IUCN at Ramsar COP15

Bringing together 173 Contracting Parties, COP15 will focus on strengthening international efforts to safeguard wetlands under the theme, “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future.” The conference will spotlight the essential role wetlands play in sustaining biodiversity, supporting climate resilience and water security, and thereby underpinning economic development and human well-being. Set against the impressive landscape of Victoria Falls, COP15 is an important forum for advancing the conservation and wise use of wetlands through global cooperation and innovative practices to protect and restore these critical ecosystems.

For IUCN, this moment comes at a time of mounting urgency. Wetlands and peatlands are among the planet’s most powerful natural carbon sinks but are vanishing at a rate three times faster than forests. Their loss threatens not only ecosystems but also the essential services that sustain human communities worldwide. With billions of people depending on wetlands for their livelihoods and a quarter of freshwater species at risk of extinction, we simply cannot afford to lose them. Immediate action is imperative to protect and restore these irreplaceable ecosystems. 

IUCN's key messages at Ramsar COP15

• Conclude negotiations in a spirit of collaboration and compromise for an ambitious Strategic Plan of the Convention on Wetlands 2025-2034.
• Set clear goals and targets, a strong, measurable indicator framework aligned with other international reporting frameworks.
• Explicitly align the Strategic Plan with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
• Strengthen effective management of wetlands of international importance by improving governance, coordination, and technical capacity at all levels.  
• Embed wetlands in national development planning and increase regional and transboundary cooperation.
• Develop a dedicated Resource Mobilization Plan for Wetlands, aligned with the Rio Conventions and integrate wetlands into national climate and biodiversity finance strategies to leverage international fund and prioritize innovative finance 

As an International Organisation Partner (IOP) to the Ramsar Convention, IUCN works alongside Contracting Parties and Convention bodies to advance wetland conservation through technical guidance, capacity-building, and the demonstration of best practices.

Led by the IUCN Director General, the delegation will participate actively in negotiations and host several side-events to promote solutions for wetland resilience and sustainability.