Procedures for Becoming an IUCN Member
For Organizations in India
Who can become a Member?
IUCN Statutes recognize the following three categories of members:
Category A: States and Government Agencies
All United Nations member states are eligible to apply as State Members of IUCN. India has been an
IUCN Member since 1969, and is represented by its Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government
of India.
Government Agencies are also eligible, and include organizations, institutions or government
departments which form part of the machinery of government in a State, including those agencies
which are components of federal States.
Category B: National and International Non-Government Organizations
National non-governmental organizations are institutions and associations incorporated within a State.
International non-governmental organizations are institutions and associations organized in two or
more States.
Additional requirements for NGOs:
• A not-for-profit entity which conforms to the laws of the State where the organization is located.
• In existence for at least three years at the time of applying.
• An autonomous and independent governing body. In the case of International NGOs the
governing body should be open to nationals from at least two states.
• A governance structure which is transparent, accountable and representative.
The majority of the current IUCN Members in India fall within Category B. They come from different
backgrounds and together represent a diversity of expertise and skills.
Category C: Affiliates
Organizations not falling within the above two categories can apply as Affiliate Members. Presently
there are no Affiliate Members in India but examples from elsewhere in Asia include CGIAR
organizations like CIFOR (Center for International Forestry Research) Indonesia; Hong Kong
Zoological and Botanical Gardens; and, Mt. Huangshan Scenic Area Administrative Committee
(China) fall within this category.
IUCN currently has 38 Members in India. Please refer to the link on the last page for the list of
Members.
How can your organization join?
Please CLICK to download the latest version of the membership application form.
The form contains information and instructions on Membership Admission Criteria and Process.
When applying kindly make sure that a duly filled application form, signed by the authorized head of
the agency or organization, is submitted together with the following documents:
1. Letters of endorsement from two current IUCN Members in good standing.
(Not required from Government Agencies)
2. Latest audited financial report. If not available, please provide a statement certified by the
treasurer or Head of your organization. (Not required from Government Agencies)
3. Statutes/By laws/Articles of Association/ other statutory document of your organization.
4. Applications shall be accompanied by a deposit equal to the first year’s membership dues.
This sum is refundable in the case of non-admission.
Please send above documents to IUCN Membership Manager, Asia.
We will be in touch if additional documentation or clarifications are required.
Mr. Raj Kumar,
Membership Manager, Asia
IUCN Asia Regional Office, Thailand
Email: [email protected]
You can also write to us with any questions.
The Admission Process
All applicants for IUCN membership undergo review by the IUCN Council to ensure that:
• The applicant has as one of its central purposes the achievement of IUCN’s objectives and a
substantial record of activity in the conservation of nature and natural resources;
• The objectives and track record of the applicant embody to a substantial extent:
- the conservation of the integrity and diversity of nature; and, either or both
- the aim to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically
sustainable
- dedication to influencing, encouraging and assisting societies to meet the objectives
of IUCN
• The applicant does not pursue objectives or carry out activities that conflict with the objectives
or activities of IUCN.
Applications are reviewed by the IUCN Council four times a year. Deadlines for receipt are
March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31. During the admission process, all
communication may be through electronic means.
The IUCN Council is the principal governing body of IUCN, which decides on the admission of
the applicant.
Membership Fees
For each Member category there is a corresponding dues scale. The scale is indexed to the
Swiss Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Category A: States, Government Agencies
The “Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations” is used
as a basis to establish the membership dues groups for Category A Members.
IUCN does not apply the UN assessment percentages directly, and has its own sliding scale to
form the IUCN dues groups/levels, by grouping different countries according to their percentage
contributions to the UN budget. Based on this scale, India falls in Group 6 and the corresponding
membership dues for 2014, 2015 and 2016 for the State and Government Agency Members are
as follows:
State Member
Year
Amount (CHF)
2014
179,029
2015
180,283
2016
180,643
Government Agency
Year
Amount (CHF)
2014
5,370
2015
5,408
2016
5,418
Membership dues for a Government Agency are 3% of those of the State membership dues.
Category B: National and International Non-Governmental organizations
Membership dues for national and international non-governmental organizations are calculated on
the basis of the organization’s annual operating expenditure (in US Dollars). This is defined as
the expenditure arising in the course of ordinary activities of the organization and which is
considered to be recurrent and annual (staff salaries, building rental, administration costs, etc…).
Operating expenditure does not include one-time investments and/or major project expenditure
such as donor-funded projects.
National and international non-governmental organizations are divided into nine groups,
based on the organizations operating expenditure.
Group
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Operating expenditure
US dollars/ FROM ( ≥)
TO (<)
≥0
< 100,000
≥ 100’000 < 500,000
≥ 500’000 < 1 M
≥1M
<2M
≥2M
<4M
≥4M
<6M
≥6M
<8M
≥8M
< 10 M
≥ 10 M
Membership
dues
scale
2014 (CHF)
441
707
1,326
2,654
5,306
8,842
12,378
15,916
21,221
Membership
dues
scale
2015 (CHF)
444
712
1,335
2,672
5,343
8,904
12,465
16,027
21,370
Membership
dues scale 2016
(CHF)
445
713
1,338
2,678
5,353
8,922
12,490
16,059
21,412
Based on operating expenditure, locate which Group your organization would fit into.
Category C: Affiliates
All Affiliate Members pay the same rate as indicated below. Affiliate Members do not have the right
to vote, nominate candidates or submit Motions to the World Conservation Congress (Article 12 (b)
of the IUCN Statutes).
Group
Affiliates (in CHF)
2014
2,654
2015
2,672
2016
2,678
Payment of membership dues
When do dues become payable?
Membership dues are payable in advance and payment shall be received by January 1 each
year. Invoices, issued in Swiss Francs, are prepared and dispatched during the last quarter of the
preceding year.
How can dues be paid?
Dues can be paid in Swiss Francs (CHF) or any other freely convertible currency. In countries where
IUCN is represented by a Regional, Country or Project Office, payment of dues may be made to the
IUCN Office in local currency.
For payments which are not made in CHF, we ask you to use the same daily exchange rates as
IUCN: http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/ to avoid any major exchange rate differences.
Payment details:
Membership dues or deposit payments can be made by cheque to IUCN, International Union for
Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (to be remitted to Headquarters or any IUCN Regional
or Country Office), or by Visa or MasterCard (for amounts up to CHF 5,000), or by bank transfer to the
IUCN bank account. Please refer to the application form for bank details.
Benefits of IUCN Membership
IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network, and is the only environmental
organization with official observer status at the United Nations. It is a unique democratic union with
more than 1,200 Member organizations in some 160 countries. Our Members act collectively to
provide leadership, governance and set the organization’s strategic agenda.
Being a Member of IUCN enables you to both advance your own cause and to strengthen common
action in overcoming barriers to a sustainable future. Some of the benefits of being an IUCN Member
include:
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Networking and Partnership: Joining the IUCN family creates networking opportunities that
help you identify common interests, new partners and potential funding sources.
A More Powerful Conservation Voice: IUCN adds weight and authority to your conservation
agenda. Members provide input to the policy advice and technical support that IUCN offers to
organizations like OECD, the World Bank, the G8, the G77, the EU, the Arab League, and
World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Influence the Global Conservation Agenda: IUCN World Conservation Congress (WCC) is
a unique global environmental parliament and the highest decision-making body of IUCN, it
involves governments and NGOs – large and small, national and international – in taking joint
decisions. The Resolutions process at WCC remains a central element of IUCN’s governance
system and an important means by which members can influence future directions in the
conservation community and seek international support on various conservation issues.
These Resolutions and Recommendations, together with the IUCN Programme, constitute the
foundation for the work of the Union and assist IUCN in achieving its Mission.
Enhanced Knowledge and Capacity Building: One of IUCN’s key objectives is to act as a
multiplier, accelerating environmental progress by sharing knowledge and helping to build the
capacity of Members to achieve their conservation goals. Each year, IUCN runs hundreds of
workshops and training events to support Member programmes and objectives.
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Access to the IUCN Union Portal: The Union
Portal is an exclusive platform for Members to
share knowledge, directly engage with other
IUCN Members, obtain updates and learn about
new opportunities. Being a part of this platform
and having access to this network is one of the
benefits of IUCN membership.
Members in Categories A and B enjoy
certain privileges:
Use of the IUCN Member logo: IUCN Members
can show their association with IUCN by
using an official IUCN logo extension specifically
designed for Members. This can be used on
websites, letterheads, business cards, email
signatures, etc.
b) To nominate candidates directly to the
WCC for election as IUCN President.
a) To propose to the Council candidates
for President, Treasurer and Chairs of
the IUCN Commissions to be elected
by the IUCN WCC held every four
year.
c) To nominate to the WCC candidates
for election as Regional Councilors.
d) To submit motions to the WCC.
e) To vote in sessions of the WCC or by
mail ballot.
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Access to Indian National Committee of IUCN: The Indian National Committee (INC) is a
forum of IUCN Members in India. The mandate of the Committee is to coordinate activities of
IUCN Members in India and develop common approaches on nature conservation. Currently,
29 IUCN Members in India are Members of this Committee. The Secretary, Ministry of
Environment & Forests, Government of India is the ex-officio Chairman. Director, Wildlife
Institute of India (Chandrabani, Dehradun) is ex-officio Member-Secretary.
Link to important references:
1. List of IUCN Members in India:
http://www.iucn.org/about/union/secretariat/offices/asia/asia_where_work/india_programme_o
ffice/iucn_members_in_india/
2. The IUCN Programme (2013–2016) - Adopted by the IUCN World Conservation Congress,
September 2012: https://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/iucn_programme_2013_2016.pdf
3. The benefits of IUCN membership:
https://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/membership_brochure_en.pdf
4. IUCN Statutes and regulations:
https://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/statutes_en.pdf
5. IUCN Membership Dues Guide (2014-1016):
http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/membership_dues_guide_en.pdf