IUCN Congress 2025 – Conservation Action Events & Highlights

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Powering transformative conservation: Species Conservation Action at IUCN Congress 2025

From 9–13 October in Abu Dhabi, the IUCN Congress will gather thousands of conservation leaders to accelerate solutions for biodiversity, climate, and people. Join IUCN’s Species Conservation Action (SCA) team as we showcase how scalable, inclusive, and high-impact conservation action is turning global ambition into local reality.

See our events below | Full event lineup | About Congress

Why conservation action matters

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The IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 comes at a defining moment. With global biodiversity declining at unprecedented rates and the climate crisis intensifying, urgent and transformative conservation action has never been more vital. Congress calls for bold solutions that unite science, policy, innovation, and equity to safeguard nature while ensuring sustainable futures for people.

Our work demonstrates that when local voices, global partnerships, and innovative tools come together, conservation can drive lasting change — for species, habitats, and people.

Take a look at the sessions below that illustrate how practical, inclusive solutions can accelerate progress toward global biodiversity and climate goals by 2030.

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Five key takeaways for conservation

At the heart of the discussions was one common goal: turning biodiversity ambition into measurable action for species, habitat, and people. Across pavilions, plenaries, and hands-on learning sessions, one message resonated clearly: conservation action works, and scaling it equitably is the key to transformative change. 

Key takeaways from our highlight sessions

From field-tested innovations to inclusive governance, our six flagship sessions demonstrated how practical, equitable, and scalable solutions are driving measurable results for biodiversity, climate, and people.

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Scaling up global action for big cats: From field solutions to international cooperation

This session brought together global leaders and practitioners from tiger, lion, jaguar, leopard, and snow leopard ranges to explore how to scale recovery. Speakers highlighted community-led protection, innovative insurance schemes, and sustainable financing, showing that big cat conservation thrives when global cooperation meets local leadership.

Key takeaways:
  • Strengthen collaboration across borders through platforms such as the International Big Cats Alliance.
  • Develop sustainable financing mechanisms to ensure long-term conservation.
  • Empower local communities as custodians and partners in wildlife stewardship.
  • Integrate species recovery into broader social and economic agendas to align conservation with livelihoods.
  • Programmes such as the Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHCP) provided proof of concept, protecting over five million hectares across Asia while fostering coexistence between people and predators.
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A biodiversity revolution: Scaling species conservation for biodiversity, climate and people

This session reframed species conservation as a cornerstone for addressing global crises. Participants called for moving beyond pilot projects toward systemic transformation — linking species recovery to climate adaptation, food security, and livelihoods.

Key takeaways
  • Scale out: Expand conservation reach across regions and landscapes.
  • Scale up: Embed species outcomes into policy, finance, and governance frameworks.
  • Scale deep: Root action in cultural and behavioural change led by local and Indigenous leadership. Examples included community-led mangrove restoration in Asia and species reintroductions driving ecosystem regeneration in Africa. Scaling means depth and influence, not just geography.
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Strengthening IP&LC Leadership in tiger conservation: Voices from the landscape

In an evening rich with storytelling and lived experience, Indigenous and local leaders from tiger-range countries shared how traditional knowledge and rights-based governance models are shaping resilient landscapes. From Nepal to Malaysia, speakers underscored that coexistence is possible when Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) are equal partners, not beneficiaries, in conservation.

Key takeaways
  • Recognise IPLCs as custodians with decision-making power.
  • Move from consultation to co-creation, embedding rights recognition and benefit-sharing into conservation planning.
  • Integrate traditional and scientific knowledge to strengthen resilience and coexistence.
  • Donors and agencies were urged to invest in community-driven models that uphold justice and equity at every stage of tiger conservation.
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Species conservation in Madagascar: from NBSAPs to local action for species, habitats and people

Madagascar’s story resonated as a microcosm of the global biodiversity challenge: exceptional endemism under acute threat. Panelists from government, NGOs, and community networks explored how national strategies, including the updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), National Species Plan and Invasive Species Action Plan, can translate into tangible, locally led results.

Key takeaways
  • Position species conservation at the centre of national priorities.
  • Strengthen local capacity through community-managed protected areas.
  • Harness sustainable financing and nature-positive industries like ecotourism.
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Global partnerships for coexistence: Scaling up conservation of apex predators

This dynamic discussion showed that protecting apex predators yields ripple effects across ecosystems — safeguarding corridors for countless other species. Presentations from partners and regional agencies demonstrated how integrating ecological connectivity, conflict mitigation, and community incentives can foster coexistence.

Key takeaways
  • Address human–wildlife conflict before predator recovery to anticipate social challenges.
  • Involve communities as co-designers of coexistence strategies.
  • Build large-scale partnerships that link area-based conservation with livelihood and safety measures.
    ITHCP was highlighted as a large-scale model that couples species recovery with community engagement, showing that coexistence and conservation must advance hand in hand.
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Global Species Action Plan Online Knowledge Platform: one stop shop for conservation tools

This forward-looking session introduced the Global Species Action Plan (GSAP) SKILLS Online Knowledge Platform, a centralised, open-access resource designed to help countries and practitioners translate the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) into measurable conservation outcomes.

Key takeaways
  • From targets to action: The GSAP provides the “how”, clear, evidence-based guidance to turn GBF targets into field-ready actions.
  • Tools and training at your fingertips: The SKILLS Platform consolidates practical resources, capacity-building materials and expert insights to support governments, NGOs, and practitioners worldwide.
  • Collaboration drives impact: GSAP is a living, evolving resource that grows through collective input from conservation partners and field experts.

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Latest Congress news

Stay up to date with the latest coverage from Abu Dhabi. We’ll be sharing stories, highlights, and outcomes throughout the week:

Check back regularly — this section will be updated daily with fresh news and stories from the Congress floor.

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Spotlight: Fondation Segré Conservation Action Fund impact report

Released on 7 October 2025, just ahead of the IUCN World Conservation Congress, the new Fondation Segré Conservation Action Fund Impact Report celebrates years of collaboration between IUCN Save Our Species and Fondation Segré to protect overlooked and threatened species around the world.

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The report showcases how small, strategic grants can deliver big conservation impact — supporting both biodiversity and local livelihoods. Through a combination of research and action grants, the Fund empowers local organisations to implement species conservation projects across 41 countries, helping to restore habitats, strengthen community stewardship, and inform national biodiversity strategies.

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Explore our Congress events

Thursday 9 October

Friday 10 October

Saturday 11 October

Sunday 12 October

Monday 13 October