World Conservation Union

Organization established by the United Nations to promote the conservation of wildlife and habitats as part of the national policies of member states.

It has formulated guidelines and established research programmes, for example International Biological Programme (IBP), and set up advisory bodies such as Survival Commissions (SSC). In 1980, it launched the World Conservation Strategy to highlight particular problems, designating a small number of areas as World Heritage Sites to ensure their survival as unspoiled habitats (for example, Yosemite National Park in the USA, and the Simen Mountains in Ethiopia). It also compiles the Red Data List of Threatened Animals, classifying species according to their vulnerability to extinction.

According to its list of endangered species published in 2003, 25% of all mammal species and 12.4% of all bird species are threatened with extinction.