Protecting the Planet Newsletter, May 2025

Mapping equitable, effective paths to achieving 30x30

Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire © OIPR-DZSO

Taï National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Côte d’Ivoire, protects one of the last remnants of primary rainforest in West Africa. It harbours exceptional biodiversity, including endangered species like chimpanzees and pygmy hippos. The park also holds deep cultural significance for local communities and Indigenous peoples. Taï National Park achieved IUCN Green List certification in June 2025.

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Highlights

The IUCN Green List doubles in size, admitting first ecological network

Alongside the California Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network are three World Heritage sites - including the first Green Listed sites in West Africa - and a co-managed site in Malaysia

Protecting the largest lake in the Caribbean

Through BIOPAMA, Fundación Sur Futuro have transformed the conservation of Lago Enriquillo, Dominican Republic. Through hand-in-hand work with local communities, the project has achieved changes in behaviours and attitudes towards the lake's biodiversity, including endangered crocodiles and iguanas.

Watch the video

IUCN recommends five new World Heritage sites

From the home of the world’s largest spider to hotspots for globally threatened sea turtles, IUCN has expressed support for World Heritage bids in Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Viet Nam and North Korea.

The path to protect 30x30

We're committed to supporting nations around the world to achieve Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and with it, to conserve 30% of the world's ecosystems by 2030.

Powering conservation in the EU Overseas

A few months after launching its second call for proposals, BESTLIFE2030 is pleased to announce the receipt of 175 concept notes. Submissions include 40 from the Pacific; 32 from the Indian Ocean; 31 from the French Caribbean; 28 from Macaronesia; 27 from the Dutch Caribbean; 10 from Amazonia; and 6 from Greenland.

Learn about BESTLIFE2030

What counts? - Ensuring effective conservation

Through the IUCN Green List Standard, the global benchmark for protected and conserved areas governance and management, we are working to ensure that 30x30 means real and effective achievement of conservation goals.

World Heritage and the IUCN Green List: Recognising conservation leadership for the Outstanding Universal Values

"While UNESCO emphasises the Outstanding Universal Values of the site, the IUCN Green List demonstrates that these values are well conserved."

In order to share successful examples of World Heritage site management teams engaging in the IUCN Green List to strengthen their governance and management practices, IUCN hosted specialists and area professionals for a webinar on May 15, 2025: “The IUCN Green List for enhancing the management and protection of World Heritage sites’ Outstanding Universal Values”.

Who counts? - People at the centre of conservation

As important as 'what counts', is 'who counts'. We are working to put people at the centre of conservation through supporting Indigenous peoples and local communities to lead and benefit from 30x30.

Illuminating Rights in the City Lights: renewed commitments to Indigenous peoples within the World Heritage Convention

A recent workshop hosted in UNESCO Paris brought together key actors to identify practical ways forward to strengthen the inclusion of Indigenous peoples in World Heritage processes.

Hot off the press

Oceania needs more resources to protect its Natural World Heritage

Ahead of UNOC3, IUCN launches a new report which identifies challenges and opportunities for natural World Heritage in the Pacific, including potential candidate World Heritage sites and conservation priorities.

Read and download the report

Practice guidance for protected and conserved area finance

The guidance presents the case for PCA investment and sustainable finance, describes the role and use of finance and economics to achieve PCA outcomes, and presents guidance on how to conduct strategic and practical financial planning in support of these outcomes.

BIOPAMA's Legacy in the Caribbean: learning together and celebrating success

The Caribbean’s natural treasures—its coral reefs teeming with life, its ancient forests housing species found nowhere else on Earth—are not just
regional assets, but our global heritage. Discover the impact of BIOPAMA in conserving the Caribbean's natural heritage.

Read the report

Events and Getting Involved

IUCN WCPA opens nominations for Kenton R. Miller and Fred Packard awards.

The awards recognise outstanding innovation and commitment to protected areas. Nominations close on 6 July.

Learn more

Help us learn from and improve the APAP

The Asia Protected Areas Partnership (APAP) recently celebrated its 10th birthday. This is an opportune time for IUCN to carry out an assessment of APAP's activities and achievements over the last decade to help enhance APAP activities in the future. Please take a few minutes to fill out our APAP Impact survey.

Link to the survey

IUCN World Heritage now on LinkedIn

Please consider following our new page, where you can learn about the Union’s work to help identify, monitor, and conserve some of the world’s most special protected areas, as well as opportunities for you to get involved.

Media registration now open for IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025

The IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025, set to take place in Abu Dhabi from 9 to 15 October 2025. The Congress will serve as a democratic forum where the global conservation community will express its views, set priorities, and take decisive action based on the latest conservation science, practice, and policy.

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Help us keep nature alive

Since its establishment in 1948, IUCN has become the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. IUCN’s new legacy gift options will help ensure IUCN keeps playing this essential role for years to come.

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Websites

IUCN Protected and Conserved Areas
IUCN World Heritage Programme
IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas
IUCN Program on African Protected Areas and Conservation
BIOPAMA, From Knowledge to Action for a Protected Planet
PANORAMA, Solutions for a Healthy Planet
IUCN Green List
MOOC-Conservation
Act30
Tech4Nature
BESTLIFE2030

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