An IUCN-organised consultation meeting on Dec. 4 ? 5 allowed experts to consider possibilities for conserving Viet Nam?s wetlands through a Payment for Environmental Services (PES) mechanism.

IUCN welcomes Dr. Jane Lubchenco as the future head of the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA, an active government agency member of and partner with IUCN, is a branch of the US government with a mission to understand and predict changes in Earth?s environment and to conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet economic, social, and environmental needs.

About 400 students at two middle schools in Quang Tri province demonstrated their knowledge of a sea turtle conservation curriculum developed by IUCN Viet Nam at awareness-raising competitions during the weekend of 20-21 December

IUCN?s Global Marine Programme and Energy, Ecosystems and Livelihoods Initiative are initiating research into the ecosystem and livelihood implications of marine-based energy alternatives. This work is intended to inform policy and practice of governments, the private sector and the conservation community and will be supported by the Swedish government and the energy company E.ON.

The topic of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degredation (REDD) is shaping up to be one of the most prominent features of this climate conference. REDD discussions are not only attracting a lot of attention and interest, they are also progressing rapidly.

Representatives of major national water sectors gathered on Monday, Oct. 24 for IUCN?s launch of the Mekong Region Water Dialogues? (MRWD) Viet Nam component.

The new IUCN Environment and Development group  held its first meeting 13-14 November to discuss efficient integration of the group?s common goals. This newly created cluster comprises the Forest and Water Programme, Ecosystem Management Programme, and Senior Advisor Social Policy  and Gender together to allign their work and deliver the IUCN key result areas.

People with a stake in the Zambezi river basin are set to meet in Lilongwe Malawi to discuss how they can implement the recently adopted Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Strategy for the shared river basin.

More protected areas in strategic ocean locations need to be set up and benefit from proper enforcement in order to address the rapid degradation of the world?s marine environment.

Historic breakthrough for Participatory Forest Management in Sudan

The release of the first ever IUCN Red List of Threatened Species? assessment of northeast Atlantic sharks, rays and chimaeras reveals that 26 percent are threatened with extinction and another 20 percent are in the Near Threatened category.

How should countries that share rivers manage water resources? That?s the topic of the latest title in the IUCN Water and Nature Toolkit Series.

At the opening of the 10th Conference of the Contracting Parties (CoP) of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, held from October 28th to November 4th, IUCN Director General Julia Marton Lefèvre called on governments to make conserving wetlands and sustainable use of water the basis for a sustainable future.

Poverty in the Landscape: Capturing variation and learning from it

18 April 2008, Hanoi, Vietnam: Summary report.

Chinese forest delegation study tour to West and Central Africa, 24 April?10 May 2008

Supporting the national dialogue on forest law enforcement, governance and trade

Enhancing forest governance capacities at national and community levels

The Hawaiian longline tuna fishery has managed to reduce seabird bycatch by 67% since 2001 by making alterations to their fishing gear and methods, a new scientific study shows.  A combination of new bait technologies and fishing techniques have dramatically reduced seabird bycatch.  More birdlife could be saved, however, if the rules were applied in a larger area and fishing effort reduced in certain seasons.  

As the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) recovers from its war-torn past, IUCN is strengthening local voices to conserve the nation?s forests, which not only suffered during wartime but are still threatened in a time of peace.