BELGIAN IUCN FOCAL POINT
The Belgian Biodiversity Platform is the Belgian IUCN National Focal Point. We work on strengthening conservation-related actions in Belgium and we promote success stories of Belgian IUCN members. We are active in engaging Belgian experts in IUCN Commissions. We also provide the opportunity for IUCN members in Belgium and actors in the field of nature conservation to meet and discuss conservation issues, exchange best practices and information, and influence national policies related to the conservation of nature.
IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025
Held once every four years, the IUCN World Conservation Congress is one of the major conservation events gathering nature conservation experts, leaders, and decision-makers from across the globe to shape the future of nature conservation. This year, the Congress took place from 9 to 15 October 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Over 10,000 participants from 189 countries came together across more than 1000 events, sessions, and exhibits.
Belgium was represented by BBPf Coordinator Divija Jata (IUCN Belgian Focal Point and Head of Delegation) and several national and international NGOs (VITO, Natuurpunt, EBCD, FACE, WCS EU office, WWF Belgium).
Divija Jata, IUCN Belgian Focal Point and Head of Delegation (middle)
Photo by IISD/ENB | Anastasia Rodopoulou and Angeles Estrada Vigi
OUTCOMES
The Congress was organised around three components:
⇢ the Forum (9–12 October): a large knowledge marketplace for conservation and sustainable development science, practice and innovation, addressing the economic, social, scientific and technical aspects of a broad range of nature conservation issues.
Belgian Focal Point Divija Jata facilitated a global meeting of IUCN National Committees (hosted by the IUCN Global Group for National and Regional Committee Development), examining the revised Operational Guidelines, a new Action Plan, and implications of the 20-year Strategic Vision and 4-year Global Programme for Member Committees.
⇢ the Exhibition (9–13 October): where IUCN Members and Commissions, businesses, partners, and academia hosted pavilions, booths, and events to showcase their research, innovations, and work to the broadest Congress audience.
⇢ the Members’ Assembly (13–15 October): IUCN’s highest decision-making body, where Members voted on motions and took several major decisions:
• • The Election of a new IUCN Council and Regional Councillors, principal governing body of IUCN in between the sessions of the World Conservation Congress, and the IUCN Commission Chairs - for the period 2025–2029. Full Election results can be found on the Congress website.
• • The approval of a new 20-year Strategic Vision, addressing the drivers of biodiversity loss across eight transformational interconnected areas, and a new global Programme providing a roadmap, along with accountable deliverables, to drive global conservation action over the next 4 years.
• • Adoption of policy decisions, including: New IUCN Policy on Synthetic Biology; Actions to end plastic pollution; Reinforcing urban and peri-urban forests; A global conservation strategy for the high seas; Guidelines to better effectively the terrestrial wildlife pet trade; Development of a circular and sustainable bioeconomy; Climate Change Commission renamed to Climate Action Commission.
• • Adoption of motions, by which IUCN Members influence third parties and guide the policy and Programme of IUCN: with 147 motions approved and one rejected. Official IUCN results can also be accessed on the Congress website.
Finally, the Congress issued the Abu Dhabi Call to Action, urging accelerated global action across five areas: reaffirming nature as the foundation of well-being; strengthening multilateralism and cooperation; ensuring justice and inclusion; advancing knowledge, innovation, and education; and scaling up resources for nature and climate action.
For the full programme, documents, and outcomes of the Congress, visit the IUCN WCC 2025 website.
STAY INFORMED and engaged!
To know more about the Congress, or specifically about Belgian attendance and engagement, you can contact Divija Jata.
Interested in attending the next Congress? IUCN has announced that Panamá will host the seventh IUCN World Protected and Conserved Areas Congress in 2027, highlighting the country’s ambition to be a global leader in the conservation movement.
Stay connected and up to date by engage with the IUCN Community worldwide via the ENGAGE Platform (for IUCN Member organisations only).
To know more about what's happening in our region:
- Join the IUCN Europe, North and Central Asia Hub on ENGAGE.
- Watch the webinar: Towards the IUCN Congress: a focus on the participation of IUCN regions “East Europe, North and Central Asia” and “West Europe”
IUCN Regional Conservation Forum 2024 Europe, North and Central Asia
Once every four years, IUCN convenes its Regional Conservation Fora as a crucial platform for the IUCN Members, Commissions and the Secretariat to prepare for the upcoming IUCN World Conservation Congress. Bringing IUCN constituents from two Statutory Regions – West Europe, and East Europe, North and Central Asia, RCF 2024 was a major opportunity to present their work and sustainable development issues and conservation priorities from the global to regional perspectives, advance the next IUCN quadrennial programme and help inform and steer IUCN’s strategic direction in the regions.
Set to meet the highest standards in sustainability, and based on the principles of diversity and inclusion, RCF 2024 aimed to:
- Draw inspiration: To draw inspiration from the diversity of ideas, knowledge tools and practices offered by IUCN and its partners.
- Build networks: To provide an opportunity for IUCN Members, experts and partners from the two regions to reinforce existing and forge new partnerships.
- Identify areas of collaboration: To identify areas of mutual interest for collaborative actions across the two regions and present ideas for motions for the Congress.
- Formulate priorities: To discuss and formulate priorities of relevance for the region and ensure their consideration during deliberations on the draft IUCN programme.
Envisaged as an intersection between the two regions, the Regional Conservation Forum for Europe, North and Central Asia 2024 was a collaborative effort by the Government of Flanders, the city of Bruges, the IUCN Belgian Focal Point, local partners, and the IUCN.
Information about the #RCF24ENCA, including the report of the Forum, can be found on the ENGAGE Platform.