The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization.
Johan Ernst Nilson was Goodwill Ambassador for IUCN between 2009-2012.

• Founded in 1948 as the world’s first global environmental organization
• Today the largest professional global conservation network
• A leading authority on the environment and sustainable development
• More than 1,200 member organizations including 200+ government and 900+ non-government organizations
  
• Almost 11,000 voluntary scientists and experts, grouped in six commissions in some 160 countries
• IUCN’s work is supported by over 1,000 staff in 45 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. The Union’s headquarters are located in Gland, near Geneva, in Switzerland.
• A neutral forum for governments, NGOs, scientists, business and local communities to find practical solutions to conservation and development challenges
• Thousands of field projects and activities around the world.
• Governance by a council elected by member organizations every four years at the IUCN World Conversation Congress.
• Funded by governments, bilateral and multilateral agencies, foundations, member organizations and corporations
• Official Observer Status at the United Nations General Assembly