In 2025, an important event for the entire international conservation community took place. The IUCN World Conservation Congress was held from 9 to 15 October in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), bringing together around 10,000 participants and serving as a key global platform for discussing major challenges in nature conservation. Convened every four years, the Congress provides a space for conservation practitioners, governments, scientists, civil society and the private sector to address pressing issues and to highlight achievements and efforts in the conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity.

Ukraine, as a state, is not yet a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is currently represented by only two civil society organisations: the Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group (UNCG) and the Environment–People–Law (EPL). In 2025, the СО “Nature Fund of Ukraine” joined the Ukrainian delegation to participate in the Congress, together with representatives of Tuzlovski Lymany National Nature Park and the Frankfurt Zoological Society in Ukraine.

Key outcomes for Ukraine

A particularly important outcome for Ukraine was the election of Diana Harlytska as Councillor of the International Union for Conservation of Nature for Eastern Europe, North and Central Asia. This creates new opportunities to represent the interests of Ukraine and the wider region at the international level.

For the first time, the environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine were addressed at the Congress. This marked an important step towards international recognition of the large-scale damage inflicted on Ukraine’s natural environment. With the support of the Nature Fund of Ukraine, our colleagues from civil society organisations initiated and successfully secured the adoption of Resolution Motion 065, which provides for the establishment of mechanisms for engagement with IUCN members affected by armed conflicts. This decision opens the way for the development of new international instruments to protect the environment during wartime.

Together with our colleagues from the Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group, we nominated the team of Tuzlovski Lymany National Nature Park for the IUCN WCPA International Ranger Award ahead of the Congress. During the event, the Park’s Director, Iryna Vykhrystiuk, received the award on behalf of the Park’s team, in recognition of their courage and dedication to nature conservation and their effective protection of Black Sea ecosystems. We also warmly congratulate our friend, co-founder and Board member on receiving the highest international award in the field of nature conservation — the Fred M. Packard Award — presented to Michael Brombacher, Director of the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) in Ukraine.

Our initiatives

During the Congress, we signed an agreement with the international organisation Wildlife Conservation Solutions (USA) to supply camera traps to Ukrainian national parks and nature reserves. The Nature Fund of Ukraine supports the introduction of modern technologies in the work of protected areas and plans to contribute to the development of remote biodiversity monitoring.

Another important step was the initiation of discussions on the pilot implementation of the IUCN Green List Standard in Ukraine. This standard will make it possible to assess the quality of management of protected areas against internationally recognised criteria.

Together with our colleagues from the Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group, we organised and hosted the sessions “The Role of Youth Engagement and Intergenerational Dialogue in Nature Conservation in Conflict and Post-Conflict Settings” and “Scaling Up Conservation in Conflict-Aware Contexts for Nature, People and Peace: Understanding the Challenges”. These sessions addressed complex issues related to conservation during armed conflicts, the role of youth in conservation efforts during and after war, environmental protection tools, and pathways for cooperation.

Next steps

Securing Ukraine’s membership in IUCN at the state level remains a key priority, as it would open new opportunities to advance Ukraine’s environmental agenda internationally. The Nature Fund of Ukraine will also actively contribute to the development of mechanisms for cooperation among IUCN members affected by armed conflicts. In the coming years, we will continue working on the implementation of the IUCN Green List Standard and on strengthening the presence of Ukrainian conservation organisations within IUCN’s international commissions.

The Nature Fund of Ukraine extends its sincere gratitude to all colleagues who participated in the Congress and contributed to the preparation and representation of Ukraine at this important international event. 

We will continue working for the conservation of nature in Ukraine and worldwide!