The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Chief Executive Jonathan Hughes is standing for re-election to the Council of the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organisation.
Jonathan is hoping to be one of three International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Councillors elected from West Europe. The Council for 2016-20 will be elected at the IUCN World Conservation Congress, to be held in Hawaii this September and described by some as the Olympics for nature.
Jonathan Hughes, Chief Executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: “It’s a huge honour to be nominated by IUCN member organisations for a second time as a candidate for Council. Should members decide to re-elect me in September, they can be assured I will continue to bring passion and dedication to the role. Global coordination for conservation has never been so important with the world facing a species extinction crisis, widespread degradation of ecosystems and the spectre of climate change. The IUCN plays this vital coordination role, speaking and acting for all its members, both governmental and non-governmental, on critical conservation issues.
“The strong partnership between IUCN and the Scottish Wildlife Trust on the two World Forums on Natural Capital held in Edinburgh in 2013 and 2015 was a great example of IUCN and its members working together to achieve impact. If re-elected I will endeavour to foster similar productive collaborations between IUCN, its member organisations and national committees.”
Founded in 1948, the IUCN is a membership body with more than 1,300 government and non-government member organisations who vote for Councillors, alongside almost 15,000 volunteer scientists in more than 185 countries across the world. Successful Councillors will be announced in September at the World Conservation Congress held in Hawaii.
Robin Harper, Chairman of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: “Jonathan has been a strong champion for a ‘three pillar approach’ to conservation encompassing species action, protected area designation and ecosystem restoration both nationally and internationally and he has helped ensure both business leaders and politicians have this firmly on their agendas. IUCN has benefitted greatly from Jonathan’s expertise and the Scottish Wildlife Trust, and ultimately Scotland’s wildlife, have also enjoyed access to the wealth of knowledge that membership of such a global network brings.”
Stephanie Hilborne OBE, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said: “As co-founder and chair of the IUCN UK Peatland Programme Jonathan has helped protect and restore peatlands across the UK. His strategic vision and decades of experience in ecology and conservation make him an excellent choice to be re-elected to IUCN Council.