International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

• In 1947, the Swiss League for the Protection of Nature organised an international conference on the protection of nature in Brunnen (Switzerland).
• Afterwards, the IUCN was established on 5 October 1948, in Fontainebleau, France
• The initiative to set up the new organisation came from UNESCO
• Its headquarters are in Gland, Switzerland
• It was previously called the International Union for Protection of Nature– IUPN (1948–1956) and the World Conservation Union (1990–2008).
• IUCN has observer and consultative status at the United Nations, and plays a role in the implementation of several international conventions on nature conservation and biodiversity. (Note: It is not a member or part of the UN)
• It is best known for compiling and publishing the IUCN Red List, which assesses the conservation status of species worldwide.

IUCN was one of the few NGOs formally involved in the preparations of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm Conference, 1972). 

The Stockholm Conference eventually led to three new international conventions, with IUCN involved in their drafting and implementation:

• To establish a stable financial basis for its work, IUCN participated in setting up the World Wildlife Fund (1961) now called the World Wide Fund for Nature WWF, Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972). 
• IUCN provides technical evaluations and monitoring. It is involved in data gathering and analysis, research, field projects, advocacy, lobbying and education.
• CITES- the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (1974) 
• IUCN is a signatory party and the CITES secretariat was originally lodged with IUCN
• Ramsar Convention – Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (1975). 
• The secretariat is still administered from IUCN’s headquarters.
• In 1975 IUCN started work on the World Conservation Strategy.

The Strategy was followed in 1982 by the World Charter for Nature, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, after preparation by IUCN.