How can OECMs complement protected areas by recognising effective conservation in working landscapes in Central Asia, where rangelands, cultural landscapes and community-managed natural resources underpin ecological connectivity and One Health outcomes? These questions were at the heart of the 1Health4Nature webinar Beyond Protected Areas, held on 9 December 2025.

An international ecological rally took place, gathering Mongolian young participants in the territory of the Sokhondinsky nature reserve, Russian Federation. Young participants got acquainted with the protected areas of the Amur region and learnt about the life of the manul and its protective status. The participants have also created their training projects on the protected areas. The event is the next step in the youth collaboration of the two countries.

Led by the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC), the Yeghegis Valley restoration initiative in Armenia demonstrates how ecosystem restoration, sustainable land-use practices and strong partnerships with local communities can deliver long-term benefits for biodiversity while supporting local livelihoods. The initiative contributes to the conservation of globally threatened species, including the Persian leopard, Eurasian lynx and the endangered Armenian mouflon.

At the international conference in Skopje, representatives of the Bern Convention, IUCN and national institutions issued a clear call for the urgent adoption of a new Law on Nature and the allocation of state funding for environmental protection. Discussions underscored the need for institutional reform, including the establishment of a Nature Institute, and for halting harmful projects in protected areas, such as the hydropower plants in Mavrovo. National parks stressed that clear mandates and stable public funding are essential, noting that without government commitment, international donor support cannot be secured. In response, the Ministry committed to developing new, EU-aligned legal solutions to ensure more effective protection of the country’s natural heritage.

IUCN Save Our Species hosted the webinar Flowing together: safeguarding freshwater species through collective action, bringing together grantees, scientists and partners to share practical, science-based solutions to halt freshwater species declines. The session highlighted collaboration, community engagement and innovation to protect rivers, lakes and wetlands.

The Northern Forests Initiative (NFI) marked its successful conclusion with a regional event dedicated to forest restoration in Albania and North Macedonia. One of the Initiative's key achievements is the restoration of 40 hectares of degraded landscapes in Albania and North Macedonia through a combination of measures, including reforestation, forest thinning, pasture improvement, and soil erosion control. 

IUCN announced the start of a new project aimed at boosting ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation in key landscapes across Uzbekistan. The GEF-8 project "Integrated Management and Restoration of Valuable Landscapes in Uzbekistan (EcoLand)" was officially launched at the CITES CoP20 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, signalling a strong national and international commitment to scaling up restoration across the country.

The Western Balkans has reaffirmed its collective commitment to a greener and more sustainable future. At the Second Ministerial Meeting on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans (GAWB) held in Dubrovnik in October, Ministers of Environment and Sustainable Development from across the region endorsed the Dubrovnik Declaration, a major milestone in advancing regional cooperation on climate and nature.

A blog by Kornelija Radovanović, Governance & Policy Programme Officer, IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ECARO)

The Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia (LILA) project concluded, after over three years of integrated action. Funded by Switzerland and led by WWF‑Armenia and SDA NGO, LILA strengthened local economies and protected nature across Tavush, Lori, Vayots Dzor and Syunik provinces. Communities received solar energy systems, adopted sustainable pasture management and implemented green business practices, benefiting 13,397 people, improving 196 hectares and reducing CO₂ emissions by 102 tonnes. LILA demonstrated that environmental protection and economic development reinforce each other: resilient ecosystems enable nature-based economies, which in turn invest in safeguarding nature.

Armenia has officially joined the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a State Member, with the Ministry of Environment serving as the national liaison to the IUCN Secretariat. The announcement, made at the IUCN Congress in Abu Dhabi, highlights Armenia’s commitment to advancing biodiversity conservation and raising ambition for nature.

The high-level session hosted by the ENACT Partnership at the IUCN Congress brought together government leaders, civil society, academia, and private sector actors to explore what defines transformational Nature-based Solutions and how barriers to effective implementation can be overcome. A highlight of the event was the formal announcement of Armenia joining ENACT, reinforcing the Partnership’s growing global momentum and creating synergies across the Rio Conventions.

IUCN invites proposals to implement corrective Nature-based Solutions (NbS) measures at a pilot site in Elbasan Municipality, Albania, under the ADAPT 2.0: NbS for climate change mitigation and adaptation in the Western Balkans. The assignment will focus on replanting 30% of seedlings across nine intervention zones, including species selection review, procurement and transport of planting material, removal of dead seedlings, and aftercare measures. Apply by 16 Jan 2026.

These awards offer early-career conservationists a chance to gain a project grant of up to $15,000 as well as ongoing support through the global Alumni Network. Proposed projects can be species-focused or address themes such as climate impact and adaptation, habitat restoration and/or management, etc. Apply by 9 Jan 2026. 

The overall purpose of this scoping study is to provide a state-of-the art overview of the Albanian national context in regard to the application of NbS approaches for climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR). The study relies on the available and accessible data and information originating from existing policies, programmes and strategies, taking into account data collected on past and ongoing initiatives, projects and activities in Albania on NbS for DRR, as well as impacts on climate change and the environment. 

For decades, Pashtrik–Morina has carried deep scars from mining, deforestation, and wildfires. Yet today, a new future is being planted - a small mosaic of restoration. Through the Northern Forests Initiative: Forest Restoration in North Macedonia and Albania,  combining the expertise, local knowledge, and dedication, those fragmented habitats are being revived, ecological connectivity restored, and the foundation laid for a more resilient environment. Watch the video by PPNEA to learn more.

Healthy ecosystems are the foundation of all life on Earth. They give us clean air, fresh water, food, and the stability we depend on. Yet for too long, we have pushed nature beyond its limits. Across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, BirdLife and its Partners are taking bold steps to restore what has been lost. We invite you to dive deeper into this new portfolio and discover nine sites where nature restoration is delivering hope, resilience and a better future for people and biodiversity.

The Mediterranean monk seal, the only resident pinniped species in the Mediterranean Sea, stands as one of the most endangered marine mammals on Earth. This guide offers a standardised approach for monitoring, data collection, and response to various scenarios in alignment with the conservation priorities for the Mediterranean monk seal. Additionally, it promotes a more harmonised approach among relevant stakeholders to improve the effectiveness of the protection of the species and its habitat.

This report assesses trade dynamics in tigers, leopards, clouded leopards, snow leopards, lions, and Asiatic cheetahs, collectively referred to as Asian big cats (ABCs). Drawing on 25 years of data from the CITES records and reported illegal trade, the analysis identifies trends, patterns, and persistent threats to ABCs. Prepared by Go Insight.

This report highlights the current challenges posed to biodiversity by intensive agricultural pressures in the Mediterranean, while identifying solutions and opportunities to reconcile biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture. It acknowledges that while certain unsustainable agricultural activities pose a key threat to species conservation, agricultural landscapes also provide habitat to numerous species - so considering agriculture as a threat requires a more nuanced approach, given its inherent linkages to nature.

#WWD2026 #CelebratingWetlands  #WetlandsandCulturalHeritage

World Wetlands Day themed “Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage” 

#WorldWildlifeDay #WWD2026

World Wildlife Day themed “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods”

#WorldWaterDay

World Water Day themed "Water and Gender"

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