International Union for Conservation of Nature

[ in-ter-nash-uh-nl yoon-yuhn fer kon-ser-vey-shuhn uhv ney-cher ]

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 ( def ). : IUCN

Word History and Origins

Origin of International Union for Conservation of Nature¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

It is an endangered species or three steps away from extinction and its numbers are decreasing, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

From BBC

They are classed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List.

From BBC

Blackpool's Bornean orangutans are part of the European Endangered Species Programme for the species which was classified as critically endangered in 2016 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature meaning that it now faces an “extremely high” risk of extinction in the wild.

From BBC

The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers the species to be of “least concern.”

From Los Angeles Times

Just over two decades ago, the pointy-eared wild cat was on the brink of extinction, but as of Thursday the International Union for Conservation of Nature says it’s no longer an endangered species.

From Seattle Times