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| CATEGORIES ABOUT WORLD CONSERVATION UNION | |
| international environmental organizations | |
The World Conservation Union or '''International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources''' ('''IUCN''') is an International Organization dedicated to Natural Resource Conservation . Founded in 1948 , its headquarters is located in the Lake Geneva area in Gland, Switzerland . The IUCN brings together 83 states, 108 government agencies, 766 NGO s and 81 International Organizations and about 10,000 experts and scientists from countries around the world. MISSION IUCN's mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and Diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. The Union has three components: its member organizations, its 6 scientific commissions and its professional secretariat. IUCN MEMBERS The Union unites both States and non-governmental organizations. They set the policies of the Union, define its global programme of work and elect its Council (comparable to a company board) at the IUCN World Conservation Congress. Member organizations organize themselves into National and Regional Committees. IUCN COMMISSIONS There are six Commissions that assess the state of the world’s natural resources and provide the Union with sound know-how and policy advice on conservation issues: Commission on Ecosystem Management
Commission on Education and Communication
Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy
Commission on Environmental Law
Species Survival Commission
World Commission on Protected Areas
IUCN SECRETARIAT The members and commissions work together with a professional secretariat: over 1,100 people in 62 different countries. Ms. Julia Marton-Lefèvre - a global expert and leader in development and conservation - has been its Director General since 2 January 2007. She succeeded Achim Steiner who was appointed Executive Director of United Nations Environment Programme UNEP in June 2006. KEY PRODUCTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS IUCN Red List of Threatened Species See: IUCN Red List Protected Area Management Categories The World Commission on Protected Areas defines categories for Protected Area Management :
:An area of land or sea possessing some outstanding or representative Ecosystem s, Geological or physiological features and/or Species , available primarily for scientific research or environmental monitoring.
:A large area of unmodified or slightly modified land, and/or sea, retaining its natural character and influence, without permanent or significant habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural condition.
:A natural area of land and/or sea, designated to: :# protect the ecological integrity of one or more ecosystems for present and future generations; :# exclude exploitation or occupation inimical to the purposes of designation of the area; :# provide a foundation for spiritual, scientific, educational, recreational, and visitor opportunities, all of which must be environmentally and culturally compatible.
:An area containing one, or more, specific natural or natural/cultural feature which is of outstanding or unique value because of its inherent rarity, representative or aesthetic qualities or cultural significance.
:An area of land or sea subject to active intervention for management purposes so as to ensure the maintenance of habitats and/or to meet the requirements of specific species.
:An area of land, with coast and sea as appropriate, where the interaction of people and nature over time has produced an area of distinct character with significant aesthetic, ecological, or cultural value, and often with high biological diversity. Safeguarding the integrity of this traditional interaction is vital to the protection, maintenance, and evolution of such an area.
:An area containing predominantly unmodified natural systems, managed to ensure long term protection and maintenance of biological diversity, while providing at the same time a sustainable flow of natural products and services to meet community needs. SEE ALSO
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