IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

Celebrating half a century of cooperation

09 September 2012 | Video

50 years ago IUCN and the Council of Europe decided to join hands signing a cooperation agreement. At the IUCN Congress they confirmed the willingness to continue the successful work in the fields of protected areas and ecological networks, threatened species and biological invasion.

Since 1962 IUCN and the Council of Europe have focused on the Council s Convention on Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern 1979) and species conservation through the IUCN Species Survival Commission. Both organizations are strongly committed to continue working together to support governments to implement the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.

Eladio Fernández-Galiano, Head of the Biological Diversity Unit, Council of Europe and Hans Friederich, IUCN Regional Director for Europe share their views.