International Union for Conservation of Nature

American  

[in-ter-nash-uh-nl yoon-yuhn fer kon-ser-vey-shuhn uhv ney-cher] / ˌɪn tərˈnæʃ ə nl ˈyun yən fər ˌkɒn sərˈveɪ ʃən əv ˈneɪ tʃər /

noun

1. an international organization dedicated to research and analysis in the field of nature conservation: known as the world’s leading authority on the conservation status of plant and animal species and for its compilation of the IUCN Red List. IUCN

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Etymology

Origin of International Union for Conservation of Nature

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

Nonprofits and conservation groups estimate that there are today around 415,000 elephants in Africa, and the African savanna elephant is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2026

Today there are 415,000, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

Globally, about 37 percent of oceanic shark and ray species are now listed as either endangered or critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, a database for threatened species.

From Barron's • Nov. 26, 2025

The authors also considered threat levels -- for example "threatened," "endangered" or "least concern," -- for 163,000 species as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

From Science Daily • Oct. 27, 2025

But now scientists at the International Union for Conservation of Nature say we can welcome three more species of the world's tallest mammal.

From BBC • Aug. 21, 2025