WCS 3-Sentence Science

Ivoryfinger

November 22, 2019

CREDIT: JULIE LARSEN MAHER/WCS

Each year, Wildlife Conservation Society scientists publish more than 300 peer-reviewed studies and papers. “WCS 3-Sentence Science” is a regular tip-sheet — in bite sized helpings — of some of this published work.

Here we present work by WCS’s Elizabeth Bennett and John Robinson on securing critical roles played by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

1. A controversy at the 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congress on the topic of closing domestic ivory markets (the 007, or so-called James Bond, motion) has given rise to a debate on IUCN’s value proposition.
2. A cross-section of authors who are engaged in IUCN but not employed by the organization, and with diverse perspectives and opinions, here argue for the importance of safeguarding and strengthening the unique technical and convening roles of IUCN, providing examples of what has and has not worked.
3. Recommendations for protecting and enhancing IUCN’s contribution to global conservation debates and policy formulation are given.

Study and Journal: “IUCN’s encounter with 007: Safeguarding consensus for conservation” from Oryx
WCS Co-Author(s): Elizabeth Bennett, Vice President, Species; John Robinson, Executive Vice President for Conservation and Science

For more information, contact: Stephen Sautner, 718–220–3682, ssautner@wcs.org.