IUCN’s mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. Therefore, its policy work is key to its ability to have an impact on world conservation.
To attain its mission, throughout the years IUCN has been instrumental in the creation and development of major environmental conventions and international agreements such as the Ramsar Convention, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the World Heritage Convention, and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and has encouraged States to adhere to these agreements.
As the world’s leading association of conservation agencies, including States, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, IUCN is in a unique position to reflect and promote the priorities of the global conservation community. It is the only environmental organization with observer status at the United Nations General Assembly, enabling IUCN to deliver the policy perspectives of its Members at the highest international level of diplomacy.
