IUCN - Eastern and Southern Africa

From risk to opportunity: reducing the risk of disasters the natural way

2013-05-19

Healthy ecosystems and sound environmental management can go a long way in protecting people from disasters. But this fact is not yet widely appreciated among the many parties responsible for reducing the risk of disasters and responding to them once they happen.

A new view of The IUCN Red List

2013-04-30

There is a brand new way to search for information on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. Launched today, a new section on The IUCN Red List website offers a simpler way to search for species and learn about the threats they face. Featuring more images than before, the sub-site makes The IUCN Red List information easily accessible to all wildlife enthusiasts.

Honouring forest heroes and champions

2013-04-10

Five seemingly ordinary people who have done extraordinary work for their communities and forests are being recognized as 'Forest Heroes' at a special 'Forests for People' ceremony taking place today in Istanbul. The awards are being presented as 197 member States meet at the 10th session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF).

Momentum for nature’s ‘blue carbon’ solution to climate change

2013-04-02

Efforts to restore marine ecosystems that store vast amounts of carbon have received a boost with the launch of a new website that provides the latest blue carbon science and policy.

REDD+ lessons from the field shared in Tanzania

2013-03-20

Technical experts and community representatives shared lessons from selected REDD+ pilot projects in Kilosa and Kondoa districts, Tanzania, on March 4-8, 2013 through field visits and dialogues. Site visits were conducted in Chabima and Dodoma Isanga villages in Kilosa district; and in Mnenia and Mapinduzi villages in Kondoa district. Both visits were followed by dialogue workshops aimed at building consensus on a set of of REDD+ lesson learned from the field activities. In both districts, drivers of deforestation and forest degradation are being addressed through awareness creation, conservation agriculture, beekeeping, use of energy saving stoves and promotion of tree nurseries.

IUCN Congress 2016: a green opportunity

2013-03-15

After a successful World Conservation Congress held in Jeju, Republic of Korea in 2012, IUCN is looking ahead to the next Congress in 2016, and has launched the search for a host country. Please note that the schedule for the process of selecting the Host Country has been modified.

Signs of progress on women’s role in tackling climate change

2013-03-08

To mark International Women’s Day, IUCN is celebrating the progress made in recognising the role of women in national and regional climate change agendas.

New data on African elephant populations released

2013-03-01

The fifth update on the status of the African elephant released today covers 37 range States and includes new or updated information for 194 sites, including 39 new survey areas, mainly in Eastern and Central Africa.

IUCN draws the world’s attention to nature-based solutions for development

2013-02-26

Speaking at the recent Global Ministerial Environment Forum of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, IUCN’s President urged delegates to consider nature as real capital and a prerequisite for socio-economic development rather than an impediment to it.

IUCN President briefed on IUCN work in eastern and southern Africa, meets Members in Kenya

2013-02-26

IUCN President Zhang Xinsheng held discussions with IUCN Members in Kenya and IUCN Regional Office staff to get first-hand information on the implementation of the IUCN Programme in eastern and southern Africa region. These meetings were held on February 21, 2013 alongside his participation the 27th Session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) held from 18 to 22 February 2013 at the headquarters of UNEP in Nairobi, Kenya.

New funds for Europe overseas’ BEST!

2013-02-22

The Director General of IUCN and the Director of the French Aid Agency (AFD) signed a financial agreement of 800,000 Euros last December. The grant aims at supporting the BEST initiative for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the EU Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories, as well as IUCN’s work on the establishment of a dedicate tool for Europe overseas’ biodiversity.

Surviving the War for Mali's Elephants

2013-02-20

The following article is an adaptation of an original blog post written by Dr. Susan Canney, Project Leader with the Mali Elephant Project initiated by WILD Foundation; an SOS Rapid Action Grantee.

IUCN Council appoints Vice-Presidents for 2013-16

2013-02-01

Mr. Malik Amin Aslam Khan (Pakistan), Mr. Miguel Pellerano (Argentina), Dr John Robinson (USA) and Ms Marina von Weissenberg (Finland), have been named Vice-Presidents of IUCN for 2013-16.

SEED Initiative: 10 years old and growing

2013-01-08

The SEED Initiative, a global partnership for action on sustainable development and the green economy, recently marked its 10th anniversary by celebrating numerous projects that are creating jobs while safeguarding the environment.

Project seeks to enhance resilience to climate change in the Mt Elgon region of the Lake Victoria Basin

2012-12-10

IUCN and its partners are implementing a project that seeks to improve the understanding of the science on climate change and demonstrate social and ecological resilience in the hotspots of the Mt Elgon region of the Lake Victoria Basin. The project will enhance learning on climate change adaptation from local to regional levels, and the evidence from adaptation approaches will inform policies across sectors.

Wildlife Conservation Day highlights action against wildlife crime

2012-12-04

In response to growing concern about illegal trade in wildlife, the US Department of State has declared 4 December as Wildlife Conservation Day and is calling for individuals across the world to support threatened species by signing up to a Wildlife Pledge. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) welcomes this initiative given the recent escalation of poaching for a number of species that is compromising decades-long efforts towards the conservation and sustainable use of wild species.

Ecosystem science matters for business

2012-12-03

IUCN and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) recently issued a briefing on business and biodiversity science, which highlights a variety of interactions and opportunities, as well as the current lack of synergies. This briefing also addresses the latest developments of the global expertise on biodiversity and ecosystem services (BES).

Hyderabad hopes for a protected planet

2012-10-18

Protected areas both on land and in the sea are a hot topic here at the Biodiversity talks in Hyderabad. We ask Trevor Sandwith, Head of IUCN’s Global Protected Areas Programme, to explain what they are and why they are so important.

Islands show the way to conserve nature

2012-10-18

A range of new and significant commitments to conserve nature in Europe’s overseas islands and regions were announced at Island Innovations, a dynamic high level event held during the UN Conference on Biodiversity (CBD COP11), in Hyderabad, India. Those include the continuous support of the European Parliament to the EU's BEST Preparatory Action and the British Virgin Islands’ involvement in the Caribbean Challenge Initiative.

Into the deep unknown – scientists unveil the secrets of our seas

2012-10-15

Hyderabad, India, 15 October 2012 – New facts about marine life enable scientists to locate some of the ocean’s most ecologically and biologically significant areas (EBSAs), in the planet’s most remote places. At the 11th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Hyderabad, India, IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) calls on the international community to protect them.