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Undersized fish caught on reef Undersized fish caught on reef Photo: FoProBiM-Haiti

Food security should open the conversation about biodiversity for coral reef-dependent countries

Jean Wiener, Executive Director, Fondation pour la Protection de la Biodiversité Marine, Haiti

As noted in IUCN...
Planting can be one way to restore ecosystems Planting can be one way to restore ecosystems Photo: Rakotondrazafy A. M. Ny Aina/WWF-Madagascar

We live in times of planetary crisis and opportunity: our biggest chance to course-correct is now and a robust and inclusive global biodiversity framework is key

Marco Lambertini, Director General, WWF International

Many governments and companies have committed to ambitious...
coral reef protection Improvement of coral reef protection through expanded marine protected areas and coral outplanting Photo: Emily Bland/World Bank

Tackling biodiversity loss to achieve green, resilient, and inclusive development

Mari Pangestu, Managing Director of Development Policy and Partnerships, World Bank

The world today faces multiple...
Virunga volcanoes, East Africa Virunga volcanoes, East Africa Photo: A. Plumptre

We need to protect and conserve 30% of the planet: but it has to be the right 30%

Representatives of institutions in the KBA partnership

Between 2010 and 2020, the expansion of protected areas was...
Soungala Diarra holding up non-timber forest products in Trakenien village in Mali - © Tree Aid 2021 Soungala Diarra holding up non-timber forest products in Trakenien village in Mali.  Photo: Tree Aid, 2021

The Olympic Forest: a model partnership?

Marie Sallois, the International Olympic Committee and Georges Bazongo, Tree Aid

Partnerships based on strong...
Sun-dried and cracked hydromorphic soil typical of former inundated mud pools. Sahel, Mali. Sun-dried and cracked soil typical of former mud pools. Sahel, Mali Photo: John E. Newby / WWF

Soils: our most valuable environmental asset

Dr Joao Campari, WWF

Fertile soils produce 95% of our food, regulate water cycles, and mitigate climate change by...
Women in Uganda waiting for health services (c) Margaret Pyke Trust Women in Uganda waiting for health services Photo: Margaret Pyke Trust

Gender is linked to the biodiversity and climate crises. When will our policies reflect this?

Helen Anthem, Fauna & Flora International and David Johnson, Margaret Pyke Trust

At the IUCN World...
GYBN Europe regional capacity building workshop, Vienna (c) GYBN GYBN Europe regional capacity building workshop, Vienna Photo: GYBN

Transform our education to transform our future

Swetha Stotra Bhashyam, Global Youth Biodiversity Network

A growing number of young people agree that transforming...
Pekania pennanti Historically a common species in Washington, fishers (Pekania pennanti) were over-trapped to extinction. Washington is now translocating fishers from healthy populations in British Columbia. Photo: © Jason Ransom, National Park Service

Can conservation translocations turn desperation to inspiration?

Dr Axel Moehrenschlager, Calgary Zoological Society

Conservation translocations can be necessary to save species on...
Aek Mais river, North Sumatra Children play in the Aek Mais River which flows from the Batang Gadis watershed in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Photo: © Conservation International, Tory Read

Why the global water crisis needs local solutions

Dr Derek Vollmer and Dr Ian Harrison, Conservation International

Water security is under threat as competing socio-...
Manta ray and visitors A manta ray (Mobula sp. cf. birostris) surprises visitors to Georgia Aquarium, USA. Researchers study their behaviour in the aquarium to inform field conservation. Photo: Georgia Aquarium

Progressive zoos and aquariums must be part of the world’s response to COVID-19

Dr Martín Zordan, World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)

Many zoos and aquariums face challenges as...
Koala Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are one of many species impacted by mega-fires in Australia. Photo: Pixabay / Pexels

Climate change and wildfires: lessons from Australia’s Blue Mountains

Dr John Merson, Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute

Periodic fires are a normal part of the lifecycle of many...
Addax in Tunisia A reintroduced addax in Djebil National Park, Tunisia Photo: Tim Woodfine

To save the addax antelope, the oil sector and government must work together with conservationists

Philippe Chardonnet, David Mallon, Tim Woodfine

The addax desert antelope may be the world’s rarest hoofed mammal,...
Seoul at dusk Photo: Ethan Brooke on Unsplash

Cities must reconnect with natural foundations to face climate, health and biodiversity crises

Jonny Hughes, Chief Executive Officer, World Conservation Monitoring Centre

‘Greening’ cities brings myriad...
African savanna elephant, Mana Pools, Zimbabwe African savanna elephant, Mana Pools, Zimbabwe. Elephant are megaherbivores who provide checks and balances in terms of ecosystem health. Loss of elephants has a major impact on overall ecosystem health. Photo: Michael D. Kock 2010

It is Time for a Global Wildlife Health Authority

Members of the IUCN SSC Wildlife Health Specialist Group

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed how vulnerable we are...
Stoloteuthis squid This Stoloteuthis squid found in the Indian Ocean on IUCN’s 2009 Seamounts expedition is but one example of the unique species found in the high seas. Photo: © IUCN / Sarah Gotheil

Protecting our global ocean commons

Lauren Kubiak

Two-thirds of the world’s ocean is beyond national jurisdiction, where existing regulations regarding...
Tapanuli orangutan A Tapanuli orangutan, the world’s rarest great ape, in the Batang Toru  region of northern Sumatra, Indonesia.  Photo: Maxime Aliaga

Is this our chance to save the world's rarest great ape?

Erik Meijaard and Serge Wich of the IUCN Primate Specialist Group

A planned hydroelectric dam poses serious threats...
orangutan mother and infant Orangutan mother and infant in Sarawak, Malaysia. Photo: © Daniel Kong

Quarantining also means caring for our great ape relatives

Elizabeth L. Bennett

Gorillas and other great apes are particularly susceptible to pathogens from humans, and the...
Spider Monkey Spider Monkey (Ateles paniscus), Central Suriname Nature Reserve, a vast area of primary forest. Photo: Russell A. Mittermeier

Primary forests: a priority nature-based solution

Members of the IUCN Primary Forests Task Force

Primary forests sequester more carbon, more safely than planted...
Goonch (Bagarius yarelli) The goonch (Bagarius yarelli) is listed as Near Threatened in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.™ Native to rivers in South Asia, this species is harvested for food and the ornamental fish trade. Photographer: Zeb Hogan, SSC Freshwater Fish Specialist Group Advisor, University of Nevada Photo: courtesy of the University of Nevada Global Water Center

Wetlands: the ultimate biodiversity hotspot

Members of the SSC Freshwater Conservation Committee

Wetlands provide habitats and breeding grounds for countless...
Skiers at a resort in Krasnaya Polyana located in the Western Caucasus in Southern Russia. Skiers at a resort in Krasnaya Polyana located in the Western Caucasus in Southern Russia. Photo: © Ria Novosti archive/Mikhail Mokrushin

Putting sport and nature on the same team

Marco Lambertini

For most sports, nature is the ‘stadium’ and the foundation. Athletes need healthy food, clean air...
Papuan people with freshwater crocodiles in the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea Papuan people with freshwater crocodiles in the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea. Photo: Dr Keith K. Galgal.

Is banning exotic leather bad for reptiles?

IUCN SSC members - reptiles and sustainable use

Recent bans on the sale of leather from exotic reptiles such as...
90% of lemur species are threatened Around 90% of lemur species, found only in Madagascar, are threatened with extinction due to habitat destruction. Photo: © Russell Mittermeier

Hope for Madagascar and its lemurs

Russell Mittermeier

What can be done to ensure the long-term survival of Madagascar’s amazing biodiversity –...
Collaboration between the government, private sector and civil society is essential Collaboration between the government, private sector and civil society is essential for the achievement of a more sustainable world. Photo: IUCN/Nadine McCormick

Environmental challenges: too big for government and business to tackle alone

Carola van Rijnsoever

Ecosystems and the services they provide are at risk; their decline could jeopardise the...
Mangroves and wetlands help purify water Mangroves and wetlands help purify water, nurture fish stocks and protect shorelines from storms and erosion. They are also sources of food, such as in this Ramsar Convention protected site in Fiji. Photo: Ramsar Convention

Nature: A global fix for global risks

Inger Andersen

At a time when environmental threats to humanity loom ever larger, IUCN stands as the organisation...
Invasive Asian hornet Invasive Asian hornets, which have been spreading throughout Europe, are predators of native honey bees, threatening honey production. Photo: © Danel Solabarrieta Flickr CC BY SA 2.0

Do non-native species count as biodiversity?

Dan Simberloff

There have been calls for biodiversity and ecosystem assessments to count non-native species as well...

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