ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

International union for Conservation of

Nature (IUCN)

 IUCN was established in France in October 1948

 Its headquarters was located in Gland, Switzerland
 It was previously called international union for
protection of nature (1948-1956), Worldwide Fund For
Nature (1956-1990) and World Conservation Union
(1990-2008).
 Its full legal name is International Union for
Conservation Of Nature and Natural Resources. It shortly
referred as IUCN.
Functions Of IUCN

 IUCN is working in the field of nature conservation and

sustainable use of natural resources.
 It is involved in data gathering and analysis, research,
field project, advocacy and lobbying and education
Aims Of IUCN

 IUCN’s mission is to “ influence, encourage and assist societies throughout

the world to conserve nature and ensure that any use of natural resources
is equitable and technologically sustainable.
 Over the past decades, IUCN had widened its focus beyond conservation
ecology and now incorporates issues related to gender equality, property
alleviation and sustainable business in its projects.
Nature and Activities of IUCN

 Unlike other NGOs, IUCN does not itself aim to mobilize the public in
support of nature conservation.
 It tries to influence the actions of government, business and other
stakeholders by providing information and advice, and through lobbying
and partnership.
 The organization is best known to the wider public for compiling and
publishing the ICUN Red List Of Threatened Spieces, which assesses the
conservation status of species worldwide.
Organizational structure of IUCN

 IUCN has a membership of over 1400 government and non-governmental

organizations.
 Some 16,000 scientists and experts participate in the work of IUCN
commission on voluntary basis.
 In 2014, there were 56 National Committees and 7 Regional Committees.
 It employs 1000 full time staff in more than 60 countries .From 1991 it
publishes the journal Caring For the Earth jointly with United Nations
Environmental programmers(UNEP) and Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF).
 IUCN works on the basis of four year programmers determined by the
General Conference of the membership .The three trust areas identified by
the work programme are:
 Valuing and conserving nature
 Effective and equitable governance of nature’s use.
 Deploying nature- based solutions to global challenges in climate, good
and development.