Comité français de l'UICN

What Comité français de l'UICN does

The Comité français de l'UICN is a non-profit association (association loi 1901) headquartered in Montreuil, Île-de-France, that operates as the French national committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Founded as part of IUCN's global structure, the committee functions as a network coordinator and policy convening body, bringing together 77 member organizations — 2 ministries, 7 public organisms, 8 local authorities, and 64 NGOs — along with approximately 300 individual experts. It does not develop commercial products; its core technology is a content and information platform (uicn.fr) through which it disseminates publications, policy analyses, and methodological tools including the Red List of Threatened Species, the IUCN Green List of Protected Areas, and Nature-based Solutions frameworks.

The organization executes its mission through seven thematic programs: Biodiversity Policies, Protected Areas, Species, Ecosystems, Education and Communication, Overseas Territories, and International Cooperation. It serves government ministries (notably the French Ministry of Ecological Transition), public agencies (OFB, AFD, ADEME, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, IRD), local and regional authorities, and 64 NGOs including France Nature Environnement, LPO, and WWF France. France currently leads globally with 24 IUCN Green List certified protected areas, and protected areas cover approximately 33% of the national territory.

Its business model is non-commercial and depends on three funding streams: recurring membership contributions from the 77 member organizations, public grants and institutional funding from French ministries, OFB, AFD, ADEME, and EU programs (including Life ARTISAN and BESTLIFE2030), and philanthropic donations including a 'Devenir mécène' patronage program. The committee is governed by a Board of Directors and Bureau, led by President Maud Lelièvre (named IUCN Vice-President in 2026) and Director Sébastien Moncorps, with Nirmala Séon-Massin serving as Secretary General.

Name

Comité français de l'UICN

Legal name

Comité français de l'UICN – Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature

Website

https://uicn.fr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Comité français de l'UICN is the French national committee of IUCN, coordinating a network of 77 member organizations, 8 local authorities, and 300 experts to develop biodiversity policy, manage protected areas, and steward the Red List and Green List methodologies across France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biodiversity Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB), Nature, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation (BPADALAE), Environmental, Climate & Sustainability Standards & Reporting Cooperation (BPADANAI), Environment, Climate & Sustainable Development IGOs (BPADAAAI)

Keywords

• Biodiversity conservation
• Environmental policy advocacy
• Protected area management
• Species conservation programs
• Nature-based solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreuil

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership contributions: The organization is supported by its network of 77 member organizations including government ministries, public organisms, local authorities, and NGOs who contribute to the organization's operations.
2. Donations and patronage: The organization accepts donations from individuals and partners, and has a 'Become a patron' (devenir mécène) program for supporting conservation activities.
3. Public funding and institutional grants: The organization receives support from public institutions including the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, the Office Français de la Biodiversité (OFB), AFD (Agence Française de Développement), and other government bodies for specific programs.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Comité français de l'UICN coordinates biodiversity conservation activities in France through a network of 77 member organizations (2 ministries, 7 public organisms, 8 local authorities, 64 NGOs) and approximately 300 individual experts. Its substantive offer consists of scientific expertise and policy recommendations on biodiversity, implementation of IUCN global standards (Green List, Red List, Nature-based Solutions), publications and reports, training and awareness programs, and coordination of international cooperation projects — delivered across seven thematic programs covering biodiversity policy, protected areas, species, ecosystems, education, overseas territories, and international cooperation.

Product overview

The Comité français de l'UICN operates primarily as a content and information platform rather than a software product. The organization functions as a network hub connecting 2 ministries, 7 public agencies, 8 local authorities, 64 NGOs, and 300 experts working on biodiversity conservation in France. The website serves as the main interface for disseminating publications, news, program information, member resources, and policy recommendations related to biodiversity protection, protected areas, species conservation, ecosystems, education, and international cooperation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• UICN France Digital Platform The organization's central digital platform serving as the information and coordination hub for the French biodiversity conservation network of 77 member organizations and 300 individual experts; provides publications, news, policy analyses, member resources, and access to program information.
• ProBioDev Program (Programme d'Appui aux OSC de Biodiversité) Financial and technical support program for biodiversity civil society organizations in developing countries; delivered with AFD and Fondation Audemars Piguet pour les Arbres.
• BESTLIFE2030 Program Biodiversity program mobilizing €23.4 million for conservation projects in the EU's outermost regions, coordinated by the French Committee as part of its Overseas Territories work.
• Life ARTISAN Project EU-funded project under the Life programme (Accroître la Résilience des Territoires par les SfN) with 28 partners including OFB and water agencies; the French Committee provides Nature-based Solutions expertise to build territorial climate resilience.
• Programme de petites initiatives du FFEM Small grants programme operated under FFEM that funds grassroots biodiversity initiatives in developing countries as part of the Committee's international cooperation portfolio.
• IUCN Green List Certification Support National service supporting French protected areas in achieving and maintaining IUCN Green List certification for management effectiveness; France holds the world's highest number of certified sites (24).

Quantifiable outcome

• France leads globally with 24 Green List certified protected areas
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• Fujifilm FranceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Fujifilm supported the innovative 'Fax for Future' campaign, providing equipment and resources to send fax messages to elected officials about biodiversity protection and the Green List initiative.
• Ministère de la Transition écologiquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe French Ministry of Ecological Transition is a core institutional partner, providing political mandate and policy direction for the organization's activities on national biodiversity strategy, protected areas, and environmental regulation.
• Office Français de la Biodiversité (OFB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe OFB collaborates on protected area management, species protection, and the implementation of biodiversity policies. It co-supports the Green List program and various conservation initiatives.
• Ademe (Agence de la transition écologique)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdeme co-supported the publication on wind farm biodiversity impacts, contributing to the analysis of renewable energy and environmental conservation balance.
• Life ARTISAN consortium (28 partners including OFB, water agencies)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Life ARTISAN project (Accroître la Résilience des Territoires par les SfN) is an EU-funded initiative with 28 partners working to promote Nature-based Solutions for climate adaptation, with UICN France providing expertise on SfN definitions and implementation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WWF France: A major French environmental NGO operating in the same French biodiversity advocacy space. It is also a member of the French IUCN committee but independently runs conservation programs, advocacy campaigns, and field projects that overlap with the committee's mandate.
• France Nature Environnement (FNE): The leading French federation of environmental associations. Operates as a competing/coordinating convener of French environmental NGOs on policy advocacy, overlapping with the French IUCN committee's role as a biodiversity policy hub.
• IUCN International: The parent global organization of which the Comité français is the French national committee. Directly comparable as a biodiversity-focused membership and standards-setting body operating under the IUCN banner; the French committee mirrors IUCN International's mandate at country level.
• Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO): One of France's largest species-protection NGOs and a member organization of the French IUCN committee. Conducts parallel advocacy and conservation work on protected species and habitats, making it a direct peer in the French biodiversity ecosystem.
• IUCN Netherlands (IUCN NL): Dutch national committee of IUCN. Operates a near-identical model: a small staff coordinating a Dutch network of member NGOs, government bodies, and experts on biodiversity policy. Directly comparable in structure and member-coordination role.
• IUCN UK Committee: Another national committee of IUCN operating in a single country with a similar convening role over UK conservation NGOs, government bodies, and experts. Closely comparable in mandate, scale, and operating model to the French committee.
• IUCN Mediterranean Cooperation Centre: Another IUCN regional structure operating across multiple countries. Comparable as a regional IUCN network body coordinating biodiversity action, particularly relevant given the French committee's emphasis on French overseas Mediterranean territories.

Broad incumbents

• Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN): A major French public scientific institution whose Director of Expertise serves as Secretary General of the French IUCN committee. Comparable in biodiversity science and policy work, but at far greater scale and as a permanent public institution rather than an NGO.
• Office Français de la Biodiversité (OFB): A French government agency that is both a core institutional partner and a much larger operator in biodiversity, protected-area management, and species protection. Comparable in mandate (biodiversity stewardship in France) but operates at significantly larger scale as a public agency.

Emerging players

• Surfrider Foundation Europe: A France-headquartered environmental NGO active in marine and coastal conservation, advocacy, and citizen mobilization. Comparable as a French-based environmental advocacy organization with similar advocacy channels but narrower thematic focus (ocean protection) than the IUCN committee.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UICNfrance
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgGSbY7NJZeUnXKx-K5rHwg
• Facebookfacebook.com/UICNComitefrancais
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uicn-france
• Instagraminstagram.com/uicn_comitefrancais

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Comité français de l'UICN