In a significant international recognition for India’s forest services, Dr Vivek Saxena, the senior-most Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer of the Haryana cadre (1991 batch), has been selected by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a desk reviewer for UNESCO World Heritage nominations for the 2027 World Heritage Committee session.
The selection comes as Dr Saxena prepares to retire on July 31, 2026, marking the culmination of a distinguished 34-year career in the Haryana Forest Department.
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Prestigious Global Conservation Role
The IUCN serves as the official advisory body on natural heritage under UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention. It provides scientific and technical evaluations of natural and mixed heritage sites nominated for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Desk reviewers are chosen based on their scientific expertise, professional reputation and understanding of the global ecological significance and integrity of nominated sites.
Global Conservation Credentials
Dr Saxena is an active member of several leading IUCN expert bodies, including:
- Species Survival Commission (SSC)
- Commission on Environmental Law (CEL)
- Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM)
He previously served as India’s National Coordinator to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and India’s Scientific Correspondent from 2007 to 2012.
In 2011, he also chaired the Asia-Pacific Group during the UNCCD COP10 held in Changwon, South Korea.
Contributions to International Environmental Policy
Dr Saxena was a Lead Author of the IPBES Global Assessment of Land Degradation and Restoration (2018), one of the world’s most authoritative scientific assessments on ecosystem degradation and restoration.
He was also shortlisted by a United Nations Selection Committee for the position of Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), reflecting his standing in global environmental governance.
Recognition for a Distinguished Career
Dr Saxena’s selection as a UNESCO World Heritage nomination reviewer adds another milestone to his 34-year career in forest conservation and environmental policy.
The appointment is being seen as a proud achievement for both the Haryana Forest Department and India’s forest services, reinforcing the country’s growing contribution to global biodiversity conservation and natural heritage management.
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