Highlights and images for 13 October 2025

Fulfilling its vital role in shaping the strategic direction and policy priorities of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Members’ Assembly saw the tabling of amendments to IUCN’s draft 20-year Strategic Vision and the approval of a range of motions. Three sessions (sittings) were held on the first full day of the Members’ Assembly, which also featured the presentation of key reports and deliberations on motions.

Want to dig deeper into today's talks? Read the full Earth Negotiations Bulletin daily report.

Second Sitting

Presenting her report, IUCN Director General Grethel Aguilar highlighted achievements from the past four years, such as IUCN’s involvement in three landmark advisory opinions on climate change from international courts. She stressed that IUCN holds the largest portfolio of Global Environment Facility (GEF) funds and, looking forward, highlighted the use of artificial intelligence as a key priority. In her report, IUCN President Razan Al Mubarak flagged that 287 new Members had joined the Union since the last Congress.

Discussions on the draft 20-year Strategic Vision, which lays the foundations for IUCN’s future work, centered on, among others:

• the role of specific groups, such as environmental defenders, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and internally displaced populations;
• the need for clear and measurable indicators; and
• addressing the benefits of technology against the associated risks.

Third Sitting

During this sitting, Members considered and approved motions on, among others:

• improving tree planting practices;
• conservation and sustainable management of rangelands and pastoralism;
• delivering harmonized accountability and means of implementation for international forest protection goals;
• promoting hedgerows in agriculture to foster biodiversity, strengthen ecosystem resilience, and mitigate climate change;
• living in harmony with rivers through the rights of nature and ecocentric law;
• supporting the transformation towards a regenerative economy;
• mainstreaming mentorship for young ecological stewards to enhance conservation efforts; and
• developing IUCN guidelines to effectively control the commercial pet trade in terrestrial wildlife.

Members voted and approved motion 121, confirming the status and mandate of the Climate Crisis Commission, which was renamed to Climate Action Commission. Motion 61 raised calls to recognize ecocide in Gaza, while Motion 85 sought alignment on development and the mitigation hierarchy.

During the presentation of his report, Sean Southey, Chair, Commission on Education and Communication (CEC), underscored that “what we communicate as a Union we communicate for and with the planet.” His presentation highlighted the importance of nature-based education and the role of youth in conservation.
 

Fourth Sitting

Chris Mahon, Chair, Global Group for National and Regional Committee Development, shared the findings of the Global Meeting of IUCN Member Committees. Ann-Katrine Garn, Group Secretary, highlighted challenges faced by the National and Regional Committees, including those related to funding, human resources, communication, civic spaces, training, and access to information. Mahon pointed to the Engage Platform as a core communications tool for Members. He underlined the need for better communication among Members and increased resources, including time, to achieve the expectations identified in the 20-year Strategic Vision.

Members heard reports from the Youth Summit, the Business Summit, and the first Indigenous Peoples Summit. The sitting concluded with the opening of voting on the following motions:

• 35 (protection of mesopelagic ecosystem integrity); 
• 56 (advancing an ethical human-ocean relationship); 
• 105 (recognizing and supporting community stewardship of natural resources through dedicated funding); 
• 136 (addressing the direct exploitation of wild species); and 
• 147 (protecting ecosystems and riverine communities from the impacts of hydropower in the Lower Congo and globally).

The results will be announced during the Assembly’s fifth sitting on Tuesday, 14 October.