11th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation (PCNC11)

The 11th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation marks an important milestone as conservation leaders and practitioners gather once again in the Pacific. Delegates will adopt the new Pacific Regional Framework for Nature Conservation 2026–2030, State of Environment and Conservation 2025 and endorse a new Declaration, reinforcing the region’s commitment to achieving the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and securing a resilient future for Pacific people and nature.

Official website |  11th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation (PCNC11)

^{Vibrant turquoise waters and lush rock formations in Nouméa, New Caledonia © Rodny Martial/Pexels}

IUCN at the 11th Pacific Nature Conference

IUCN is organising, co-organising and contributing to a series of exchanges, side events and technical sessions around the 11th Pacific Nature Conference (PCNC11), showcasing locally led conservation, practical conservation tools, regional learning and approaches for accelerating biodiversity action across the Pacific.

BESTLIFE2030 & Kiwa Practitioners Exchange
6 September | Pre-Conference Event 

Bringing together current and former beneficiaries of BESTLIFE2030 and the Kiwa Initiative, this dedicated exchange will enable practitioners to share experiences and lessons from implementation across the Pacific, strengthen long-term impact and identify recommendations for future conservation funding programmes.

BESTLIFE2030: Supporting Local Action for Pacific Biodiversity
7 September | EU-Sponsored Side Event | 12.00 - 1.30PM

This event will showcase newly selected Pacific BESTLIFE2030 projects and put beneficiaries and their conservation stories at the centre. The session will also present the BESTLIFE2030 Portfolio Insights Report, highlighting broader learning from the portfolio and the role of EU support in strengthening locally led biodiversity conservation across the Pacific.

Indigenous Voices in Conservation: What Can Modern Conservation Learn from Generations of Pacific Stewardship?
7 September | Main Plenary | 2.00 - 3.30pm

This session will explore what modern conservation can learn from generations of Pacific stewardship, bringing together traditional leadership, Indigenous knowledge, policy, science and conservation practice. Framed around Remember, Recognise, Reset and Reimagine, the conversation will examine how Indigenous knowledge, customary governance and contemporary conservation can work together to strengthen relationships between people, culture and nature and shape a distinctly Pacific approach to conservation for future generations.

People at the Centre: Social and Cultural dimensions of Conservation and Area-based Management in the Pacific
8 September | Thematic Session | 2.00 - 3.30pm

Conservation in the Pacific only succeeds when communities, indigenous knowledge, and cultural values lead the way. This session brings together local practitioners, community leaders, government representatives, and regional partners for an open talanoa. We aim to move past top-down models by exploring how indigenous knowledge, customary rights, and local livelihoods can be meaningfully integrated into regional and global conservation strategies.

Tools and Support Mechanisms for Achieving the 30x30 Target
9 September | Technical Session | 10.30 - 11.30am

This session will explore practical tools and support mechanisms for achieving the 30x30 target in the Pacific. IUCN will contribute its experience and perspectives on tools and approaches that can support effective, equitable and locally appropriate area-based conservation.

From Knowledge to Stewardship
9 September | IUCN Side Event | 12.00 - 1.30pm

Organised by IUCN, this session will bring together different strands of IUCN's work across the Pacific to explore how traditional knowledge, science, conservation tools and community experience can translate into practical stewardship and connected approaches across Pacific island systems.

Scaling Locally-Led Conservation in the Pacific
9 September | Cross-Cutting Technical Session | 2.00 - 3.30pm

This session will explore why small grants matter in the Pacific, what makes locally led conservation successful, lessons from grant design and implementation, and what needs to change to strengthen future support. Discussions will generate practical recommendations for governments, donors and implementing agencies and contribute to the Pacific Regional Framework for Nature Conservation 2026–2030 and wider PCNC11 outcomes.