The new IUCN Global Standard will help governments, business and civil society ensure the effectiveness of nature-based solutions and maximise their potential to help address climate change, biodiversity loss and other societal challenges on a global scale. Read more

This year, World Ranger Day celebrated on 31 July saw a launch of a new alliance to support professionalisation of rangers in protected and conserved areas across the world. Read more

Almost a third (31%) of all lemur species in Madagascar are now Critically Endangered – just one step away from extinction – with 98% of them threatened, according to new update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This update also reveals that the North Atlantic Right Whale and the European Hamster are now both Critically Endangered. Read more

Even though naturally perfectly equipped to roam the steep mountains of Central Asia, the snow leopard is facing extinction. Around 7,500 individuals live in the wild, according to the most recent estimates. There is a strong commitment of conservationists to prevent the extinction of the solitary ‘ghost of the mountains’ in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, recently catalysed by the IUCN Save Our Species initiative. Read more

Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of North Macedonia initiated the evaluation of natural and socio-economic values of the Lake Ohrid and the Shar Mountains, with the support of national and international experts, civil sector and the local community. The process will be supported by IUCN and is expected to set the direction for the effective management of these two transboundary sites for the next 10 years. Read more

Working against poaching in Albania, PPNEA was informed about the recently killed Balkan lynx, exposed near two other exemplars in a restaurant. According to the newly adopted Albanian law on fauna, this criminal act is punishable with up to 7 years of prison. Even though PPNEA has publicly denounced this case, a reaction from the authorities is still expected. Read more

The main part of the zapovednik's territory is constituted by the six Bear (Medvezhyi) Islands, in Yakutia. It has the highest recorded concentration of the polar bear dens from the Taymyr Peninsula to Wrangel Island, and, in spring, females can be seen on the adjacent landfast ice with their cubs. An ecological economic justification was prepared by WWF-Russia. Read more

The designation of 15 new UNESCO Global Geoparks brings the number of sites participating in the Global Geoparks Network to 161 in 44 countries. UNESCO Global Geoparks were designated for the first time in the Russian Federation (Yangan-Tau UNESCO Global Geopark) and Serbia (Djerdap UNESCO Global Geopark). Read more

The surface of protected areas in Uzbekistan has increased 36% since its previous update 23 years ago, revealed the July release of the World Database of Protected Areas. This data submission is boosting the progress towards the achievement of Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 set by the Convention on Biological Diversity. Read more

Sustainable small scale and recreational fishing in the Karaburun – Sazan National Marine Park in Albania requires more cooperation between stakeholders. Through informative and consultative meetings with the fisherman community, and other responsible actors at the local level, INCA is trying to better understand the situation in small scale and recreational fishing. Fishermen are well aware of various issues affecting the sector and require more support from the government including better law enforcement. Read more

Forest landscape restoration transforms degraded and deforested areas into multi-functional and healthy landscapes with the aim of bringing multiple benefits to people and nature. Countries in Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia have committed to restore close to 3 million hectares to the Bonn Challenge. What are the options for potential forest landscape restoration financing? Read more

Nature-based Solutions Senior Project Officer. Experience in the field related to natural resource management and climate change with focus on Nature-based Solutions, team leading skills and project coordination required. Closing date 16 August. 

Field expert, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Closing date 23 August. 

Young people have a key role in determining the future of our planet. If you are under 35 and work with a conservation organisation or network, you can tell world leaders the type of future you want! Submit your proposal by 30 August. Read more

Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Climate Change, Risks and Challenges created by WWF Germany and adapted in the CPI project has been incorporated into education system in Serbia. Climate change as a sub-topic under Ecology has been officially added to the national high school curricula of natural and mathematical sciences, and as a topic for undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Biology, the University of Belgrade. Ecology and Climate Change will also be part of the master studies. Read more

The first comprehensive overview of Mediterranean sea turtles offers the latest information available on nesting beach sites together with the main areas of foraging and overwintering, as well as the current situation in protected areas. Read more

The Sourcebook  was authored by Mladen Lazić and Lucy Emerton, in close consultations with regional technical, scientific and civil society organizations platforms, such as the Biodiversity Task Force of South East Europe (BDTF SEE) and the regional expert group on ecosystem service assessment and valuation (ESAV EG). Prepared in the frame of the Open Regional Fund for South-East Europe – Implementation of Biodiversity Agreements (ORF BDU), it was commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. Download

On the occasion of the World Music Day on 21 June, 40 artists supported the Blue Heart campaign for the protection of Balkan Rivers. The musicians want to shake people up and contribute to preventing the looming destruction of nature in their home countries. Darko Rundek from Croatia, Rambo Amadeus from Serbia/Montenegro, and Jelena Milušić from Bosnia and Herzegovina are some of the artists who raised their voices for the Balkan rivers and against their destruction. Read more

Aiming to promote natural values, the Public Enterprise for National Parks of Montenegro has created the video featuring the footage from all five national parks and their inhabitants- animals that sing about nature to a recognizable traditional Montenegrin melody. The author of this video is Miki Dragicevic, winner of numerous awards at national and international tourist film festivals. Watch here 

24-28 August

#WWWeek

The six Commissions unite 13,000 volunteer experts that assess the state of the world’s natural resources and provide the Union with sound know-how and policy advice on conservation issues. Joining one of them you are entering a committed team of experts dealing with issues related to conservation and environmental protection. Learn more

Being a Member of IUCN enables you to both advance your own cause and to strengthen common action in overcoming barriers to a sustainable future. Through IUCN, members become part of a collective and global voice on important issues of our age. Learn more