International Union for Conservation of Nature facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
International Union for Conservation of Nature

Founded	5 October 1948; 76 years ago (1948-10-05) Fontainebleau, France
Type	International organization
Focus	Nature conservation, biodiversity
Headquarters	Gland, Switzerland
Area served	Worldwide
Members	1,400
Key people	Grethel Aguilar (Director General) Razan Al Mubarak (President)
Revenue	CHF 140.7 million / US$148 million (2019)
Employees	Over 900 (worldwide)
Formerly called	International Union for the Protection of Nature

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a global organisation that works to protect nature and use natural resources wisely. It was started in 1948 and has become a leading expert on the health of our planet and what we need to do to keep it safe.

IUCN gathers and studies information, does research, runs projects in the field, speaks up for nature, and teaches people about conservation. Its main goal is to "influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is fair and good for the environment."

Over the years, IUCN has grown to include ideas about sustainable development in its work. This means finding ways to use resources today without harming the ability of future generations to use them. IUCN doesn't usually try to get the public involved directly. Instead, it works with governments, businesses, and other groups by giving them information, advice, and by forming partnerships. Many people know IUCN best for creating and publishing the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This list tells us how endangered different species around the world are.

IUCN has more than 1,400 member organisations, including governments and non-governmental groups, from over 170 countries. About 16,000 scientists and experts volunteer their time to help IUCN. The organisation also has over 900 full-time staff in more than 50 countries. Its main office is in Gland, Switzerland. Every four years, IUCN holds a big meeting called the IUCN World Conservation Congress. Here, members decide on important goals for conservation around the world.

IUCN works closely with the United Nations and helps put into action many international agreements about nature and biodiversity. It also helped create the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

History of IUCN

How IUCN Started

IUCN was officially created on 5 October 1948, in Fontainebleau, France. Representatives from governments and conservation groups, encouraged by UNESCO, signed a document to form the International Union for the Protection of Nature (IUPN). The idea for this new organisation came from Julian Huxley, a British biologist and the first Director General of UNESCO.

Julian Huxley, the first Director General of UNESCO, helped start IUCN.

When it was founded, IUCN was the only international organisation that focused on all parts of nature conservation. (An international group for bird protection, now called BirdLife International, had started earlier in 1922).

Early Years: 1948–1956

IUCN began with 65 members in Brussels and worked closely with UNESCO. They organised a conference together in 1949 and created the first list of highly endangered species. In its early days, IUCN relied almost completely on money from UNESCO. When this funding stopped in 1954, IUCN had to slow down its activities.

IUCN was good at getting important scientists involved and pointing out big problems, like how pesticides harm wildlife. However, many of its ideas didn't become real actions. This was because governments were not always ready to act, and IUCN wasn't sure what its exact role was. In 1956, IUCN changed its name to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

Growing Importance: 1956–1965

During this time, IUCN worked more with UN agencies and the Council of Europe. IUCN's most famous publication, the Red Data Book, which lists the conservation status of species, was first published in 1964.

IUCN also started to help create international agreements and conventions. One of the first was the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

Africa was an early focus for IUCN's conservation work.

Many of IUCN's first conservation projects were in Africa. IUCN supported the "Yellowstone model" for managing protected areas. This model greatly limited human presence and activities to protect nature.

To get steady funding, IUCN helped set up the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in 1961. WWF's job was to raise money to help cover some of IUCN's costs. Also in 1961, IUCN's main office moved from Belgium to Morges in Switzerland.

Becoming a Key Environmental Player: 1966–1975

In the 1960s, IUCN pushed the UN to create a new status for non-governmental organisations (NGOs). In 1968, the UN agreed to give NGOs "consultative" status. IUCN itself was eventually recognised by six UN organisations. IUCN was one of the few environmental groups officially involved in preparing for the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm, 1972).

The Stockholm Conference led to three new international agreements. IUCN helped write and put these into action:

• Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972): IUCN helped write this with UNESCO and has been an official advisor on nature since the beginning.
• CITES – the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (1974): IUCN was involved, and the CITES office was first located at IUCN.
• Ramsar Convention – Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (1975): The office for this convention is still at IUCN's headquarters.

IUCN also made a deal with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to regularly check on world conservation. The money from this, plus growing funds from WWF, gave IUCN a stable financial base for the first time since 1948. During this period, IUCN slowly started to change its approach to conservation, trying to be more helpful to developing countries.

The World Conservation Strategy: 1975–1985

In 1975, IUCN began working on the World Conservation Strategy (1980). This process, and talks with UN agencies, changed how IUCN thought about conservation. It became clear that simply banning people from natural areas didn't always work. The Strategy was followed in 1982 by the World Charter for Nature, which the United Nations General Assembly adopted after IUCN helped prepare it.

In 1980, IUCN and WWF moved into shared new offices in Gland, Switzerland. This meant they worked more closely together. However, their close ties ended in 1985 when WWF decided to manage its own field projects, which IUCN had been running.

Sustainable Development and Regionalisation: 1985 to Present Day

In 1982, IUCN created a Conservation for Development Centre. This centre started projects to make sure nature conservation was part of development aid and economic plans in developing countries. Over the years, it helped 30 countries create their own conservation plans. Many European countries started sending large amounts of aid money through IUCN's projects. IUCN staff, often working from new regional and country offices, managed these projects. This changed the organisation. Before, volunteer groups called Commissions had a lot of power. Now, the main office and its staff became more important.

In 1991, IUCN (with UNEP and WWF) published Caring for the Earth, which followed the World Conservation Strategy.

Social issues related to conservation were now included in IUCN's work. In 1994, IUCN's mission statement was updated to include the fair and environmentally sound use of natural resources.

Working with Businesses: 2000 to Present Day

Since IUCN started in 1948, its members have passed over 300 resolutions that involve or focus on business activities.

The growing focus on sustainable development to protect nature brought IUCN closer to businesses. IUCN formed a partnership with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

In 2003, the IUCN Global Business and Biodiversity Program (BBP) was created. Its goal is to guide and support businesses in dealing with environmental and social issues. A major part of this program is a five-year partnership IUCN started with the energy company Shell International in 2007.

Today, the Business and Biodiversity Programme continues to guide IUCN's work with businesses. It makes sure the Business Engagement Strategy is followed across IUCN's global and regional programs and helps guide the work of IUCN's six Commissions.

Championing Nature-based Solutions: 2009 to Present Day

Nature-based solutions (NbS) use natural areas and the benefits they provide to solve big problems like climate change, food shortages, or natural disasters.

The idea of Nature-based Solutions grew as international organisations like IUCN and the World Bank looked for ways to work with ecosystems. This was instead of just building things like seawalls to deal with climate change. The goal was to adapt to climate change, reduce its effects, improve people's lives, and protect nature.

At the IUCN World Conservation Congress in 2016, IUCN members agreed on what Nature-based Solutions mean. They also asked governments to include these solutions in their plans to fight climate change.

Timeline of IUCN

Here are some important dates in IUCN's history:

What IUCN Does Today

IUCN Programme 2017–2020

IUCN works on many important topics, including: business, climate change, economics, ecosystems, environmental law, forest conservation, global policy, marine and polar areas, protected areas, science, social policy, species, water, and world heritage.

IUCN plans its work in four-year programs, decided by its members. The 2017–2020 program connects protecting nature and biodiversity with sustainable development and reducing poverty. IUCN aims to base its work on strong facts and also uses the knowledge of indigenous groups and others who have traditionally used natural resources.

The IUCN Programme 2017–2020 focuses on three main areas:

• Valuing and protecting nature.
• Helping to manage natural resources fairly and effectively.
• Using Nature Based Solutions to solve big problems like climate change, food security, and economic and social development.

IUCN does not try to get the general public directly involved in big campaigns. Education has always been part of IUCN's work, but it focuses more on getting different groups to work together and on smart communication.

Habitats and Species Protection

IUCN Animal Threat Category List

IUCN runs projects around the world to protect habitats and species. It creates the famous IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and also the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems. The Red List of Ecosystems can be used for areas at local, national, regional, and global levels.

IUCN's goal is to expand the worldwide network of national parks and other protected areas, and to make sure these areas are managed well. It pays special attention to better protecting our oceans and marine habitats.

Working with Businesses

IUCN has a growing number of partnerships with companies at local, national, and international levels. These partnerships aim to encourage the sustainable use of natural resources.

National and International Policy

At the national level, IUCN helps governments create their own plans for biodiversity. Internationally, IUCN gives advice to important environmental agreements like the Convention on Biological Diversity, CITES, and the Framework Convention on Climate Change. It also advises UNESCO on natural world heritage sites. IUCN has a special permanent observer role at the United Nations. It also has official relationships with many other international organisations.

How IUCN is Organised

IUCN has three main parts: its member organisations, its seven groups of scientific experts called Commissions, and its main office called the Secretariat.

Members

IUCN's members include countries, government agencies, international non-governmental organisations, national non-governmental organisations, and indigenous peoples' organisations. In 2017, IUCN had 1,400 members. These members can form national or regional committees to work together. In 2016, there were 62 national committees and 7 regional committees.

A Soviet stamp celebrating the 1978 IUCN General Assembly in Ashgabat.

Commissions

The seven IUCN Commissions are made up of volunteer experts from many different fields. They "check on the state of the world's natural resources and give IUCN good advice and ideas on how to solve conservation problems."

• Commission on Education and Communication (CEC): Focuses on how IUCN and others share information, learn, and manage knowledge about conservation.
• Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP): Looks at how money and social issues affect the protection and wise use of nature.
• World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL): Works on creating new laws and tools for the environment, and helps societies use environmental law for conservation.
• Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM): Focuses on managing natural and changed ecosystems in a complete way.
• Species Survival Commission (SSC): Deals with the technical side of protecting species and taking action for species that are close to extinction. Groups within the SSC create plans to help endangered species recover.
• World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA): Works on setting up and managing a good network of protected areas on land and in the sea.
• Climate Crisis Commission: Started in 2021, this commission focuses on the climate crisis.

Secretariat

The main IUCN office is in Gland, Switzerland. There are also eight regional offices, each led by a director, that carry out IUCN's programs in their areas. Since 1980, IUCN has opened offices in more than 50 countries.

Leadership and Funding

Leadership

The World Conservation Congress (Members' Assembly) is the highest decision-making body at IUCN. This meeting happens every four years. It chooses the Council, including the President, and approves IUCN's work plan and budget for the next four years.

The IUCN Council is the main governing body. It guides IUCN's activities, discusses important policy issues, and gives advice on money and membership. The Council includes the President, four Vice Presidents, the Treasurer, the Chairs of IUCN's six Commissions, three Regional Councillors from each of IUCN's eight regions, and a Councillor from Switzerland (where IUCN is based). IUCN's current President is Razan Al Mubarak.

The Council also appoints a Director General, who is in charge of running IUCN and its main office. The current IUCN Director General is Bruno Oberle.

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  Jean-Paul Harroy

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  Tracy Philipps

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  Hugh Elliott

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  Achim Steiner

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  Inger Andersen

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  Bruno Oberle

Funding

In 2012, IUCN's total income was about 114 million Swiss francs (around US$116 million). Most of IUCN's money (61% in 2012) comes from aid budgets provided by different countries and international groups. Other money comes from membership fees, as well as grants and project funding from charities, institutions, and companies.

See also

In Spanish: Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza para niños

• List of environmental organizations
• List of conservation organisations