- Its full legal name is International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
- It is an international organisation working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources
- Founded in 1948 in Fontainebleau, France.
- HQ : Gland, Switzerland
- It is involved in data gathering and analysis, research, field projects, advocacy, lobbying and education.
- Over the past decades, IUCN has widened its focus beyond conservation ecology and now incorporates issues related to gender equality, poverty alleviation and sustainable business in its projects.
- It publishes IUCN Red List which assesses the conservation status of species worldwide
- IUCN has observer and consultative status at the United Nations
- Both Governments and NGOs are its members.