As part of the IUCN World Conservation Congress held in Abu Dhabi, a regional meeting of IUCN members from Eastern Europe, North and Central Asia took place.
During the Congress, a new 20-year Strategic Concept of IUCN was adopted, as well as a four-year Program that defines the main directions of global conservation activities for the coming years.
Participants of the regional meeting discussed how these global goals could be achieved considering the ecological, social, and economic characteristics of the region. Special attention was given to finding practical solutions that simultaneously promote biodiversity conservation, ecosystem resilience, and human well-being.
Among the areas requiring the most attention in the region, the following were highlighted:
Among the directions capable of accelerating systemic transformations, participants noted the expansion of the application of nature-based solutions, the development of biodiversity indicators for transitioning to a nature-positive development model, and the support of sustainable food and agricultural systems.
Participants also discussed the contribution of IUCN member organizations to the implementation of these priorities through ongoing and planned projects and initiatives.
The regional meeting allowed for the identification of common areas of cooperation and linking the global goals of IUCN with specific tasks for nature conservation and sustainable development in the countries of the region.
