Story | 05 Jul, 2018
How to increase the value of Vietnam’s forestry sector?
On a visit to Quang Tri in 2016 we asked a forest ranger where the best forest was. He said it was in remote areas too inaccessible for illegal logging or land conversion. If an area has fertile soil and is easy to access, people will turn it into farmland. When we asked a young farmer in Yen…
Story | 04 Jul, 2018
Close ties between water and culture highlighted at World Heritage meeting
Water is at the heart of human existence and development. But how do people manage this precious resource in arid landscapes, such as in the Arab region? What cultural practices have developed over time in wetlands to support communities’ water needs? These questions…
Story | 03 Jul, 2018
World Heritage regional consultation process takes off in Central Asia
Representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan confirmed their commitment to support the identification of natural sites that have the potential to be nominated as World Heritage. IUCN will lead the process in its capacity as…
Story | 03 Jul, 2018
The 12-year-old Belizean girl who spoke up at the World Heritage Committee meeting – interview
“I respectfully encourage the representatives of each country present to think of my generation in decision-making regarding World Heritage sites – our barrier reef and our planet depend on it.” Thus did Madison Pearl Edwards address the delegates gathered at UNESCO’s 42nd World Heritage…
Press release | 02 Jul, 2018
Yemen urged to halt damaging activities in Socotra Archipelago, as advised by IUCN
Manama, Bahrain – Following IUCN’s advice, the World Heritage Committee has urged Yemen to halt any activity that may negatively impact on the unique wildlife and landscapes of the Socotra Archipelago World Heritage site. The country has been requested to urgently facilitate an IUCN-UNESCO…
Story | 30 Jun, 2018
Forests Specialist Group Reports on Outcomes of the 13th session of the UN Forum on Forests
The World Commission on Environmental Law participated for the first time as an observer during the 13th annual session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF-13). One of the main messages delivered at the session is that forests are crucial for the maintenance of…
Story | 29 Jun, 2018
It is expected to consolidate a tool for continuous improvement in the Selva Maya protected areas management, according to the same comparative scheme between Mexico, Guatemala and Belize governments, using internationally recognized standards, such as the Green List of the International Union…
Story | 28 Jun, 2018
WCEL Forests Specialist Group: Update June 2018
The Forests Specialist Group has published its report in a series highlighting ongoing work under each WCEL Specialist Group.
Press release | 28 Jun, 2018
Lake Turkana listed as ‘in danger’ due to impacts from dam, as advised by IUCN
Manama, Bahrain, 28 June 2018 (IUCN) – Lake Turkana National Parks in Kenya has been placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger today at UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee meeting, due to impacts from the Gibe III dam. The decision follows the recommendation of…
Story | 28 Jun, 2018
GEF Assembly beach clean-up yields nearly 1 kilo of trash per metre per minute
On Tuesday, 26 June, 300 volunteers trained by IUCN collected almost half a ton of trash – 82% of which was single-use plastics – in 30 minutes from a 500-metre stretch of beach in Da Nang, Viet Nam. The exercise coincided with the sixth Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly currently…