International Union for Conservation of Nature
Global authority on nature conservation and sustainable resource use.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a global organization focused on protecting nature and promoting the sustainable use of natural resources. Established in 1948, it is now considered the leading authority on the state of the natural world and what is required to protect it. Its work includes collecting and analyzing data, conducting research, running field projects, advocating for conservation, and educating others. The IUCN’s mission is to guide and encourage societies worldwide to conserve nature and ensure that natural resources are used fairly and sustainably.
Over time, the IUCN has expanded its focus beyond traditional conservation ecology to include issues related to sustainable development. Rather than trying to mobilize the general public, the organization aims to influence governments, businesses, and other key players by offering information, advice, and partnerships. It is most widely known for creating the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, which evaluates the extinction risk of species around the globe.
The IUCN has more than 1,400 member organizations, both governmental and non-governmental, from over 170 countries. Around 16,000 scientists and experts volunteer their time on various IUCN commissions. The organization also employs over 900 full-time staff across more than 50 countries, with its headquarters located in Gland, Switzerland. Every four years, it holds the IUCN World Conservation Congress, where members vote on recommendations to set the global conservation agenda and guide the secretariat through resolutions and the IUCN Programme.
The IUCN holds observer and consultative status at the United Nations and helps implement several international agreements on nature conservation and biodiversity. It played a role in founding both the World Wide Fund for Nature and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. The organization has faced criticism in the past for prioritizing nature over the rights of indigenous peoples, and more recently, its growing ties with the business sector have sparked controversy.
The IUCN was originally established on October 5, 1948, in Fontainebleau, France, as the International Union for the Protection of Nature (IUPN). The initiative came from UNESCO and its first director general, British biologist Julian Huxley. At the time, it was the only international organization dedicate
- founded
- 5 October 1948
- headquarters
- Gland, Switzerland
- field
- Nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources
- known_for
- Compiling and publishing the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- membership
- Over 1,400 governmental and non-governmental organizations from over 170 countries
Lore & Background
IUCN was established on 5 October 1948 in Fontainebleau, France, when representatives of governments and conservation organizations spurred on by UNESCO signed a formal act constituting the International Union for the Protection of Nature (IUPN). The initiative came from UNESCO and its first director general, Julian Huxley. At the time, it was the only international organization focusing on the entire spectrum of nature conservation. It started with 65 members from 18 countries and was closely associated with UNESCO, jointly organizing the 1949 Conference on Protection of Nature and drafting the first list of gravely endangered species. In its early years, IUCN depended almost entirely on UNESCO funding and was forced to scale down a
Reader's Guide
IUCN's significance lies in its role as the global authority on the status of the natural world, best known for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, first published in 1964. It has been involved in drafting and implementing major international conventions, including the World Heritage Convention, CITES, and the Ramsar Convention. IUCN does not aim to mobilize the public but influences governments, businesses, and stakeholders through information, advice, and partnerships. It has observer and consultative status at the United Nations and helped establish the World Wide Fund for Nature and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. The organization has faced criticism for placing nature's interests over those of indigenous peoples and for its closer relations with the business sector. Its mission is to 'influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.'
Did You Know?
- IUCN was initially called the International Union for the Protection of Nature (1948–1956) and later the World Conservation Union (1990–2008).
- The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species was first published in 1964.
- IUCN helped establish the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in 1961.
- IUCN's headquarters moved from Belgium to Morges, Switzerland in 1961, and later to Gland, Switzerland.
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