaching are impacting two-thirds of the 57 natural World Heritage sites monitored by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) this year, putting some of the world’s most precious and unique ecosystems and…
Story | 08 Mar, 2017
Empowering women in water management - International Women's Day 2017
IUCN is committed to gender equality. To support International Women's Day, the Water Programme compiled some of their most recent efforts to empower women in decisions and actions for sustainable water management.
Story | 26 Jan, 2017
World Wetlands Day: Strengthening resilience and collaboration to reduce disaster risk
On February 2nd the world celebrates its wetlands – complex ecosystems that provide a wide variety of services and benefits for people and nature. Wetlands such as estuaries, mangroves, marshes, and swamps play, beyond their biological role, a key part in helping people cope with disasters. Yet…
Story | 04 Sep, 2016
Meet the Heritage Hero voted by the public – Bibhuti Lahkar
The public has spoken, choosing Bibhuti Lahkar as the people’s choice Heritage Hero, for his dedication to the conservation of India’s Manas Wildlife Sanctuary. The result of last week’s online voting was announced at the 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congress in Hawai‘i, USA.