The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a prominent international organization dedicated to nature conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources. Founded on October 5, 1948, in Fontainebleau, France, as the International Union for the Protection of Nature (IUPN), it emerged in the post-World War II era to foster global cooperation on environmental protection. The organization changed its name in 1956 to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, and from 1990 to 2008 was known as the World Conservation Union. Today, with headquarters in Gland, Switzerland, IUCN unites over 1,400 member organizations—including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, and communities—and engages more than 17,000 experts worldwide, making it the largest and most diverse environmental network.

IUCN's mission is to influence, encourage, and assist societies throughout the world to conserve nature and ensure equitable, ecologically sustainable use of natural resources. As the global authority on the status of the natural world, it conducts data gathering, analysis, research, field projects, advocacy, and education. Key initiatives include the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, which assesses extinction risks for thousands of plants and animals, and the development of tools like Nature-based Solutions to support international agreements such as the Paris Agreement on climate change and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The organization holds observer status at the United Nations General Assembly and has played a pivotal role in drafting major environmental treaties, publishing hundreds of reports annually to guide conservation efforts.

Over its 75+ years, IUCN has evolved from a small union to a cornerstone of global environmental governance, addressing pressing challenges like biodiversity loss, climate change, and sustainable development. It promotes collaboration across sectors to protect species, ecosystems, and resources for current and future generations.