Buenos Aires, Argentina - IUCN

Decision 562
Decision 563
The Canadian Nature Federation objected to this proposal, arguing that,
according to the Statutes, dues can only be paid in Swiss Francs and that the
remaining rights of those members should be rescinded. The Pakistan State
member delegation, however, argued that if members could pay in local
currency, many of the arrears would be paid. The Algerian Ecological Movement
explained that it was frequently impossible for members in countries with
non-convertible currencies to obtain money in other currencies without recourse
to the black market. It was subsequently agreed to ask the Finance and
Audit Committee to consider the question of payment of dues.
The following other points were made in the discussion:
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the Jordan and Oman State member delegations asked that IUCN increase
its activities in West Asia, which had fewer members than any other region,
and that IUCN should use Arabic more frequently in its work; in particular
Caring for the Earth should be translated into Arabic;
the Bahamas National Trust argued that the Union should develop a
strategy to increase the membership of States and Government Agencies.
The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (Australia), however,
believed it would be a mistake to set targets for the recruitment of
members, since this could attract unsuitable organizations and so undermine
the mission of the Union.
In the 103rd Sitting, the Director General introduced the agenda paper on
membership dues. This proposed an increase of 3.5% per annum, effectively
holding the dues constant in real terms.
In the 108th Sitting, in accordance with a recommendation of the Finance and
Audit Committee, the General Assembly decided to increase membership dues
by 3.5% per annum as proposed in GA/19/94/11.
The General Assembly also adopted the recommendations of the Finance and
Audit Committee over arrears of dues. These read as follows:
"For members to whom hard currency is not available, or who are
otherwise unable to pay dues, the Committee recommends that
the Director General seek ways in which payments can be made,
either in local currency or by the provision of goods or services to
the Union.
"The Committee recommends to the General Assembly that those
members who are in arrears for two or more years, as indicated
in Annex 2 of Addendum 1 of GA 19/94/2, should have their
remaining rights rescinded. The Director General should in each
case find out the reason that the member is in arrears and within
one year use every means to secure payment in currency or
otherwise so that their membership may be restored."
In the 101st Sitting, the representative of the China Wildlife Conservation
Association argued that the IUCN Council had made a mistake in admitting to
membership the International Committee of Lawyers of Tibet (ICLT). The
Association had expressed strong objection by correspondence in 1991, when
Minutes 9