Marine and Polar
Mangroves – surviving in "the harsh space between the tides”
Mangrove forests evolved where two of the most contrasting environments on earth meet – the interface between the land and sea.
Wedged in the intertidal zone, dissected by river deltas or stuck in the sand pits of coastal lagoons, mangroves are highly dynamic ecosystems faced with exceptional challenges – changing tides,...
Report launched on the urgent need to protect parts of the Arctic including four in EU Overseas
New report on recomended Arctic Marine World Heritage sites includes four off the coast of Greenland
The Arctic Ocean urgently needs protection as melting sea ice is opening up previously inaccessible areas to activities such as shipping, bottom trawl fishing and oil exploration, according to a...
"Walters Shoal" Expedition
The "Walters Shoal" expedition is bringing to fruition the objectives of the scientific component of the IUCN FFEM-SWIO project. Acquiring...
32°30'S / 44°E The Marion Dufresne of the French Polar Institute IPEV will take the scientific partners of the project to the seamount named "Walters Shoal". This high seas habitat is located in...
IUCN expedition to explore life on undersea mountains
A scientific expedition to explore life on undersea mountains – or seamounts – in the high seas south of Madagascar is setting out from Reunion...
“Seamounts are islands of marine life with an important role in maintaining the health of the ocean. They contribute to food security by supporting fish stocks, and the unique species they harbour...
Next steps for carbon accounting from coastal “blue carbon” ecosystems
IUCN and partners issue additional technical considerations to the 2013 IPCC Wetlands Supplement during the Bonn Climate Change Conference taking...
Recent science has provided us with better information about how much carbon is stored, or released, due to various management activities in coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrasses and...
Coastal Blue Carbon It was not until 2009 that the specific value and role of mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrasses for climate change mitigation began to be addressed by climate policy experts....
The IUCN Global Marine and Polar Programme's work is organised below under ten broad themes. As some of our work cuts across these themes, some project work may feature under more than one theme...
The oceans have absorbed between 24% and 33% of anthropogenic carbon dioxide CO2) emissions during the past five decades. While this uptake provides a valuable service to human societies by...
Climate Change and Oceans
Climate change is severely and rapidly impacting species, ecosystems and people around the globe. Climate change and ocean acidification are...
Ocean Warming Ocean warming may well turn out to be the greatest hidden challenge of our generation. Up to now, the ocean has shielded us from the worst impacts of climate change by absorbing...
IUCN World Heritage report stresses urgency of protecting the Arctic from ships and oil as ice melts
Monaco, 4 April 2017 (IUCN) – The Arctic Ocean urgently needs protection as melting sea ice is opening up previously inaccessible areas to activities...
The report identifies seven globally significant marine sites in the Arctic Ocean that warrant protection and could potentially qualify for World Heritage status. “The Arctic Ocean plays a...
Canada protects unique glass sponge reefs
The conservation community is celebrating a new marine protected area (MPA) for Canada’s ancient and unique glass sponge reefs, which provide a vital...
The new MPA lies on a site designated as a Hope Spot- sites that are internationally recognised for their importance to the global ocean’s (and thus people’s) health. “The reefs are an...
EU Overseas Contacts
Contacts Carole Martinez Programme Coordinator - EU Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories, Global Marine & Polar Programme IUCN Rue Mauverney 28 ...
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