Context: The IUCN Green List is seeing growth with the addition of four new listings from West Asia, marking a positive trend toward effective and equitable area-based conservation.

Background: –

• Four new sites included are Sharaan Nature Reserve and King Abdulaziz Royal Nature Reserve of Saudi Arabia, Aqaba Marine Reserve of Jordan and Sir Bu Nair Protected Area from UAE.

Key points

• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas is a global initiative aimed at recognizing and promoting effective, equitable, and successful management of protected and conserved areas worldwide. 
• It serves as a benchmark for quality in nature conservation, ensuring that these areas deliver tangible benefits for both people and nature.

Objectives of the IUCN Green List:

• Enhance Conservation Outcomes: Increase the number of protected and conserved areas that achieve successful conservation results through effective management and governance. 
• Provide a Global Benchmark: Offer a globally consistent standard to measure and improve the performance of protected and conserved areas. 

The IUCN Green List Standard is structured around four key components, each encompassing specific criteria:

• Good Governance: Ensures that the area is managed transparently, inclusively, and accountably, respecting the rights of stakeholders and indigenous communities. 
• Sound Design and Planning: Focuses on clear, long-term conservation goals based on a comprehensive understanding of the area’s natural, cultural, and socio-economic values. 
• Effective Management: Involves implementing strategies and actions that are efficient, adaptive, and based on the best available knowledge to maintain or enhance the area’s values. 
• Successful Conservation Outcomes: Measures the achievement of tangible and positive results in conserving the area’s values, contributing to biodiversity and ecosystem health. 

The path to Green List certification involves several stages:

• Application Phase: Protected areas submit an application and provide initial documentation demonstrating commitment to the Green List indicators. 
• Candidate Phase: Upon acceptance, the site undergoes a thorough evaluation against all criteria, including stakeholder consultations and site visits. 
• Green List Phase: Successful sites are awarded Green List status, recognized for their excellence in conservation, and are subject to periodic reviews to ensure ongoing compliance. 
• There are no Indian sites listed on the IUCN Green List

Source: IUCN