Story | 31 Dec, 2011
Setting gold standards for conservation
An important role of the IUCN Congress is to showcase the knowledge and tools we can use to better manage our natural world. As well as being a world leader on species and their conservation needs, IUCN offers the expertise needed to establish and sustainably manage our protected areas—national…
Story | 21 Dec, 2011
World Firsts on Henderson Island
The Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB), an IUCN Member, and the Pitcairn Islands Government have announced that the ground-breaking rat eradication operation to restore Henderson Island, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in the South Pacific, has been successfully implemented. The…
Story | 18 Dec, 2011
IPBES Forum: One for all, all for one
Are you eager to be engaged in shaping an Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and defining its goals? Do you want to bring your knowledge and experience to the attention of governments and other decision makers? Here is your chance. The…
Press release | 13 Dec, 2011
Saving Nemo: charisma is not enough
If conservation action is not taken, there may come a time when no one will be able to find Nemo. One in every six species related to characters in the movie Finding Nemo is threatened by extinction, according to a new study by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and Simon…
Story | 06 Dec, 2011
Protecting nature makes sense: IUCN and Rio Tinto assess conservation’s costs and benefits
A new study by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) finds that by financing the restoration or protection of natural areas, companies can offset the negative impacts of their operations and generate significant economic benefits, but the needs of local communities must be…
Story | 05 Dec, 2011
Forest Day: the face of forests at UN climate change negotiations
Forest Day has become something of a tradition at the annual UN climate change conference, the UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP). Here at COP17 in Durban, Forest Day 5 was held on 4 December, bringing together over 1000 people who work on – and are passionate about – forestry issues, including…
Story | 01 Dec, 2011
The role of ecosystems in adaptation is recognized at the international level under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Ecosystem-based approaches to…
Story | 27 Nov, 2011
More than 180,000 protected areas—national parks, nature reserves and so on—now cover over 12% of the world’s land area and 7.2% of coastal waters. They play an important role in reducing carbon emissions and helping people adapt to the impacts of climate change. These are the findings of a…
Press release | 22 Nov, 2011
European Environment: alarming decline in plants, molluscs and freshwater fish
Europe's natural heritage is showing an alarming decline, according to new research published today. The European Red List, a part of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™, assessed a considerable portion of Europe’s native fauna and flora, finding that a large proportion of molluscs,…
Story | 16 Nov, 2011
Species on the Edge app is launched
Acclaimed by the US Apple Store as ‘New and Noteworthy’, the new Species on the Edge app is a detailed guide to 365 species from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. Featuring stunning photos and thought-provoking information it allows users to learn about threatened species from around the…