The IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi, held from 9 to 15 October, marked a milestone for global conservation, bringing together over 10,000 participants from 189 countries across more than 1,000 events. The Congress provided a platform for sharing innovative ideas, forging partnerships, and committing to bold conservation initiatives that will influence environmental policy and practice for decades. For Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the Congress highlighted regional priorities, Council elections, and motions that will shape collective action across the sub-region.
During the Congress, IUCN Members elected leadership for the next four years, including H.E. Razan Al Mubarak as President for a second term. Regional Councillors representing Eastern Europe and Central Asia will guide IUCN’s policy and governance while several Vice-Chair positions remain open for regional experts to engage further. Armenia joined IUCN as a State Member, and Albania formally established a National Committee to strengthen national-level coordination. The Europe, North and Central Asia Interregional Committee (ICENCA) continues to support cooperation across countries and sub-regions.
A total of 144 motions were adopted at the Congress, covering global and regional issues. Key resolutions relevant to Eastern Europe and Central Asia include the conservation and sustainable management of rangelands and pastoralism, establishing mechanisms for interaction with Members involved in armed conflicts, and strengthening protection of protected areas against unsustainable tourism. These resolutions will be implemented through a One Programme approach, involving Members, Commissions, and the Secretariat, with progress tracked through annual reports.
Eastern Europe and Central Asia had strong participation, with 37 member organisations from 15 countries attending, representing 79% of the region’s membership. Members engaged in discussions on how to translate IUCN’s new 20-year Strategic Vision and four-year Programme into regional action. These sessions allowed participants to reflect on progress from the previous quadrennium, share ongoing initiatives, and prioritize Programme outputs requiring urgent attention, spanning both conservation at scale and transformational outputs.
The Together for Nature Pavilion served as a hub for networking, knowledge exchange, and highlighting regional biodiversity priorities. Over 22 sessions, more than 70 speakers from civil society, government, scientific, business, and youth networks explored topics including biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, ethics and technology, mental health, and careers in conservation. The Pavilion facilitated regional collaboration, partnership building, and engagement with communities from across Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.
Key sessions demonstrated practical conservation approaches in the region. Species monitoring initiatives are helping track wildlife and prevent zoonotic disease outbreaks, integrating One Health principles. River protection discussions emphasized the need for free-flowing rivers, strong legal frameworks, trained rangers, inclusive governance, and active community involvement. Community engagement sessions highlighted the role of local herders, rangers, and other stakeholders in safeguarding ecosystems, improving biosecurity, and sustaining healthy natural environments across Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Overall, the IUCN Congress 2025 provided a framework for advancing conservation in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, emphasizing leadership, community engagement, cross-border cooperation, and evidence-based action to address regional and global environmental challenges.
