IUCN Skip to main content About IUCN News & Events Press Blog Regions Asia Eastern and Southern Africa Eastern Europe and Central Asia Europe Mediterranean Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean North America Oceania South America West and Central Africa West Asia Other Sites IUCN Academy IUCN Contributions for Nature IUCN Library IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas IUCN World Heritage Outlook IUCN Leaders Forum ECOLEX Protected Planet Union Portal (login required) IUCN Engage (login required) Commission portal (login required) English Français Español Our Vision Nature 2030 A call for mobilisation to the entire Union. Vision and Programme Nature 2030 second column IUCN PROGRAMME 2026 - 2029 CONTRIBUTIONS FOR NATURE Our Work Our work Data, analysis, convening and action. Our work THEMES Biodiversity Business engagement Climate change Freshwater and water security Governance - law and rights Nature-based Solutions Ocean and coasts Protected areas and land use REGIONS Asia Eastern and Southern Africa Eastern Europe and Central Asia Europe Mediterranean Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean North America Oceania South America West and Central Africa West Asia OTHER WORK SCIENCE-LED APPROACH INFORMING POLICY SUPPORTING CONSERVATION ACTION GEF AND GCF IMPLEMENTATION IUCN CONVENING IUCN ACADEMY IUCN YOUTH ENGAGEMENT Our Union The world’s largest and most diverse environmental network. Our Union CORE COMPONENTS Members Expert Commissions Secretariat and Director General IUCN Council IUCN WORLD CONSERVATION CONGRESS REGIONAL CONSERVATION FORA CONTRIBUTIONS FOR NATURE IUCN ENGAGE (LOGIN REQUIRED) Resources Resources IUCN tools, publications and other resources. Resources EXPLORE ALL RESOURCES Search all resources IUCN Briefs IUCN Publications Conservation Tools LIBRARIES IUCN LIBRARY About IUCN News & Events Press Blog Regions Asia Eastern and Southern Africa Eastern Europe and Central Asia Europe Mediterranean Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean North America Oceania South America West and Central Africa West Asia Other Sites IUCN Academy IUCN Contributions for Nature IUCN Library IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas IUCN World Heritage Outlook IUCN Leaders Forum ECOLEX Protected Planet Union Portal (login required) IUCN Engage (login required) Commission portal (login required) English Français Español Get Involved Components THE RANGER EFFECT Across landscapes and seascapes, rangers set change in motion. Through their knowledge, presence and daily work, they help nature and communities thrive - and turn global biodiversity commitments into action. The Ranger Effect IUCN Common Messages to the Rio Convention COPs DG Statement IUCN Director General’s statement on International Day of the World’s… News Global Tiger Day 2026: Coexistence in action – Scaling solutions for people and… Press release Seven IUCN-recommended Natural and Mixed sites join UNESCO World Heritage List External event 48th session of the World Heritage Committee Who we are A powerful Union Heading Our Members Description 1 IUCN Members include national and subnational governments and government agencies as well as non-governmental and indigenous peoples’ organisations from over 160 countries. Learn more about our members The latest from our members Elevating citizen science: How IUCN Members are… This article shares reflections from an IUCN Member organisation about its efforts to elevate… Embedding education into the heart of national… How EARTHDAY.ORG helped transform the global NDC landscape Read our magazine 'Unite for Nature' IUCN Secretariat Hundreds of committed staff in more than 60 countries provide data, analysis and convening support to Members, and implement direct conservation action. Director General and leadership IUCN expert Commissions IUCN Commissions are networks of scientists and experts providing IUCN and its Members with technical and policy advice to drive conservation and sustainable development. Learn more about IUCN Commissions What we do Our knowledge and tools are based on the most up-to-date science. They enable society, economies and nature to thrive together. Science-led approach Informing policy Find a resource Biodiversity Biodiversity Sustainable food and agricultural systems Assessing ecosystems Biodiversity and health Ecosystem restoration and land degradation Freshwater species Invasive Alien Species Managing ecosystems Marine species Species conservation action Species conservation science IUCN monitors species and ecosystems, and steers policy and action to protect and restore the natural world. Biodiversity Business engagement Business Engagement Sustainable food and agricultural systems Biodiversity net-gain Extractive, energy and infrastructure Fisheries and aquaculture Wildlife Use and Trade Plastic and other pollution Tourism and sport Human wellbeing depends on nature and economic development can no longer come at nature’s expense. IUCN works to help countries mainstream nature into economic decisions, including making the private sector part of the solution for people and nature. Business engagement Climate change Climate Change Sustainable food and agricultural systems Ecosystem-based Adaptation and Resilience Ecosystem-based mitigation Nature-based Solutions for climate Ocean and climate change Green, Just Energy Transition IUCN monitors the impacts of climate change on nature, and guides the conservation and restoration of ecosystems to help mitigate and adapt to it. Climate change Freshwater and water security Freshwater and water security Sustainable food and agricultural systems Fisheries and aquaculture Freshwater species Wildlife Use and Trade Plastic and other pollution Transboundary water governance and diplomacy IUCN works to provide everyone with fair access to clean water, and to protect the freshwater ecosystems on which humanity depends. Freshwater and water security Governance - law and rights Governance - law and rights Sustainable food and agricultural systems Gender equality Global and transboundary frameworks High seas Indigenous Peoples Legal training National legal systems Transboundary water governance and diplomacy Equality and equity underpin sustainable development. IUCN works to enhance the agency of all those who are marginalised due to factors such as gender, class, age, (dis)ability, ethnicity, race or sexuality, and to ensure environmental law is effective and just. Governance - law and rights Nature-based Solutions Nature-based Solutions Sustainable food and agricultural systems Disaster risk reduction Ecosystem restoration and land degradation Nature-based Solutions for climate Nature-based Solutions for cities IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions Nature-based SolutionsTM leverage nature and the power of healthy ecosystems to protect people, optimise infrastructure and safeguard a stable and biodiverse future. Nature-based Solutions Ocean and coasts Oceans and coasts Fisheries and aquaculture High seas Marine ecosystems Marine species Ocean and climate change Plastic and other pollution IUCN works to conserve coastal, marine and polar ecosystems, and the many benefits they provide for humanity. Ocean and coasts Protected areas and land use Protected areas and land use Sustainable food and agricultural systems Drylands, grasslands, and rangelands Effective protected areas Forests Wildlife Use and Trade Marine ecosystems World Heritage IUCN works to protect ecosystems, promote the sustainable use of landscapes and advance justice and equity in conservation. Protected areas and land use Close Close Learn more about our work Our RESULTS Driving policy and action for people and planet 175,909 species Description assessed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM Learn More 210+ million hectares Description pledged for restoration under the Bonn Challenge Learn more 1,466 resolutions Description and recommendations passed at IUCN assemblies since 1948 Learn More 3,500+ reports Description published by IUCN Learn more 600+ sites Description in 60 countries with or working towards certification on the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas Learn more Our history 75 years of vision and impact Shortly after the Second World War, IUCN’s founders came together under the shared belief that no single government or organisation can address the challenges facing our planet alone. Each of the seven and a half decades since has reinforced the truth of that belief, and proved the value of a global Union dedicated to solving the issues facing humanity and its relationship with nature, on which humanity depends. Learn more about our history Stay informed. Sign up for an IUCN newsletter Get Involved Featured bottom second Menus About Accountability Careers Procurement Legal Terms and conditions SECRETARIAT Secretariat and Director General COMMISSIONS Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM) Commission on Education and Communication (CEC) Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP) Species Survival Commission (SSC) World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL) World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) THEMES Biodiversity Business engagement Climate change Freshwater and water security Governance - law and rights Nature-based Solutions Ocean and coasts Protected areas and land use REGIONS Asia Eastern and Southern Africa Eastern Europe and Central Asia Europe Mediterranean Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean North America Oceania South America West and Central Africa West Asia Contact Menu Contact Us Follow Us CrossRoads Blog Menu Crossroads Blog Headquarters Rue Mauverney 28 1196 Gland Switzerland +41 22 9990000 +41 22 9990002(Fax) ©IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Disclaimer: The use of the country or territory name on this page does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries