Strengthening capacity for economic approaches to conservation in Asia

IUCN, in collaboration with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Mercuria Energy Group, organized a regional workshop in China to raise awareness and build capacity in the use of economic tools for biodiversity conservation. IUCN's engagement in this workshop notably helped to ensure that the findings of the study on The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) were being adequately incorporated into ongoing efforts to implement biodiversity action plans at the national level.

Big birds lose out in a crowded world

One of the world’s largest species of bird is on the brink of extinction according to the 2011 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ for birds, just released by BirdLife International, an IUCN Red List partner。

The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) has been uplisted to Critically Endangered, the highest level of threat. Hunting, disturbance, habitat loss and fragmentation have all conspired to reduce this magnificent species to perhaps as few as 250 individuals. 

The Fight Against Invasives

The words ‘invasive aliens’ tend to conjure up images of little green men flying in from outer space and waging war against Earth. Granted, if this were to occur it would be a rather frightening experience, but the fact is we have a far more serious and immediate issue to tackle: the invasive aliens that are already here. Biodiversity is being lost at an unprecedented rate, with a whole host of factors contributing to the disastrous declines. Habitat destruction is well-documented as being one of the leading causes of species extinctions, but invasive alien species are also to blame.

Mangroves to receive huge boost from new carbon credit rules

 A new method for calculating the role that mangrove restoration plays in slowing climate change, by capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, has been adopted.

The methodology is adopted under the UN climate change convention’s Kyoto Protocol, as part of the Clean Development Mechanism that supports emission reduction projects in developing countries. .

Nuclear nature—what next for nuclear energy and biodiversity?

On 11 March this year, after an incredibly strong earthquake and impossibly high tsunami, the Fukushima nuclear power station in Japan became famous. Despite what were thought to be more than adequate measures to protect the facility in the event of a natural disaster, sea water entered reactors, and the rest is history.

5th Asia Regional Conservation Forum

UCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature will hold its 5th Asia Regional Conservation Forum (RCF) from 27 to 30 September 2011 in Incheon, Republic of Korea. IUCN holds Regional Conservation Fora every four years around the world in advance of IUCN’s World Conservation Congress (WCC), the next to be held in Jeju, Republic of Korea 6-15 September 2012. The Asia Regional Conservation Forum will be co-hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea and the IUCN National Committee of Members in Korea. The RCF is being organized with the Korean Organizing Committee for 2012 WCC.

Mining threats on the rise in World Heritage sites

Paris, France, 23 June, 2011 (IUCN) – Extractive industries and governments that licence their activities should commit to stopping all mining and oil/gas exploration and exploitation activities that could damage World Heritage Sites, says the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

IUCN, the advisory body to UNESCO on natural sites, raises concern over the rapidly increasing number of cases where World Heritage Sites are threatened by planned mining and oil and gas projects. One out of four iconic natural areas in Africa is negatively affected. 

Save Our Species (SOS): recruitment project

Save Our Species (SOS) program to start recruiting project, the deadline is August 12, 2011.

Three project categories:
i) endangered Asian and African mammals
ii) endangered amphibians
iii) critically endangered bird

Save Our Species (SOS) by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), World Environment Foundation (GEF) and co-founder of the World Bank, aims to support the protection of endangered animals and their habitat, global project. 

Agroforestry: Balancing the need for nature conservation and livelihood betterment

While the term agroforestry has only been used since the 1960s, it has been a practice in China for thousands of years. IUCN has begun ecological agro-forestry trainings in Northern China. In the first training workshop in June this year, Xiaowopu villagers were taken on a study tour to Huai Rou county to learn about various ecological agro-forestry models and how these models could help to protect watershed while improving their livelihoods.