Protecting the Planet Newsletter, July 2025

Mapping equitable, effective paths to achieving 30x30

Hubei Qizimeishan, covering ~345.5 km² in southwestern Hubei’s Xuan’en County, protects mid‑subtropical forest ecosystems rich in biodiversity. It hosts rare and newly discovered species - including three new spider species and a spotted linsang - plus nationally protected fauna and flora. It’s recognised on the IUCN Green List since June 2019.

Want your photo featured? Read on below to find out how!

Highlights

Six new Protected Areas join the IUCN Green List

From the misty mountains of China’s Sichuan Province to the coral-rich waters off Colombia’s Pacific coast, six exceptional protected areas have been added to the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas, the global standard for effective and equitable area-based conservation.

IUCN at the UNESCO World Heritage Committee

Following IUCN advice, seven new areas have received World Heritage recognition, the Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Madagascar) were removed from the Danger List, and nearly 80 sites were evaluated. The IUCN Director General also underscored the vital role of Indigenous Peoples.

Innovation Challenge Workshops: Exploring Emerging Technologies for Conservation Impact

This August and September, conservation practitioners and technologists are invited to take part in a series of online workshops exploring how artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, blockchain, and gamification can support transformative conservation outcomes.

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.

Putting Biodiversity Action on the Map

Discover how conservation comes to life across the EU Overseas with the new BESTLIFE2030 interactive map from IUCN. This user-friendly tool shines a spotlight on local biodiversity efforts—making them visible, searchable, and strategic. Explore projects by location, theme, or funding, and uncover gaps, overlaps, and opportunities.

From connecting fragmented regions to guiding policy and funding, the map empowers coordination and amplifies the impact of local action. Start exploring today and see how biodiversity is being protected—and where more help is needed.

China-Europe Dialogue on OECMs seminar held in Beijing

Representatives from government departments, academia, conservation organizations, and international bodies, including experts and practitioners in the field of biodiversity conservation, participated in the seminar to contribute international experience and local insights for the implementation of OECMs in China.

Libreville au cœur de l'action pour la conservation de la biodiversité

Du 30 juin au 4 juillet 2025, la ville de Libreville accueille le Forum régional d’échange de connaissances sur la Cible 3 du cadre mondial pour la biodiversité de Kunming-Montréal. Ce forum, coorganisé par UNEP-WCMC, le Ministère de l’Environnement, de l’Écologie et du Climat et WWF Gabon, avec le soutien financier du Bezos Earth Fund, réunit des représentants des administrations publiques, des organisations régionales, des ONG ainsi que des communautés autochtones et locales.

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.

The IUCN Green List Pavilion at the IUCN World Conservation Congress

The IUCN Green List Pavilion will be a vibrant, participatory space at the 2025 IUCN World Conservation Congress, where the global conservation community comes together to celebrate ten years of progress in delivering impact. More than just a physical space, the Pavilion will be a dynamic ecosystem of collaboration where conservation successes are demonstrated, new partnerships are formed, and commitments to a nature-positive future are forged.

Read the flyer HERE!

Green List Pavilion - Further Information

Elevating Marine Conservation Excellence: Coral Triangle Embarks on IUCN Green List Journey

The Coral Triangle, the global epicenter of marine biodiversity, took a bold step toward securing its future as 65+ marine conservation leaders gathered in Bali for a landmark regional workshop.

Advancing Marine Conservation Excellence: Laut Banda MPA Embarks on the IUCN Green List Journey

A participatory assessment paves the way for effective, equitable, and resilient marine protected area management in Indonesia’s Coral Triangle.

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.

Protecting the Mesoamerican Reef - Belize

Learn about the work undertaken by BIOPAMA grantee, Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) to increase knowledge, protection and monitoring of fish spawning aggregation sites around the Mesoamerican Reef, Belize.

Watch the video

Hot off the press

Extractive licenses overlap with 1/3 of World Heritage sites

Jointly released by UNESCO, IUCN, WWF and partners, a new report analysed the presence of oil, gas and mining licensing in World Heritage sites, and highlights the critical role investors can play in assessing their risk exposure and influencing extractive companies’ practices.

Events and Getting Involved

Feature your conservation photo!

Tell our readership of +11,000 conservationists about a story that matters to you. Send us your photo, a 50-word caption and the photo credit, with 'Feature My Photo' in the subject line, to have it featured in one of our upcoming newsletters.

Send your submission to charlie.tokeley@iucn.org

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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.

Learn More

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

Social media tags:

#IUCNGreenList - #PanoramaSolutions - #WorldHeritage - #BIOPAMA - #act30 - #Tech4Nature - #BESTLIFE2030

Facebook:

Protected Areas
Program on African Protected Areas and Conservation
Protected Area Climate Change
Cultural and Spiritual Values of Protected Areas
Marine Protected Areas
#NatureForAll
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The monthly Protecting the Planet Newsletter aims to keep IUCN WCPA members, IUCN staff, and the wider IUCN network up-to-date with protected and conserved area news and announcements from the IUCN Protected and Conserved Areas Team.

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