1973 iucn yearbook

having scientific, historic, or aesthetic significance by appropriate
legislation such as the establishment of national parks, nature
reserves and monuments and wild life refuges, with special
regard to the preservation of species threatened with extinction;
(b) The spread of public knowledge about "Protection of
Nature";
(c) The promotion of an extensive programme of education in
the field of the "Protection of Nature";
(d) The preparation of international draft agreements and a
world-wide convention for the "Protection of Nature";
(e) Scientific research relating to the "Protection of Nature".
3. The Union shall collect, analyse, interpret and disseminate
information about the "Protection of Nature". It shall distribute
to governments and national and international organizations,
documents, legislative texts, scientific studies and other information
concerning the "Protection of Nature".
In all, 23 governments and 126 national institutions were represented
at Fontainebleau. In one way or another the total number of countries
represented was 32. Also present were representatives of the following
international organizations: UNO, UNESCO, the Pan American Union,
the International Office for the Protection of Nature, the International
Union of Directors of Zoological Gardens, the International Council of
Scientific Unions, the International Union of Biological Sciences, and
the International Council for Bird Preservation.
IUCN came into being as a hybrid and it has remained one of the few
organizations in the world where delegates of governments and representatives
of scientific associations meet on an equal footing. If its broad
purposes were optimistic and in the nature of an act of faith, they were
clear and necessary as well.
It has been fully shown in the years since Fontainebleau that if there
was any one weakness in the organization of IUCN it was the absence
of an adequate basis for financing. The objectives as set forth in the
Statutes (which have not changed except in details of language which
broadened the areas of concern) required a great deal of financial support
even 25 years ago. There have been many times since then when
the ability of the Union to carry on has been in doubt. But it did, thanks
to the work of a number of devoted, ingenious men and generous
organizations who found money when it was needed most.
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