Mediterranean Nations Discuss and Approve Proposals at the World Conservation Congress 2025 on Our Website
The 2025 World Conservation Congress, set to take place in Abu Dhabi, is poised to be a significant event for conservation efforts in the Mediterranean region. Geodiversity and geological heritage have taken centre stage, thanks to the persistent efforts of Spanish geological organizations [1].
The Union's decision-making process is heavily influenced by motions, which allow Members to introduce formal proposals that can become Resolutions or Recommendations. These decisions guide the Union's programme and policy positions and have practical consequences [2]. France has been particularly active, submitting 38 motions, followed by Spain with 10, Tunisia with 2, and Albania with 1 [1].
One of the key motions, Motion 014, promoted by the French government with support from MITECO (Spain), advocates for the enhancement of biodiversity and ecological connectivity through hedgerows in agriculture [1]. Another significant motion, Motion 084 from France, calls for advancing a circular and sustainable bioeconomy [1].
The first motion on geodiversity was introduced at the 2008 World Conservation Congress in Barcelona [3]. This year, for the first time, Members can vote online, enabling broader participation, particularly for smaller organizations [1].
The focus of Mediterranean organizations lies on protecting biodiversity within the Mediterranean basin, sustainable management of natural resources, and enhancing the effectiveness of conservation actions through science-policy interfaces [1]. The partnership between France and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a major player in Mediterranean conservation, aims to tackle challenges such as biodiversity loss, sustainable food and agricultural systems, and ocean conservation [1].
The IUCN’s role and France’s involvement underscore a collaborative approach to nature conservation ahead of the Congress in October 2025 [1]. While detailed motions unique to Mediterranean organizations at the Congress are not explicitly listed, the overarching themes align with global conservation priorities such as tackling biodiversity decline, addressing climate change impacts, promoting sustainable agricultural and food systems, and enhancing marine conservation efforts [1].
For organizations based in the Mediterranean, submitting and supporting motions is a way to ensure that regional challenges are acknowledged and addressed in global conservation efforts [1]. Motion 130, promoted by the Mediterranean Alliance for Wetlands, calls for stronger protection of core zones in Category I and II protected areas from unsustainable tourism development, highlighting the urgent case of Albania [1].
The 20-year Strategic Vision and the draft Programme for 2026-2029 explicitly include geodiversity and geological heritage [1]. Geodiversity, the variety of physical and chemical characteristics of Earth's surface and subsurface, plays a crucial role in effective, integrated, science-based conservation [1].
The World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi is an opportunity for member organizations to shape global conservation. Jesús Bellido, the Spanish Committee Secretariat for the website, is leading the charge [1]. Other notable motions include Motion 060, led by Tunisia, which introduces nature conservation diplomacy, and Motion 103, submitted by the Ville de Paris, which focuses on urban and peri-urban forests [1].
These events complement forums such as the MENA Earth Systems Sciences Congress, which focus on climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and resource management in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region [2]. However, these events are separate from the IUCN World Conservation Congress specific to October 2025 in Abu Dhabi.
In sum, Mediterranean organizations at the 2025 World Conservation Congress are expected to prioritize key motions on biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, sustainable resource management, and advancing nature-based solutions that are critical to the region's ecological and socio-economic context [1].
[1] IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 Information and Resources. (n.d.). Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://www.iucncongress2025.org/
[2] MENA Earth Systems Sciences Congress. (n.d.). Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://www.mena-earth-science.org/
- The 2025 World Conservation Congress, taking place in Abu Dhabi, is poised to be a significant event for sustainable development, as it addresses conservation efforts in the Mediterranean region, focusing on geodiversity and geological heritage.
- proposal and technical advancements, such as Motion 014's advocacy for biodiversity and ecological connectivity through hedgerows in agriculture, and Motion 084's call for a circular and sustainable bioeconomy, are being incorporated into environmental governance through the Union's decision-making process.
- Biodiversity protection, sustainable management of natural resources, and enhancing the effectiveness of conservation actions through science-policy interfaces are major priorities for Mediterranean organizations, with the IUCN and France collaborating to tackle challenges such as biodiversity loss and climate change impacts.
- Within the Mediterranean basin, protected areas core zones are at risk from unsustainable tourism development, as highlighted by Motion 130, presented by the Mediterranean Alliance for Wetlands, urging stronger protection for these areas.
- Global conservation efforts encompass various aspects, including nature-based solutions, science, and environmental-science, and regional organizations such as those from the Mediterranean basin contribute to these initiatives through motions submitted to events like the IUCN's World Conservation Congress, influencing political and general-news discussions on the environment.
