On 9 October 2025, the IUCN World Conservation Congress will open providing a crucial window of opportunity to deliver transformative action needed for a sustainable and resilient future for both people and nature. It will mobilise key actors five years ahead of the deadline for achieving global targets on biodiversity. Don’t miss the chance to influence the decisions that will impact your work, and the world.

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IUCN Congress newsletter

As the most democratic gathering of the international conservation community, the IUCN Congress has been instrumental in setting the global conservation agenda, representing the collective priorities of States, government agencies, NGOs and Indigenous people’s organisations. This year’s IUCN Congress will decide on a set of draft decisions, known as “motions”, that will trigger action on nature loss and other global challenges. 124 of these motions are announced, and IUCN Members will be invited to discuss them online starting next month.

The IUCN Youth Advisory Committee invites youth and young conservation leaders to a webinar on 25 April focused on youth engagement at the Global Youth Summit and IUCN Congress. The session will outline opportunities for youth participation in both events, share insights from the 2021 Marseille Congress, and introduce plans for a Youth Engagement Zone. IUCN continues to champion young voices at the heart of global conservation efforts.

The Protected Areas Embassy Foundation and Centre "Zapovedniks" held a preparatory meeting for the Youth Event at the upcoming IUCN Congress on 14 March. Participants included representatives of Russian universities, youth communities, and environmental festivals. The meeting generated proposals for thematic sessions and interactive activities. Highlighting growing youth engagement, IUCN CEC member Yulia Vereshchak noted the importance of supporting volunteers and students who may become future professionals in protected areas.

Wetlands provide clean water, food security, jobs, and climate resilience - yet two-thirds of the world’s wetlands are degraded. How is IUCN in Eastern Europe and Central Asia leading the way? From restoring and protecting wetlands to educating and raising awareness, our members are working on the ground to tackle conservation challenges and ensure a sustainable future. 

IUCN has conducted an assessment to support rural water supply planning in and around Albania’s Vjosa Wild River National Park. Using the Mitigation Hierarchy approach, the assessment helps guide infrastructure development while prioritising nature-positive outcomes. This structured method ensures impacts on biodiversity are first avoided, then minimised, restored, or offset-protecting the ecological integrity of Europe’s first Wild River National Park.

In January 2025, MES conducted its 16th waterbird census, counting 27,000 birds at Lake Ohrid, 10,000 at Lake Prespa, and 4,000 at Lake Dojran. While numbers improved at Prespa, Dojran saw a decline due to illegal hunting, which MES reported to authorities. This census, part of a global effort since 1967, provides vital data for wetland conservation, with MES participating as a national partner since 2010.

In light of growing human-bear conflicts in Vayots Dzor in Armenia, FPWC is implementing targeted conservation strategies to strengthen community-conserved areas. These initiatives focus on understanding the biological causes of bear attacks and the associated social dynamics. Through electric fence installations, educational workshops on conflict mitigation, and support for sustainable beekeeping, FPWC aims to enhance community resilience and promote balanced coexistence between people and wildlife.

The SOS Sturgeons initiative supports conservation efforts to protect sturgeon species and their habitats while improving local livelihoods. Focused on the Rioni and Lower Danube rivers, it combines in situ and ex situ approaches with stakeholder engagement and awareness-raising to safeguard endangered sturgeon species. The initiative is funded by La Prairie Group and implemented through IUCN Save Our Species until 2026.

Eko-svest conducted a research on the health of the sweet chestnut forest in Protected Area Vevcanski Izvori, North Macedonia. The study, led by Prof. Dr. Kiril Sotirovski and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mihajlo Risteski, aimed to assess the condition of the sweet chestnut, focusing on the disease "chestnut blight" caused by the fungus Cryphonectria parasitica, and to propose measures for improving their health.

Two major projects led by IUCN - ADAPT 2.0 and Greening the Western Balkans - will bolster the efforts under the nature and biodiversity pillar of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. Newly launched, these projects will support the region’s commitment to biodiversity conservation and climate resilience, working in collaboration with relevant authorities, experts, and civil society. 

In 2024, the Public Enterprise for National Parks of Montenegro completed a project under UNESCO’s “Promoting Sustainable Development through UNESCO Programs and Sites,” funded by the abrdn Charitable Foundation. The project introduced an innovative early warning system for wildfires using thermal drones and satellite data. It also established a regular monitoring system and developed an Action Plan for fire prevention and response in Durmitor National Park and the Tara River Canyon.

Wheat production in Uzbekistan has surged by 700% in the past two decades, securing food supplies but also driving land degradation and biodiversity loss. To address this, Uzbekistan is partnering with IUCN and FAO to align agriculture with ecosystem health. In January 2025, Tashkent hosted an Induction Workshop on restoration and Nature-based Solutions, bringing together national experts under the FOLUR project to support sustainable land use and restoration efforts.

A recent assessment under the BeMed project, with support from the Surfrider Foundation and local volunteers, reveals uneven waste distribution along Albania’s Shkumbin River. While Elbasan and Librazhd have waste collection systems, other areas face illegal dumping due to poor management. Plastic pollution threatens the river’s ecosystems, calling for urgent action. Local governments must enforce waste regulations, promote recycling, and reduce single-use plastics to protect the environment.

At the second Environmental policy forum organised by WWF-Adria last month in Belgrade, experts on public, human, animal, and nature health discussed how much we are all affected by climate change. Nevertheless, there is always hope - if we establish and maintain a systematic approach in at least our state, environmental, and health systems (as we do when crisis time comes), then the results will come - in ours and our planet’s health.

What role does the One Health approach play in nature conservation across the region? Your insights will help shape future activities under the One Health in Nature Conservation in Central Asia project and help us track our impact over time. The survey takes just 10 minutes, and all responses are confidential!

Support the One Health in nature conservation in Central Asia project activities in Turkmenistan in relation to: (1) species monitoring, including of Persian leopard, Markhor, Kulan, and migratory birds; (2) governance assessments; and (3) advisory support for priority sites such as Koytendag, Repetek, and Bereketli Garagum. Deadline 5 May 2025.

The European Commission published a draft proposal to end lead poisoning in Europe. Lead is a preventable yet devastating threat to Europe’s wildlife. Each year, one million birds die, and 135 million more are at risk due to lead ammunition and fishing weights. Iconic species like Bearded Vultures, Bewick’s Swans, and Golden Eagles suffer severe effects. BirdLife Europe is currently running a campaign to support this ban and ensure a toxic-free future for all.

The Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro is at the forefront of safeguarding the country’s rich natural heritage. Its mission includes fostering sustainable resource management and promoting environmental awareness in the country, ensuring that its unique ecosystems thrive for generations to come. We warmly welcome the Agency to IUCN and look forward to building a strong and impactful partnership.

The Municipality of Yerevan becomes the fifth IUCN Member from Armenia, joining as a Subnational Government committed to advancing nature conservation and sustainable development in the urban context. As one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, Yerevan is now part of IUCN’s growing network of cities working together toward a greener future.

The Center for Environmental Research and Information, Eko-svest, is committed to promoting environmental responsibility and sustainability and works to inspire meaningful action through education, advocacy, and community engagement. We wish them a warm welcome to IUCN!

This publication offers a comprehensive overview of the key achievements from the first phase of the ADAPT initiative, including best practices, policy integration, and on-the-ground projects that have helped transform landscapes and communities. By highlighting successful collaborations and innovative approaches, the brochure provides a roadmap for scaling up NbS in the region, ensuring a more resilient and sustainable future.

#BiodiversityDay #GlobalGoals #KMGBF

International Day for Biodiversity, themed "Harmony with nature and sustainable development"

#Glaciers2025 #IYGP2025

International Conference on Glaciers' Preservation Dushanbe, Tajikistan

#WorldEnvironmentDay #BeatPlasticPollution

World Environment Day 2025 raises awareness of plastic pollution as a problem that can be fixed and showcases solutions

IUCN Commissions are broad and active networks of scientists and experts providing IUCN and its Members with sound know-how and policy advice to drive conservation and sustainable development. By joining one of them you are entering a committed community from around the world and across a wide range of disciplines. 

By joining IUCN, you will benefit from IUCN's scientific credibility, its unsurpassed knowledge base and convening power, extensive networking opportunities and access to high-level political, economic and social decision making. Being a Member of IUCN enables you to advance own cause and to strengthen common action in overcoming barriers to a sustainable future.