IUCN Green List in Brazil: lessons to strengthen equitable governance in protected areas
Brazil has been advancing the implementation of the IUCN Green List, showcasing concrete experiences of equitable governance and social participation in protected areas. These themes were at the core of the side event “Communities and Protected Areas: Equity and Governance in the IUCN Green List”, held on May 21, 2026, as part of the XII Brazilian Seminar on Protected Areas and Social Inclusion (SAPIS) and the VII Latin American Meeting on Protected Areas and Social Inclusion (ELAPIS), at the University of Brasília.
The IUCN Green List has become a strategic tool to support protected and conserved areas in improving management, strengthening governance, and demonstrating measurable outcomes for biodiversity and human well-being. Beyond recognition, the Programme provides a practical framework to enhance decision-making, promote continuous improvement, and reinforce credibility, including for attracting conservation investments.
In Brazil, implementation began in late 2020 with the establishment of the Green List Expert Assessment Group (EAGL-BR) and the adaptation of indicators to the national context. Since then, the country has achieved important milestones, positioning itself as an emerging reference in Latin America. The Soure Marine Extractive Reserve became the first certified site in 2024, followed by the Rio Iratapuru Sustainable Development Reserve in 2025. Other areas are currently under candidacy, including Iguaçu National Park and the Cristalino Private Natural Heritage Reserve.
The event provided a valuable space for exchange among community representatives, site managers, EAGL-BR experts, the regional coordination of the Green List in South America, and IUCN representatives in Brazil. Discussions connected local experiences with the global standard, highlighting how the Green List supports shared governance arrangements and recognizes practices already in place on the ground.
Discussions highlighted practices aligned with the Green List indicators, including equitable governance, active engagement of women and youth, and strong community leadership in site management. Key aspects such as fair benefit-sharing from sustainable practices, the role of strategic partnerships, and the importance of mobilizing resources for long-term sustainability were also emphasized.
Community representatives and managers underscored the central role of communities throughout the process, recognizing their knowledge and contributions to conservation. In all cases, the process involved active participation from councils, associations, youth and women’s groups, strengthening ownership and co-responsibility.
As noted by Lucas Gadelha, environmental analyst at ICMBio in Soure, the Green List process recognizes practices that emerge from long-standing shared governance with communities.
Key benefits highlighted include increased visibility, stronger partnerships, expanded funding opportunities, greater social engagement, and improved territorial management. The Improvement Plan was identified as a particularly valuable tool to guide priorities and drive continuous progress.
As emphasized during the event, the Green List does not seek to recognize “perfect areas”, but rather areas committed to conservation, equity, and continuous improvement. The Brazilian experience demonstrates the Programme’s potential as a platform to scale good practices, strengthen local leadership, and accelerate progress towards global biodiversity goals, including the 30x30 target.
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