The Biodiversity Foundation and the Sub-Directorate General for Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity of the Directorate General for Biodiversity, Forests and Desertification of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) are participating as representatives of the Spanish delegation at the World Congress of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which is being held in Abu Dhabi. from October 9 to 15.
The IUCN World Conservation Congress is held every four years to define priorities and promote conservation and sustainable development actions. This edition, in which more than 10,000 people will participate under the theme “Driving transformative conservation”, will serve as a dynamic forum where governments, indigenous peoples’ organizations, companies and conservation leaders can exchange knowledge, strengthen alliances and develop strategies to address the environmental challenges we face.
The Congress is structured in three areas: the Forum, from 9 to 12 October, a space for debate, where 260 sessions will be held, 15 of which will be high-level dialogues, which brings together people from all over the world to discuss and develop solutions to a wide range of issues related to nature conservation, ranging from wildlife to oceans, from protected areas to sustainable businesses, and from climate change to human rights. Within this framework, a Business Summit, a Youth Summit and a Philanthropy Summit are also held; the Exhibition, from 9 to 13 October, where more than 140 exhibitors (IUCN Members and Commissions, together with companies, partners and universities) have pavilions and stands where more than 1,000 events will be held; the Assembly of Members, 13-15 October, is IUCN’s decision-making body, where the membership will debate and vote on motions on conservation and sustainable development matters. These decisions influence global policy, set the conservation agenda for the coming years, and will shape IUCN’s work. Of the 137 motions raised, 97 were voted on online last August and 40 will be voted on during the Assembly.
Within the framework of the congress, the Spanish delegation will participate in different sessions linked, for example, to the fulfilment by governments of biodiversity commitments and to guaranteeing the health of the ocean for future generations or the potential of private protected areas and their contribution to national and global biodiversity objectives. where the Spanish delegation will place special emphasis on the LIFE CUSTODIA project, whose objective is to promote public-private and social collaboration for the conservation and restoration of nature within the framework of the European Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and international agreements, through innovation and the promotion of land stewardship.
ABOUT IUCN
IUCN is a membership union composed of governmental organizations and civil society. It has the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,400 organizations and the input of more than 17,000 experts from 160 countries.
The 2025 IUCN Congress is seen as an opportunity to raise ambition, accelerate action, and scale up collaborative solutions that address the needs of both nature and people, ensuring that sustainability efforts are equitable and just.
The IUCN Congress 2025 will address five critical themes, each of which will drive ambitious and transformative change to ensure a sustainable future for both nature and humanity: intensifying resilient conservation action, reducing climate overshoot risks, achieving equity, transitioning to nature-positive economies and societies, and disruptively innovating and leading for conservation.
