Story 08 Oct, 2025

Mediterranean inspiring practices at World Conservation Congress

The IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN Med), with Members and key partners from the Mediterranean region will showcase leading initiatives on biodiversity, climate resilience, marine conservation and equitable development during the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi.

🌿 Access to the document: Med WCC document

Photo: IUCN Med

The Mediterranean, one of the world’s most biodiverse yet climate-vulnerable regions, is demonstrating how science, policy and community action can be combined to achieve practical conservation outcomes. Through the joint efforts of IUCN Members, Commissions, and partners, the region is contributing solutions that can inform global approaches to conservation and sustainable development.

At IUCN Med, we are committed to strengthening partnerships and collaboration with our Members and Commissions to implement the IUCN Programme 2026-2029 in the Mediterranean. Together, we aim to scale up impact and respond to the urgent challenges facing the region, comments Maher Mahjoub, director of IUCN Med.

🔶Access to the document: Med at WCC document 🔶

Key themes and initiatives

IUCN Med’s work will be presented under the main Congress themes: Scaling Up Resilient Conservation Action, Reducing Climate Overshoot Risks, Delivering on Equity, Transitioning to Nature-Positive Economies and Societies, and Disruptive Innovation and Leadership for Conservation.

Among the highlighted initiatives:

Freshwater and drought resilience: projects addressing water scarcity through regional collaboration and science-based planning.
Ecosystem restoration and Nature-based Solutions: initiatives such as REST-COAST and Cherish the Nature in Spain are restoring coasts and wetlands to strengthen climate adaptation.
Regenerative blue economy: promoting sustainable livelihoods linked to healthy marine and coastal ecosystems.
Support for civil society: the Mubadarat programme has financed 120 projects and trained more than 16,000 people in North Africa, reinforcing the role of local organisations in conservation.
Agricultural transition: projects such as SOILGUARD and NBSoil are developing regenerative practices to restore soil health and link farmers with sustainable value chains.
Innovation and digital tools: the Tech4Nature initiative uses sensors and AI to monitor species and visitor impact in protected areas, supporting evidence-based management.

New partnerships and regional mechanisms

The Congress will also feature the launch of the European Subregional Technical and Scientific Cooperation Support Centre, based in Brussels. Established with the support of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and IUCN Med, the Centre will assist 44 countries in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

In addition, the Mediterranean Blue Natural Capital Facility will be presented as a regional mechanism to mobilise finance for marine and coastal restoration through Nature-based Solutions.

The IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 will take place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from 9 to 15 October 2025. The event can be followed online through the official IUCN Congress website.