10 Key Takeaways from IUCN World Congress 2025

The IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025, held in Abu Dhabi from October 9–15, brought together over 1,400 member organisations to shape global conservation policies. Held every four years, the Congress is a major event for biodiversity governance.

1. India’s National Red List System (2025–2030)

• India announced a five-year roadmap to build a national-level ‘Red Listing’ system that mirrors the IUCN Red List.
• This system will assess the extinction risk of 11,000 species, including 7,000 flora and 4,000 fauna, offering a comprehensive picture of the country’s biodiversity status.

2. First Dugong Conservation Reserve Recognised

• A motion was passed to recognise India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve in Tamil Nadu’s Palk Bay as a global model for marine biodiversity conservation.
• Dugongs (marine herbivores) are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

3. Vivek Menon Becomes Chair of SSC

• Indian conservationist Vivek Menon, founder of Wildlife Trust of India, was elected Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC)—the first Asian to hold this prestigious post.
• The SSC oversees specialist groups that advise on species conservation and Red List updates.

4. Sonali Ghosh Wins IUCN Award

• Sonali Ghosh, Director of Kaziranga National Park, became the first Indian to receive the WCPA-Kenton Miller Award for innovation in national park management and sustainability.
• The award highlights innovation in protected area governance.

5. Wildlife as Climate Solution

• The Congress passed a resolution recognizing wild animals as climate allies, marking a major shift in conservation philosophy.
• Wildlife is now viewed not just as endangered species but as essential components of climate resilience and natural ecosystem functions.

6. Abu Dhabi Call to Action 2025

• The Congress adopted the Abu Dhabi Call to Action, a 20-year strategy promoting “a just world that values and conserves nature”.
• The IUCN also launched its 2026–2029 program titled “Nature 2030: One Nature, One Future”, outlining action goals aligned with SDGs and biodiversity frameworks.

7. Motion 42: Fossil Fuel Phase-Out

• For the first time, IUCN adopted Motion 42, advocating for supply-side action on fossil fuels, calling for a just phase-out of coal, oil, and gas.
• Supported by WWF and the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, this is a bold step into climate justice discourse.

8. Motion 108: Regulating Wildlife Pet Trade

• The Congress adopted Motion 108, urging global guidelines to manage the commercial trade in wild animals kept as pets.
• It aims to address biodiversity loss, zoonotic disease risks, and illegal trade, positioning the issue as both an ecological and governance crisis.

9. Indigenous Peoples’ World Summit

• For the first time, IUCN hosted the World Summit of Indigenous Peoples and Nature (October 8–10), affirming their central role in conservation.
• Co-hosted with the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity, it acknowledged that Indigenous communities are stewards, not stakeholders.

10. IUCN World Heritage Outlook 2025

• The latest World Heritage Outlook report warns that 43% of natural World Heritage sites are threatened by climate change.
• Only 57% of sites have a positive conservation outlook, down from 62% in 2020. It underscores rising risks from invasive species, climate impacts, and poor governance.

Dugong in Focus (Beyond the Nugget)

• Dugongs are herbivorous marine mammals known as sea cows
• Found in Palk Bay, Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
• Listed as Vulnerable on IUCN Red List
• Protected under Schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
• Included in Appendix I of CITES, prohibiting trade