International Union for Conservation of Nature - IUCN

What is the IUCN?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) stands as a pivotal organization in the global effort to safeguard nature. With a mission to influence, encourage, and assist societies worldwide, the IUCN works tirelessly to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature. Their approach combines scientific research, field projects, advocacy, and partnerships with governments, NGOs, and communities.

This collaborative spirit helps drive sustainable development and ensures that natural resources are managed responsibly. The IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species is renowned for assessing the conservation status of species, serving as a critical tool for conservationists. Through its efforts, the IUCN plays a crucial role in shaping policies and promoting practices that protect our planet's biodiversity.

Tip: World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi

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Initial Years of IUCN

IUCN started off with 65 members in Brussels and was closely tied to UNESCO. Julian Huxley, the first Director General of UNESCO became the founding father of the Union. They jointly organised the inaugural conference at Lake Success in New York. Due to its financial dependence on UNESCO during its budding years, IUCN had to scale down its activities temporarily once the funding was put on a hiatus. Between 1948 and 1956, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) grappled with bureaucratic inertia and a scarcity of resources, hindering the implementation of many of its innovative concepts. In 1956, the organization rebranded itself as the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, marking a new chapter in its mission to address global conservation challenges.

Years of Recognition (1956-1965)

During this time, IUCN broadened its cooperation with UN-agencies and developed relations with the Council of Europe. IUCN’s best known publication, The ‘Red Data Book’ which was published for the first time in 1964 and talks about the conservation status of different species. IUCN started taking a role in the formulation of international treaties and conventions, beginning with the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. In response to a financial crisis, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) played a pivotal role in establishing the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to spearhead fundraising efforts aimed at supporting its operational costs. In 1961, the IUCN relocated its headquarters from Belgium to Morges, Switzerland, and today it proudly calls Gland, Switzerland its home.

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IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species

The Red List of Threatened Species published by IUCN serves as the world’s most comprehensive list of information source on different species of fauna suffering from the perpetual risk of extinction. IUCN has assessed 169,420 species till date out of which 47187 species or 28% have been marked as ‘threatened’. The Red List Index indicates trends in overall extinction threat for species. Governments utilize the Index to monitor their achievement towards targets for slowing biodiversity loss.

The species are then categorized into nine broad categories that have been recognized by the IUCN Red List, which include Extinct, Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened, Least Concern, Data Deficient, and Not Evaluated. And of these three are vulnerable, critically endangered, and endangered, those that are said to be extincting.

In the 2025 World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species highlighted the burgeoning threat to Arctic seals triggered by climate change. Another assessment, revealed 100 more species of wild bee in Europe which have been classified as threatened species.

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Past Congresses

World Conservation Congress - 2016, Hawaii

In 2008, the IUCN World Conservation Congress took place in Barcelona, Spain. Among the 6,500 attendees, a few conservationists from Hawaii were present. They organized a small group meeting after their returning to the islands to share their ideas about the potential event hosting in Hawaii island. This paved the road for the The World Conservation Congress - 2016, Hawaii which was the largest conservation event on American land which witnessed the participation of more than 10000 participants from 180 different countries. In the 2016 Congress, 121 resolutions and recommendations were passed with 843 accredited members entitled to vote on them.

Major Outcomes :

Global conservation commitments of the IUCN Congress, including nine resolutions, were put forward by Hawai`i members. Additionally, the Coalition for Private Investment in Conservation (CPIC) was inaugurated, which is a multi-stakeholder conglomerate to help fund conservation. The IUCN leadership deliberated upon the creation of a new category of IUCN membership for indigenous people’s organisations. It's noteworthy that an updated IUCN Red List of Threatened Species revealed an increase in the number of Giant Panda while Eastern Gorillas were at a risk of extinction.

The Hawaiian Islands are located between the United States and the Asia-Pacific Region, a region that includes significant U.S. interests. The 2016 WCC in Hawai‘i addressed issues of the Asia-Pacific Region and beyond, in terms of international politics and security.

World Conservation Congress - 2020, Marseilles

The World Conservation Congress 2020 held from September 3 to September 11, 2021 highlighted the planet’s dual existential crises: climate change and biodiversity collapse. The Marseilles Manifesto was adopted by the members of IUCN which underscored the roles and rights of indigenous people in environmental conservation.

Key Takeaways :

The Marseilles Congress revealed that funding for nature continued to remain insufficient. Additionally, the Marseilles Congress also put nature based interventions to global climate crises to the spotlight. One of the key conclusions of the World Conservation Congress was that biodiversity protection and climate protection are closely connected. Numerous governmental and civil society stakeholders, including France, asked for initiatives protecting both of these public goods to converge in a global struggle for the planet's future.

Several important motions were passed during the member’s assembly including a motion acknowledging the science underpinning conserving half of earth for nature and advocating adoption of a Global Biodiversity goal of conserving 30 percent of land, inland waters, and ocean areas by 2030. The motion underlined the science underpinning the urgency for transformation of how we use land and sea resources and acknowledged that a robust 30 by 30 goal was a crucial step towards long-term genuine mitigation of the biodiversity crisis. Another motion calling on governments and other parties to conserve the world's 13 otter species, including by safeguarding them from international trade in live otters and parts and products thereof (e.g., otter skins).

Author: Tanuj Samaddar, 01.11.25, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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