Implementation roadmap
The IUCN Programme 2026-2029 lays out specific goals and targets with the aim to achieve three impacts:
- Biodiversity (ecosystems, species and genetic diversity) has been effectively conserved, protected and restored in land, freshwater and marine realms and mainstreamed across sectors.
- Effective conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services has contributed significantly to addressing the nature– global change nexus, including through Nature-based Solutions to build ecosystem and societal resilience and reduce the risks to nature of unsustainable responses to anthropogenic global crises.
- Equitable, legitimate, legal and sustainable use of nature and natural resources have contributed to both nature conservation and a just, equitable and sustainable society.
We are driving change across four focus areas:
People
To protect precious places, we need to listen to the people who know them best—and ensure the benefits of Nature are shared fairly.
Land
We’ve made strong progress, but global landscapes need to be protected as living ecosystems to make them more resilient.
Ocean
The ocean is the foundation of life on Earth, yet only 2% of its waters are conserved in protected areas.
Freshwater
Freshwater systems, like wetlands, are essential to people and wildlife, but they’re disappearing three times faster than forests.
IUCN will leverage its core capabilities to mainstream nature conservation in eight transformational areas identified below by developing new ways of working, new partnerships, and new tools and data.
How will we achieve our goals?
Increasing collaboration and cooperation across all parts of the Union, we will focus on pathways we are already using to drive change.
Convening and networking
We have a unique role as a collective, bringing diverse coalitions together and exploring new technology to make our networks more accessible.
Guiding conservation with robust science, data and evidence
IUCN will remain the trusted voice for nature, guiding conservation with robust scientific evidence and knowledge—including that of Indigenous Peoples and local communities—and sharing data with the world.
Policy and advocacy
IUCN will guide local and global government policies that create change, and play a stronger role in international frameworks that align with economic, trade and social issues.
Empowering and helping others to change
We will offer capacity-building to help Members and other partners grow their skills and use, restore and protect nature even more effectively.
Mobilising resources for conservation action on the ground
We will continue to mobilise funding and other resources for our network, while learning from our Members how we can best help.
Advancing education and awareness building
Learning about the links between humans and nature fuels empowered action. IUCN will work with partners to advance nature-based education and embed this vision into communities.
United as a global voice for nature, we are committed to contributing to the Global Biodiversity Framework, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change — and reporting our progress at the next IUCN World Conservation Congress.
Vision and Programme