The IUCN Commission on Education and Communication (CEC) uses creative communication and education tools and approaches to raise awareness and inspire action to conserve nature. Our job is to mobilize people all over the planet for a world committed to protecting nature now and into the future.
CEC recognises that knowledge is only useful in influencing conservation policies and actions if people are engaged in constructive dialogue and motivated to action by its findings. In this line, the Commission drives change for the co-creation of sustainable solutions through leading communication, learning and knowledge management in IUCN and the wider conservation community.
Our Mission
To strengthen the work of the Union through creative, innovative, participatory, responsive, and effective communication and education, as tools to effect positive social and behavioural change for the well-being of people and planet.
Our Members
CEC members are professionals from around the globe who volunteer their time and talent in pursuit of sustainability. We encourage diversity in terms of experience, disciplines, cultures, languages, ages and gender.
Our Networks
As a CEC Member, you are invited to join and contribute to our programme priorities and be part of their networks. Our networks are focused on weaving communities of practice between members, initiatives, countries and regions.
The Commission undertakes its mission through engaging its members’ expertise, research and actions, including indigenous and traditional knowledge, to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the IUCN Programme, the post-2020 biodiversity framework, and other emerging needs and priorities of IUCN. We undertake this work through four programme priorities.
Our work is driven by the CEC 2026-2029 Mandate.
A global movement to inspire, celebrate and restore love of nature. Share your love of Nature!
CEC aims to integrate nature education as part of the formal, non formal, and informal education systems. Share your expertise!
CEC supports the inclusion and empowerment of young people to advance Nature 2030. Join us!
A global movement to listen, discuss, imagine and act towards a sustainable planet. Reimagine with us!
Dr Margaret Otieno is the CEO/National Coordinator of Wildlife Clubs of Kenya, a national NGO targeting the youth and communities with Conservation Education. Margaret is also a board member of Worldlife Kenya, African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, Elsa Conservation Trust and is Deputy Chair for the Kenya Steering Committee (IUCN) and Deputy Chair for IUCN Commission on Education and Communication (CEC) for Eastern and Southern Africa. A holder of a PhD in Climate Change and Education for Sustainable Development and an MSc in Environment and Development, she is the 2020 winner of the 2020 International Brandwein Medal award. Margaret is a passionate hands-on environmental education professional and is driven by the belief that sustained education from grassroots to leadership levels is the single most important element in improved environmental protection and conservation. Through Africa wide workshops, WCK has stimulated a continental wildlife clubs movement. It has also helped spawn clubs in Asia, Latin America, and elsewhere in the developing world. In over 50 years, WCK has helped educate over 1,000,000 young Kenyans and placed many of them in positions of influence.
Dr Margaret Otieno is the CEO/National Coordinator of Wildlife Clubs of Kenya, a national NGO targeting the youth and communities with Conservation Education. Margaret is also a board member of ...
I see the role of our Commission as advancing our collective capacity to use the tools, ideas and creative approaches of education and communication to help create the social norms, values, organizations and behaviours that will help us realize the vision of IUCN and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Vice Chair
Dr. Alex Zavarzin is currently director of the AI in Agrobiotechnolgy center of the ITMO University (https://en.itmo.ru) combining this position with advisory to the State selectional achievements commission of Russia (https://gossortrf.ru). Previously he combined university professorship with service of vice-provost for biology, geography, geoecology and soils of St.Petersburg state university. Dr. Zavarzin also worked for the All-Russia center for talented children “Sirius” recently established at the former Olympic infrastructure in Sochi and later as a deputy director of Vavilov Center opf Plant Genetic resources (VIR). For many years Dr. Zavarzin combined his academic research with work in environmental NGO “Baltic Fund for Nature” followed nowadays by a membership in the IUCN Member organization - All-Russian Society of Nature Protection-Leningrad region office. (https://voop.spb.ru) where he is the academic leader for the biodiversity projects.
Dr. Zavazrin has been an active member in a number of professional societies. He participated and led many international environmental projects in Russia and NW Europe, sponsored by WWF, Programmes of European Union, UNDP with many of them being implemented under International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidance. He has wide experience in promoting biodiversity field studies, networking of protected areas, implementation of environmental legislation and transboundary collaboration, enhancing youth involvement into decision making and introducing of education for sustainable development and communication.
Dr. Zavarzin is a regional vice-chair of the IUCN CEC and vice co-chair for IUCN ICENCA, as well as a member of the IUCN Russian National Committee.
Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Vice Chair
Dr. Alex Zavarzin is currently director of the AI in Agrobiotechnolgy center of the ITMO University (https://en.itmo.ru) combining this position ...
Natalie Cox is a Program Officer with IUCN, based in Washington D.C. and supporting the Commission on Education and Communication (CEC) and the North America Regional Office.
She joins IUCN with 10 years of experience managing large-scale international education initiatives at the intersection of education, environment, and diplomacy across France and the United States. Previously, Natalie was Deputy Director of Campus France USA at the Embassy of France in Washington D.C., where she led a team supporting study abroad and research initiatives under the French Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, including bilateral climate research programs. She led the design of a new French government scholarship supporting graduate students and launched communications campaigns highlighting the alignment of higher education pathways with the UN SDGs. Under the French Ministry of Education, Natalie managed the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) and the French Teaching Intern Program, the largest bilateral young professional exchange programs between France and the United States.
Natalie chaired the Forum on Education Abroad's Working Group for Advancing the UN SDGs, and is a volunteer evaluator for U.S. State Department-funded exchange programs. Natalie started her career in philanthropy working at a foundation in Boston supporting domestic conservation efforts and youth organizing around environmental justice. She has also consulted with NGOs on public policy advocacy in the areas of investment in education, health, and environment. Natalie grew up in California and Washington State, and holds a Master of Public Administration from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and a B.A. with honors in Linguistics and French from the University of California, Santa Cruz (Rachel Carson College) where she also studied environmental and climate science and became a tireless advocate for the natural world. A passionate environmental educator, Natalie has led outdoor education canoe expeditions in Voyageurs National Park, volunteered in the Virgin Islands National Park, and served as an organizer for the March for the Ocean and the DC Environmental Film Festival.
Natalie Cox is a Program Officer with IUCN, based in Washington D.C. and supporting the Commission on Education and Communication (CEC) and the North America Regional Office.
She joins IUCN with 10 ...
