Armenia became the newest member of IUCN

Armenia became the newest member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature during the IUCN World Conservation Congress held in Abu Dhabi. IUCN is a union of more than 1,400 members, including 160 member countries.

• Armenia became the newest member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature; this announcement, made during the IUCN World Conservation Congress held in Abu Dhabi, highlights Armenia’s growing commitment to advancing biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
• Armenia’s Minister of Environment Hambardzum Matevosyan said, “Through IUCN, Armenia will gain access to global expertise, innovative tools, and international partnerships that will help us accelerate our conservation goals.”
• He further said, “This membership also supports our preparations for hosting the COP17 of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2026, which is a historic moment to showcase Armenia’s role in advancing biodiversity and sustainability.”

Republic of Armenia

• It is a landlocked country located in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia. It is part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, Azerbaijan to the east, and Iran and the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan to the south.
• Yerevan is its capital, largest city, and financial center. The Armenian Highlands have been home to the Hayasa-Azi, Shupria, and Nairi peoples. The Republic of Armenia became independent in 1991 with the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

• IUCN is a union of more than 1,400 members, 160 countries. It includes government agencies, national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), indigenous peoples’ organizations, and local governments.
• India became a state member in 1969. National non-governmental organizations: Aaranyak (India), Action pour la Protection de l’Environnement (Benin).
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was established in October 1948 in Fontainebleau, France, as the International Union for the Protection of Nature (IUPN). It was founded by UNESCO and Julian Huxley.
• In 1956, its name was changed to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, and in 1964, it was included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Maldives became the new member of IAEA

• The Maldives has received official approval to become the 181st member country of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This approval was unanimously passed at the General Conference on 15 September 2025. The approval was granted during the 69th General Conference of the IAEA held in Vienna, Austria.
• This membership was sought to support the country’s efforts to address challenges such as climate change through science-driven, peaceful applications of nuclear technology.
• The Maldives delegation was led by Dr. Salma Rasheed, the Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations Office in Geneva.