International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Introduction
An international organisation, representing the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, comprising both government and civil society members.IUCN is an international organisation dedicated to natural resource conservation, bringing together states, government agencies and international and national non-governmental organisations. It helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environmental and development challenges.
IUCN's mission is to encourage societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. IUCN has three components: member organisations, six scientific commissions, and a professional secretariat.
IUCN Oceania
IUCN Oceania region is comprised of the 24 countries and territories of Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia, Australia and New Zealand.
Oceania is geographically one of IUCN’s largest regional programmes, covering over 100 million square kilometres of land and ocean. Oceania also contains a diverse range of ecosystems, from coral reefs to kelp forests, mangroves to montane forests, and wetlands to deserts.
Australia and New Zealand lead the region’s economic development and environmental governance to fulfil IUCN’s mission.
IUCN in New Zealand
The New Zealand Government is a state member of IUCN with the Department of Conservation (DOC) acting as state party representative.
Benefits of being a member of IUCN include creating networks and relationships with other government and conservation organisations, access to key scientists and decision makers, being part of a collective conservation platform for discussion, and access to technical and scientific information to support conservation related decision-making.
Other New Zealand government agency members include:
Other New Zealand non-government organisation members include:
- Environment and Conservation Organisations NZ
- Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society
- World Wide Fund for Nature, New Zealand
- Lincoln University Faculty of Environment, Society, and Design
New Zealand National Committee
A national committee meets quarterly to progress issues of concern to IUCN. The Committee is serviced by DOC.
The Committee also participates on the Oceania Regional Committee and has elected a councillor who represents its interests on IUCN Governing Council.