Question 1 from UPSC CSE 2023 - Environme nt

Question

Invasive Species Specialist Group' (that develops Global Invasive Species Database) belongs to which one of the following organizations?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. The International Union for Conservation of Nature

Strategy: Focus on organizational keywords--the ISSG's work on the Global Invasive Species Database is tied directly with conservation science. Among the listed bodies, only the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a specialist, globally recognized conservation authority with established specialist groups like the ISSG. The other organizations, though involved in environmental work, do not form such expert specialist groups or specifically manage global databases of this nature.

Key Info: ## Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)
The ISSG is a global network established under the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Its primary focus is on reducing threats posed by invasive species to natural ecosystems and native species. The ISSG develops and maintains the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD), a comprehensive resource documenting invasive species worldwide.

## International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Gland, Switzerland, the IUCN is one of the world's leading scientific authorities in nature conservation. It coordinates networks of expert specialist groups, such as the SSC, which oversees the ISSG.

## Other Organizations Considered
*   **United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)**: An intergovernmental agency responsible for coordinating global environmental activities, but it does not manage specialist groups in the same manner as the ISSG.
*   **United Nations World Commission for Environment and Development**: Primarily known for the Brundtland Report, this commission does not have standing scientific specialist groups.
*   **World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)**: A major international conservation NGO focused on projects and advocacy, without the official technical working groups structured like the IUCN's SSC and its ISSG.

The ISSG delivers technical expertise, maintains global databases, and supports international policy on invasive species, activities highly aligned with IUCN's core work.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: The United Nations Environment Programme

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: The United Nations World Commission for Environment and Development

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: The World Wide Fund for Nature