Press releases

Paris climate deal increases hopes for a sustainable future
12.12.2015

Paris, France, 12 December 2015 (IUCN) – IUCN welcomes the new climate agreement adopted today by the world’s governments at the UN climate summit in Paris (COP 21), and its recognition of nature’s critical role in tackling climate change.

Climate agreement must recognise nature’s solutions – IUCN
28.11.2015

Ahead of the UN climate conference, IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature – is calling for an agreement that recognises the role of nature in reducing carbon emissions and helping nations adapt to a changing climate.

Colombian World Heritage site in conflict area comes off ‘danger list’, as advised by IUCN
30.06.2015

Bonn, Germany, 30 June 2015 (IUCN) – Colombia’s Los Katíos National Park has been taken off the List of World Heritage in Danger today at the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting taking place in Bonn, Germany. The decision follows advice by IUCN,...

Climate change and dams threaten natural World Heritage, warns IUCN
25.06.2015

Climate change and large dam projects are putting natural World Heritage sites at risk, says IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, the official advisory body on nature to UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, meeting this Sunday in Bonn,...

IUCN summit delivers major commitments to save Earth’s most precious natural areas
19.11.2014

Sydney, Australia – The IUCN World Parks Congress 2014, the once-in-a-decade global forum on protected areas, closes today with the release of The Promise of Sydney. The Promise sets out an ambitious agenda to safeguard the planet’s natural assets, ranging...

New IUCN study shows life-supporting role of natural World Heritage
18.11.2014

Sydney, Australia – Natural World Heritage sites are not just iconic places with exceptional nature, they also provide benefits that contribute to economies, climate stability and human well-being, according to a new study by IUCN released today at the IUCN...

Global appetite for resources pushing new species to the brink – IUCN Red List
17.11.2014

Pacific Bluefin Tuna, Chinese Pufferfish, American Eel, Chinese Cobra and an Australian butterfly are threatened with extinction Fishing, logging, mining, agriculture and other activities to satisfy our growing appetite for resources are threatening the...

New UNEP report unveils world on track to meet 2020 target for protected areas on land and sea
13.11.2014

15.4% of terrestrial areas, 3.4% of oceans protected, but further progress needed to cover and effectively manage areas of importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services 

Governments still behind on commitments to avert biodiversity crisis
17.10.2014

Pyeongchang, Republic of South Korea, 17 October 2014 – Despite increasing recognition of the biodiversity crisis and its impacts on human well-being, the scale of the government response is far from commensurate with the magnitude of the calamity, says IUCN...

Inger Andersen named IUCN Director General
14.10.2014

IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, announced today the appointment of Inger Andersen as the new Director General of the Union starting in January 2015.

Iconic Okavango Delta becomes 1,000th World Heritage site
22.06.2014

Doha, Qatar, 22 June 2014 (IUCN) – Botswana’s Okavango Delta, one of the most iconic natural areas on the planet, has been listed as 1,000th World Heritage site today. The decision follows the recommendation of IUCN, UNESCO’s advisory body on nature.

Illegal trade puts more World Heritage sites in danger
18.06.2014

Doha, Qatar, 18 June 2014 (IUCN) – Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve has been listed as World Heritage in Danger due to unprecedented levels of illegal wildlife trade, as announced today at the 38th annual World Heritage Committee meeting in Doha, Qatar.

IUCN Red List raises more red flags for threatened species
12.06.2014

Almost 80% of temperate slipper orchids and over 90% of lemurs are threatened with extinction, according to the latest update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. The newly assessed Japanese Eel has been listed as Endangered, while the Brazilian Three...

Governments unite to conserve iconic Sargasso Sea
12.03.2014

Governments of Bermuda, the Azores, Monaco, United Kingdom and the United States have signed a declaration committing to the conservation of the Sargasso Sea – a vast patch of mid-Atlantic Ocean known for its unique floating seaweeds that harbour rich...

IUCN welcomes Total’s ‘no-go’ commitment in World Heritage sites
03.02.2014

Oil and gas company Total has confirmed that it will not carry out extractive operations within natural World Heritage sites, including Virunga National Park. IUCN welcomes this decision and calls on all oil and gas companies to follow suit.