We are pleased to share IUCN ECARO Highlights, a new publication reflecting on the 2021–2025 quadrennium between the IUCN Congresses in Marseille and Abu Dhabi. This period has been one of growth, recognition and deeper regional engagement for IUCN, marked by strengthened partnerships, an expanded presence across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and continued progress in delivering the IUCN Nature 2030 Programme. The publication captures this journey and highlights our key achievements.

A subregional workshop convened by IUCN and CBD, supported representatives from five countries of Central Asia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and the Russian Federation to identify national priority actions, assess gaps and opportunities, and reinforce regional cooperation to accelerate progress in conserving biodiversity through effectively managed protected and conserved areas.

Experts from across the Western Balkans gathered in Sjenica, Serbia, in April 2026 for a regional training on the use of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ in biodiversity monitoring and reporting on the conservation status of threatened species. The training strengthened understanding of how to establish and implement Red List programmes at national and local levels, support the consistent application of the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, and encourage regional exchange, collaboration and future joint initiatives.

The Regional Strategy for the Conservation of the Balkan Lynx was officially adopted at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP15) held in Brazil. The strategy focuses on developing national action plans, connecting habitats and improving genetic diversity, and will be implemented by competent authorities and experts in the coming years.

Read a dedicated article that celebrates the traditional knowledge and stewardship of communities whose lives are closely connected to wetlands, underlining how local practices, regional cooperation and science-based conservation can work together to protect them and sustain the benefits they provide for biodiversity, climate resilience, water security and people.

Building staff capacity, strengthening cooperation with local communities, and improving practical approaches to protected area management were among the issues most discussed during a study tour organised for the team of Vjosa River National Park in early January 2026.

The meeting marked an important step in advancing the WB6 Biodiversity Strategic Plan 2030 and a regionally coordinated Forest Landscape Restoration Plan, aligned with the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. Through technical exchange and joint planning, the thematic groups aim to strengthen ecosystem resilience, improve biodiversity outcomes and support the region’s progress towards EU and global environmental commitments.

The Western Balkans is entering a new chapter in its conservation journey. Guided by the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans (GAWB), the region is committed to aligning with the EU Green Deal and global biodiversity goals.

IUCN convened the third meeting of the NbS Community of Practice in March in Vrdnik, Serbia, bringing together practitioners, researchers, academia and civil society representatives to strengthen practical skills for applying the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions™ and advance development of the WB6 Forest Landscape Restoration Plan.

Eko-svest restored 72 km of free-flowing river in North Macedonia by removing a large post-WWII concrete barrier from the Pčinja River. Supported by the Open Rivers Programme, this landmark intervention removes a long-standing safety hazard while helping reverse decades of ecosystem degradation and pollution. By reconnecting the Pčinja and Kriva Rivers, the project improves river connectivity, biodiversity and water quality, directly contributing to IUCN’s Water priority area and wider efforts to restore healthy freshwater ecosystems.

INCA hosted the “Plastic Free HoReCa” panel at the National HoReCa Expo Albania in February, bringing together experts, municipal representatives, and businesses from the Shkumbini River watershed (Elbasan region). Discussions highlighted the Mediterranean’s plastic pollution crisis. They showcased the BeMed+ project as a practical methodology that helps hotels, restaurants, and cafés eliminate single-use plastics, adopt sustainable alternatives, and gain “Ocean Friendly” certification.

IUCN has formally signed a Host Agreement with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on 17 February in Rome, designating the IUCN ECARO as the official Subregional Technical and Scientific Cooperation (TSC) Support Centre for Central Asia.

IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ECARO), and The Nature Conservancy in Europe (TNC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation in developing sustainable, long‑term financing mechanisms for protected areas across the Western Balkans.

Support the implementation of conservation work in Central Asia, with a particular focus on the GEF8 EcoLand Uzbekistan project, while also contributing to the development of new regional initiatives.

Deadline: 15 May 2026.

Provide financial, accounting and reporting support to the project GEF8 EcoLand Uzbekistan and contribute to the overall financial management and compliance of the IUCN Central Asia office, in accordance with IUCN policies, donor requirements, and national legislation.

Deadline: 15 May 2026

How can the Western Balkans protect nature while supporting economic development, climate resilience and people’s well-being? The Green Agenda for the Western Balkans offers the answer.

The infographic highlights the core components and goals of Pillar 5 of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, including integrating nature into key sectors such as energy, agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure. It also explains who does what, including the role of IUCN as the regional coordinator of the Pillar 5 and host of the Biodiversity Task Force for the Western Balkans, the main platform for regional cooperation on nature.

This video explains what the Nature and Biodiversity Pillar of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans is, why it matters, and how it is being implemented. It features voices from IUCN ECARO, which coordinates the pillar, and members of the Biodiversity Task Force for the Western Balkans (BDTF WB), who lead and champion its implementation at regional and the economy levels.

A new video presents the development of the WB6 Forest Landscape Restoration Plan, prepared under Pillar 5: Protection of Nature and Biodiversity of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. The Plan provides a collaborative framework for the region to advance forest landscape restoration and support long-term environmental sustainability across the region.

A new monograph has been published on the restoration of the Asian Aleutian Canada goose population, which had disappeared by the mid-1930s due to a combination of human-induced and natural factors. The book documents a 20-year effort to revive the population, led by Nikolai Gerasimov, the project’s initiator and author. Through his dedication, collaboration with American and Japanese ornithologists, and support from numerous individuals and organisations, the initiative helped bring the population back, with around 14,000 geese now recorded on wintering grounds.

#BiodiversityDay #LocalAction #ForNature #KMGBF

International Day for Biodiversity 2026 is themed "Acting locally for global impact".

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Eight GEF Assembly, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

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Eco Expo Central Asia, Samarkand, Uzbekistan 

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World Environment Day 2026 focuses on climate change—on the urgent signals the Earth is sending and the signals we choose to send back.

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