Story | 10 Mar, 2017
Ecosystem services for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction – a ‘win-win’ approach
Nadi, Fiji, 10 March 2017 (IUCN) – The increasing incidence and severity of disasters are leaving more people vulnerable each year. The Oceania region is particularly prone to disasters with cyclones, floods, droughts and other natural hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis causing widespread…
Story | 10 Mar, 2017
Promoting the conservation and wise use of Wetlands
Nadi, Fiji, 8 March 2017 (IUCN) – The Wetlands are under pressure from local and global factors, including coastal development, destructive fishing practices, inappropriate agricultural practices and watershed changes, invasive species, ocean acidification, and climate change…
Story | 08 Mar, 2017
Astola Island as a Marine Protected Area: Next steps after IUCN World Conservation Congress 2016
Located approximately 25 km off the coast of Balochistan province, Astola is Pakistan’s largest offshore island. Also known as “Jezira Haft Talar” (Island of the Seven Hills) due to the small, rocky mountains that span the 6.7 km2 island, this scenic spot has all the hallmarks of a tourist…
Story | 07 Mar, 2017
IUCN and Sakhalin Energy renew their commitment to protect western gray whales
An independent scientific panel created to protect critically endangered western gray whales in the Russian Far East will continue to monitor activities and provide recommendations to industry in the region for the next five years, according to IUCN.
Story | 23 Feb, 2017
Canada protects unique glass sponge reefs
The conservation community is celebrating a new marine protected area (MPA) for Canada’s ancient and unique glass sponge reefs, which provide a vital habitat to a wide range of marine animals including endangered rockfish. The designation came about through the tireless work of The Canadian…
Press release | 21 Feb, 2017
Invisible plastic particles from textiles and tyres a major source of ocean pollution – IUCN study
Tiny plastic particles washed off products such as synthetic clothes and car tyres could contribute up to 30% of the ‘plastic soup’ polluting the world’s oceans and – in many developed countries – are a bigger source of marine plastic pollution than plastic waste, according to a new IUCN report…
Story | 21 Feb, 2017
Mass mangrove restoration: Driven by good intentions but offering limited results
There is an urgent need to address the global degradation of coastal ecosystems, but are mass mangrove planting initiatives sustainable?
Story | 20 Feb, 2017
BEST initiative as the first interregional GLISPA challenge
The BEST Challenge is a commitment to promote conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services, including ecosystem-based approaches to climate adaptation and mitigation in the EU overseas.
Story | 17 Feb, 2017
Efforts to save western gray whales featured on Marine Mammals Day in Russia
On the eve of World Day of Marine Mammal Protection (Whales Day) in Russia, IUCN, WWF and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) released the Russian version of a joint report that examines how an IUCN-led independent scientific panel has contributed to the protection of the western…
Story | 14 Feb, 2017
UN Ocean Conference Preparatory meeting, 15-16 February, New York
In June 2017, the Ocean Conference – a high-level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 - will take place in New York. The world community comes together to discuss meaningful and innovative ways to CONSERVE AND SUSTAINABLY USE THE OCEANS,…