Private bodies and non-governmental organizations have played a very important role in the development of environmental movements and international co-operation for the conservation of wild life and their natural habitats. They were instrumental in initiating dialogues between concerned parties for most of the treaties and agreements or conventions signed during the early part of twentieth century.

Scientific congresses also are non-governmental organizations intended chiefly for the advancement of science and technology which have acquired an international status. After mid-nineteenth century these international scientific meets became more frequent. International Botanical, Zoological and Ornithological congresses were held regularly.

Although their basic purpose was exchange of information and views between people working in different countries, early in the twentieth century, their agenda were moulded to include environmental issues and conservation of wild life and natural resources. Among the more important conferences of early part of twentieth century were:

1. International Ornithological Congress held at Vienna in 1900.

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2 International Congress for the protection of Nature held in Paris in 1909.

3. International Congress for the protection of Flora, Fauna, Natural sites and Monuments also held at Paris in 1923.

4. International Congress for the study and protection of birds held in Geneva in 1927.

5. Second International Congress for the protection of Nature held in Paris in 1931.

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Following World War II, the responsibilities of many Governments expanded to cover a number of aspects of public life which has hitherto been accorded much less attention. Many Governments and inter-governmental organizations became increasingly involved in conservation of natural resources and subsequently in environmental conferences. Up to now they had financed or hosted the international conventions, conferences, congresses etc. but they did not participate in it.

Almost hand in hand with the growing involvement of government machinery, there was a merger of diverse interests in conservation of natural resources and protection of environment into a more comprehensive national or international organizations.

Such as the Sierra Club, National Audubon Society, the Wilderness Society etc. During 1960-1970, international net-works of non-governmental organizations matured and began to effect the transition from the traditional narrow and limited conservation policies to a more comprehensive open ended concern for the quality of life and environment.

In 1947, the Swiss League for the protection of nature sponsored a conference at Brunnen which was attended by delegates from twenty four countries and a number of non-governmental organizations. It was at this meeting that the draft constitution for the establishment of an International Union for the conservation of Nature was initially adopted. After a follow up conference called by UNESCO at Fountainbleau in 1948, this draft became the basic charter for the establishment of International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), which has turned out to be the most important and effective non-governmental instrument of conservation of nature and natural resources.