Union Link - The IUCN Internet Presence

Kevin Grose, IUCN World Conservation Union, Switzerland

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Summary

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, or World Conservation Union for short, is an international nongovernmental membership organization dealing with nature conservation and natural resources management. Like scientific societies, IUCN uses all means of communication, such as correspondence, periodicals, publications and congresses, to provide a forum for its members and allow them to access information and share experiences.

The emerging use of information and communication technology, in particular, the use of the "Internet", offers IUCN a new set of tools for communication. Some of these complement and expand upon traditional tools but others go further to add an interactive dimension. Union-Link is IUCN's blueprint for using this technology to help achieve conservation objectives.

Introduction: What is the Union?

Founded in 1948, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, or "IUCN" or World Conservation Union for short, is an international nongovernmental membership organization.

IUCN brings together those who seek 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.

IUCN is:

Why does it need a link?

IUCN has used every means of communication to make information available and share expertise. For nearly 50 years, the IUCN General Assemblies, now called the World Conservation Congress, have served as the conservation community's principal global event. The IUCN Bulletin has provided a vehicle for news and information while the publications and reports produced by IUCN or under its auspices number in the thousands. Add to this the Union's vast correspondence between the 800 members, 500 staff and the thousands of volunteers in the Commissions. Indeed, the Species Survival Commission (SSC) alone has 7,000 expert members organized in more than 50 specialist groups.

But these "traditional" means of communication are no longer sufficient to meet the needs of a growing Union with members in 133 countries. At such a scale, the cost of communications (e.g. telephone, fax and postage) is prohibitive, particularly for members from developing countries. Second, the traditional means of communication do not respond to the way people work nor facilitate access to the right information when it is most needed.

For these reasons, information and communication technology offers an interesting alternative to the traditional. Cost-effective, informal and increasingly ubiquitous, information and communication technology allows one to improve and extend communication and, more importantly, add a more immediate, interactive and spontaneous dimension.

Communication and Information Exchange Within the Union1

Communication Traditional Internet
One to one
Conversation
Letters and memos
Telephone and fax
E-mail
One to many
Print media:
    IUCN Bulletin
    a 92 other periodicals
    1500 publications
    Reports and "gray" literature
Broadcast media:
    Radio, television
    Video
    Community theatre
E-mail broadcast mailing lists
"E-zines" (on-line magazines)
Internet audio/video
Many to many
World Conservation Congress (every 3 years)
World Parks Congress (every 10 years)
Other meetings, workshops and seminars
E-mail inter-active mailing lists
Internet "chat" sessions
Virtual World Conservation Congress

Union-Link is IUCN's programme for using information and communication technology to achieve IUCN's mission. Union-Link seeks to:

This programme is based on the belief that information and communications technology, including access to low-cost telecommunications2 will become integral to life in the 21st century and essential to the Union's work.

Union-Link focuses on developing capacity in four areas:

  1. ELECTRONIC MAIL (E-MAIL) AND MAILING LISTS

  2. THE PUBLIC IUCN SITE ON WORLDWIDEWEB (WWW)

  3. THE IUCN MEMBERS-ONLY WWW SITE

  4. AUDIO AND VIDEO CONFERENCING

1) Table based on presentation of David Petraitis, Maré Conseil, St. Cergue, Switzerland. Used with permission

2) Forge, Simon. 1995. Consequences of current telecommunications trends on the competitiveness of developing countries: report for the World Bank. London, Cambridge Management Group, p.5.


Electronic Mail and Mailing Lists

IUCN uses e-mail for communication within and between IUCN offices, Commissions, members and partners as well as providing a means by which to interact with the public. Because e-mail is the most simple and widely-available electronic communication technology, it has an especially important role to play. E-mail is informal. Unlike letters and memoranda, e-mail does not require the use of specific formats or conventions. E-mail messages are usually concise and to the point and, because they can be rapidly transmitted from computer to computer, are more similar to conversations than an exchange of correspondence.

IUCN encourages all IUCN members, offices and commissions to find out about and use e-mail as soon as access becomes available in their area3. Personal e-mail addresses (e.g. name@hq.iucn.ch) should be shared with members, partners and staff and be included on business cards, databases and in directories. Stationary and public relations materials should note generic e-mail addresses (e.g. mail@hq.iucn.ch or info@iucnus.org) in order that their correspondents or the public be able to make contact by e-mail.

3) At ease with e-mail: a handbook on using electronic mail for NGOs in developing countries. 1995. Geneva: UN Nongovernmental Liaison Service; New York: Freidrich Ebert Foundation. Also available in French and Spanish.

Electronic Mailing Lists

As the name implies, electronic mailing lists make it possible to distribute e-mail in the much same way as postal or bulk mail is distributed. Two kinds of lists are used in IUCN: Interactive Mailing Lists and Broadcast Mailing Lists. In both cases, the software allows those interested to subscribe or un-subscribe by sending e-mail instructions as well as being able order listings of subscribers, available documents or previous e-mails.

Mailing lists offer an excellent means of maximizing communication and all programmes, Commissions and offices should establish lists as and when needed. Lists are easily established for short or long-term needs. Internal lists can be used to facilitate discussions on a particular topic or provide a forum for a committee. Inter-IUCN or external lists can used for discussion, to canvas or influence opinion or for the distribution and exchange of information. Mailing lists can usually be established by an Internet Access Provider or university computer department, etc.

Interactive Mailing Lists

These lists automatically distribute e-mail to any number of pre-selected e-mail addresses but, more importantly, allow all the recipients to reply to all messages and subscribers on the list. Unlike traditional postal mailing lists, these interactive mailing lists allow rapid and spontaneous exchanges of ideas and views. Examples include:

Broadcast Mailing Lists

Whereas Interactive Mailing Lists allow multi-directional communication, Broadcast Mailing Lists distribute e-mail in one direction only. In this kind of list, information, such as press releases, news, etc. can be sent to many e-mail addressees but the recipients can only respond to the sender. An example is:

IUCN on the WorldWideWeb (WWW):

Information for the Public and the Members

The WorldWideWeb goes beyond e-mail to offer easy-to-use, interactive access to a wide variety of data and information. With WWW it is possible to connect to remotely located computers in any part of the globe at any time of day or night in order to locate needed information, documents, pictures, maps, charts and even sound and video footage using the now familiar "windows-type" interface. What's more, information on the WWW can be directly linked to other information (i.e. hyper-linked); making it possible to create a global information system from the data and information provided from anyone, anywhere.

The on-line world of the WWW is an ideal information and communication tool for the conservation community. First, it provides IUCN and its members a means of making their presence known and their information available to the world. Second, the WWW provides the means of making the "Union" truly global and representative; giving each member an equal voice to present ideas, ask questions and share the lessons learned.

The IUCN WWW Site has been developed by the Information Management Group (IMG) at IUCN Headquarters in Gland, Switzerland. IMG provides technical guidance and support to design pages, prepare information as well as upload information to the site. IMG maintains the IUCN WWW Site including storage and maintenance of pages, site mapping and linking, development of special applications (e.g. CGI scripts) and provision of backup and security facilities.

The development of content for the IUCN WWW Site is the responsibility of each programme, Commission, regional, country or out-posted office (subsequently called, information provider). Each information provider should develop their WWW "Home Page" as a key element in their Communications Strategy and bearing in mind IUCN communication policies and guidelines. IMG will provide support to providers in the use of WWW-related software (e.g. Microsoft Internet Assistant for Word 7.0 or Netscape Gold) in order that they eventually be able to their maintain pages themselves.

IMG will also, resources being available, assist IUCN Member organizations from developing countries to develop a WWW presence in consultation with the relevant IUCN regional or country office. This will allow members, not having access to the WWW or not having the resources, to make their information available along side their "northern" counterparts.

The IUCN WWW Site will, therefore, be a joint effort of IMG and IUCN's programmes, Commissions, regional and country offices and developing country members. As such, it is foreseen that the WWW Site will provide multi-level access to information based the concepts and criteria which follow:

Information Access

WWW Design

IUCN WWW Site Organization and Content

General: The IUCN Home Page is organized as the gateway to IUCN and its information. The logo and mission statement are provided to identifiy the organization. Service buttons permit users to switch between English, French or Spanish language versions or "text only" (to remove graphics so page loads more quickly) as well as to find out "more about IUCN". The More about IUCN provides basic information on the organization and how to become a member. Service buttons to find acknowledgments and notes is also provided.

A space is available to announce or link to Special Events information. In some cases, this space may be use to announce an event or news story In other cases, it may be a link to a "virtual" event. A virtual event (e.g. Virtual World Conservation Congress) parallels and complements the real event. It allows those not able to attend to find out about and follow meetings and may provide a means to e-mail comments to organizers. In addition, virtual events provide an excellent means of raising awareness and profile.

People and Organizations: In the public layer, this is the Who's Who providing quick identification of organizational structures, programmes, Commissions, units, members, partners, sponsors and donors including names and addresses. Where agreed, a pre-addressed pop-up e-mail forms or hyper-link will allow communication with designated units (e.g. info@hq.iucn.org) or connection to others' WWW sites.

The members-only layer will provide a full staff listings, including pre-addressed pop-up forms to contact any staff or Commission member directly. Access to the IUCN Membership Database is planned.

Places: The showcase for IUCN regional and country offices; each IUCN regional and country office may have its own "home page". The content of these pages may include information on: Objectives and Approach; Areas of Staff Expertise; Major Initiatives; Country Membership and Offices with appropriate hyper-text links; Associated Networks; Recent Publications with hyper-text link to World Conservation Bookshop (see under News and Information); Name of Director and other contact information.

The members-only layer may include: contact and biographical information on staff; programme and project descriptions and access to full-text documents and reports.

Themes: The showcase for IUCN Commissions and thematic programmes. Each may have its own "home page" which in turn may link to other related (e.g. SSC/Specialist Groups) partner information sources/services or recommended sites. The content of these pages may include information on: Objectives and Approach; Areas of Staff Expertise; Major Initiatives; Membership Information with appropriate hyper-text links; Associated Networks; Recent Publications with hyper-text link to World Conservation Bookshop (see under News and Information); Name of Chairperson or Director and other contact information.

The members-only layer may include: contact and biographical information on staff; programme and project descriptions and access to full-text documents and reports.

Information and News: This page is the IUCN reference centre and library and is maintained by the IUCN Communications Division in collaboration with the IUCN Library.

Audio and Video Conferencing Using the Internet

There is potential for the Internet to serve as conferencing tool; bringing IUCN staff, commission members and partners in different parts of the globe together without need for travel. The ability to have fully interactive conferences in real time has tremendous potential. At present, however, the technology and the necessary transmission bandwidth is not yet readily available. IUCN offices and commissions are encouraged to include this technology in their planning.

Conclusion

The strategic use of information and communication technology can help IUCN to achieve its mission. This technology complements the traditional means and has the potential to extend and expand communication at relatively low cost. In addition, it adds a new interactive dimension that the traditional means do not have. As IUCN moves toward the 21st century, it will increasingly need to use these new means of communication and Union-Link provides the framework to do it. But perhaps, more importantly, it must be borne in mind that the next generation of conservationists will expect that IUCN be able to communicate with them using this technology.

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