With its problem-focused and inter-disciplinary approach Ecologic joins the World Conservation Union in order to make a specific contribution in the field of integration of nature conservation and environmental protection requirements into other fields of policy and law at international and European level.
The World Conservation Union is a unique international organisation with the mission to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.
Ecologic's mission is compatible with and even similar to the mission of IUCN, especially due to the focus on institutional aspects of nature conservation and environmental protection (environmental governance) and the environmental integration policy at international and European level. Concerning the co-operation with IUCN, Ecologic will make a specific contribution in the field of integration of nature conservation and environmental protection requirements into other fields of policy and law or environmental mainstreaming. As this is a relatively new field, many of the conceptual and institutional foundations remain to be defined. Hereby, Ecologic's role will particularly be important on European issues and transatlantic policy learning.
Due to its new Membership at IUCN, Ecologic will be able to:
- strengthen the opportunities for greater involvement in IUCN's international activities,
- increase the exchange of information and experience with IUCN experts,
- reinforce Ecologic's development as a German-based think tank with a strong international profile.
On the other hand, the problem-focused and inter-disciplinary approach of Ecologic will be a useful asset in IUCN's policy-related activities.
Further contribution can be provided by Ecologic Legal. Ecologic Legal specializes in providing legal and policy advice in international and European environmental law. In addition to assisting international negotiators, Ecologic Legal provides advice on implementing international and European requirements into national law, in which the practical and administrative aspects play an important role. The regional emphasis of Ecologic's work within the IUCN will be on the activities of the IUCN Regional Office for Europe.
Some of Ecologic associates contribute already to IUCN commissions:
- Richard G. Tarasofsky is a Senior Policy Advisor of Ecologic and was recently chosen to head the research programme on Sustainable Development of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA). He is an international lawyer specialising in all aspects of environment and sustainable development law. From 1993 to 1998 he worked for the Environmental Law Centre of the IUCN representing the IUCN at international negotiations and worked on many projects aimed at strengthening environmental law, including on trade and environment, forests, CITES and Antarctica. Richard Tarasofsky is also a member of the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law.
- In August 2002 Matthias Buck, Policy Advisor to Ecologic, was appointed as Vice Chair of the Steering Committee of IUCN's Working Group on Environment, Trade and Investment (GETI).
- For a project dealing with Agriculture, Trade and Biodiversity, Ecologic was sponsored by IUCN. Hereby, policy issues and discussions surrounding the intersection between trade liberalisation, agriculture, and biodiversity conservation have been examined.