International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources was established in 1948, as an International Union for the Protection of Nature (IUPN).

The Organization with its wide ranging policies has now assumed world leadership in matters wildlife conservation and conservation of natural resources of protection of environment. In 1957, the union renamed itself as International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. The Headquarters of the Union are situated in Gland, Switzerland.

IUCN is now globally operated, highly influential union of government agencies, national and international non-governmental organizations and loyal supporters who are dedicated to the cause of conservation. The organization is concerned with initiations and promotion of establish links between development and environment, to provide lasting improvement in the quality of life for people all over the world. The main objectives of IUCN can be summed up as follows:

1. To ensure the conservation of nature especially of biological diversity as an essential foundation for the future.

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2. To ensure wherever earth’s natural resources are used by humans, this is done in wise equitable and as far as possible in sustainable way.

3. To guide the development of human communities towards ways of life those are both of good quality and in enduring harmony with other components of the biosphere.

IUCN works through a General Assembly which is convened at the interval of every three years to determine the policies and broad elements of the organization, a Council elected by the General Assembly which meets at least annually and Commissions consisting of a body of experts and volunteers who make major contribution to the development and execution of IUCN Programmes.

Currently there are six commissions, namely: Commission on Ecology, on Education and Communication, on Environmental Law, on Environment Strategy and Planning, on National Parks and Protected Areas and on Species Survival. The IUCN Commissions constitute a global network of more than 6,000 scientists and other specialists.