During its last two meetings, the IUCN Council validated the Bureau's decision to admit 18 new Members. Six of them are from the Mediterranean region, and the Morocco National Committee of IUCN Members has also been officially recognised.
• Club Marocain pour l'Environnement et le Développement [Moroccan Club for Environment and Development] (CMED), Morocco
Founded in 1993 to help conserve natural resources, the CMED adopts and uses an educational approach centred upon providing information and raising awareness as well as advocacy to conserve natural resources and protect the environment.
• The Jordanian Society for Microbial Biodiversity (JSMB), Jordan
The first and only NGO specializing in microbial biodiversity conservation in the Middle East, the JSMB aims to conserve Jordan's natural environment and its microbial biodiversity.
More information at: http://jsmb.webs.com/
• Friends of Nature Association (FON), Lebanon
Located in Keserwan (Mount Lebanon), the FON is a National Civil Society Organization working to protect Lebanese biodiversity.
• Hellenic Botanical Society (HBS), Greece
Founded in 1980, the HBS aims to promote plant-science-related education and research, publicize activities and contribute to confronting contemporary plant-related social and environmental problems.
More information at: http://www.hbs.gr/index.php?lang=en
• Lebanese Environment Forum (LEF), Lebanon
The LEF, which now comprises 46 local environmental non-governmental organizations, performs a coordinating role for its members and encourages the establishment of new environmental organizations in Lebanon.
More information at: http://www.lbeforum.org/
• Asociación Herpetológica Española [Spanish Herpetological Society] (AHE), Spain
The AHE is working to improve collaboration among herpetologists through workshops and congresses, and to coordinate and sometimes promote research on herpetofauna.
More information at: http://www.herpetologica.es/
The Council, President, Director General and entire Union extend a very warm welcome to the new Members and look forward to their active involvement.
For further information, please contact: Arantxa Cendoya
