The City of Cape Town has been accepted as a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in the Subnational Government Membership Category. The IUCN, with its more than 1 400 members, can assist the City to protect its world-renowned biodiversity, co-create urban environmental solutions to address complex yet interrelated urban nature conservation and become one of the leading environmentally friendly cities.
‘This is a historic moment for IUCN’s Eastern and Southern Region as the City of Cape Town becomes its first member in the Subnational Governments Membership Category. The IUCN Council approved our application for IUCN Membership earlier this month. We have received formal notification and internal processes are under way to enable the City to access IUCN Platforms. We look forward to participating in the South Africa National Committee,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
The IUCN currently has more than 1 400 members from both government and civil society. It counts major international cities as members, maintains close ties with, and is supported by, major international stakeholders such as the United Nations (UN), the European Commission, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), as well as the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.
By being a member, the City stands to benefit in a variety of ways that include:
- Peer to peer exchange and city-to-city collaboration
- Access to environmental, nature conservation and biodiversity expertise
- Access to technical assistance and funding to facilitate project implementation
- Global branding and visibility across the IUCN network
IUCN is a membership union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of around 17 000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
