The 34 members of the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) established in the Netherlands are united in the IUCN National Committee of the Netherlands (IUCN NL).

IUCN NL is a bridge between social organizations, the government, business and science and focuses on all kinds of subjects pertaining to the struggle against the loss in biodiversity. In collaboration with the same partners IUCN NL applies this knowledge to come to a constructive Dutch contribution to solving global issues in the fields of nature and the environment.

IUCN NL also sets up projects in which the Dutch share in the increase (or reduction) of biodiversity is studied. IUCN NL also provides financial support to social organizations – mainly in developing countries – that focus on the conservation of nature and the improvement of the environment in relation to poverty reduction.

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment sets the direction for the strategy plan 2006-2010.

History
The member organizations of IUCN NL met for the first time in 1978. Since 1983, IUCN NL has been supported by its Amsterdam bureau. In 1996, IUCN formally acknowledged the IUCN National Committee of the Netherlands as a National Committee of IUCN.

About IUCN
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the only organization for the conservation of nature that can boast both states and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) among its members. In addition, the Union has an extensive international network of scientists at its disposal, divided into six commissions. These six International IUCN Commissions make up an international network of more than 10,000 scientific volunteers in the fields of biodiversity, natural resources management, environmental technology, policy, law and information. Since its foundation in 1948 IUCN has been striving for the conservation of nature in a just world. The organization defines protected areas and is known for its Red List of endangered species. IUCN affects policy-making, supports local organizations for the protection of nature, executes projects and develops international nature conservation and environmental law, such as the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).