From Mangroves to the Pantanal: the importance of wetlands for migratory species and the role of cooperation in conservation
The CMS COP15 will bring together global stakeholders to advance the conservation of migratory species and their habitats. As part of the official programme, IUCN South America will participate in a technical panel at the Brazil Pavilion, highlighting the critical role of wetlands in sustaining migratory species across the region.
The side event, titled “From Mangroves to the Pantanal: the importance of wetlands for migratory species and the role of cooperation in conservation”, will take place on 24 March at 09:30 (Blue Zone, Brazil Pavilion).
Wetlands, from the Amazon coastal mangroves to the floodplains of the Pantanal, are essential ecosystems for migratory species, providing feeding, breeding and resting areas along international routes. However, these ecosystems are among the most threatened globally, facing pressures such as land-use change, hydrological disruption, fires and climate change.
This technical panel will explore the ecological importance and current vulnerabilities of wetlands, while presenting concrete conservation experiences across different Brazilian biomes. It will also foster dialogue among institutions working at local, national and international levels, with a focus on strengthening cooperation, governance and policy alignment for the conservation of migratory species.
The session will be moderated by Gabriel Quijandría, Regional Director of IUCN South America, and will feature contributions from representatives of:
- Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio)
- ECOA – Ecologia e Ação
- SAVE Brasil
Together, the panel will address key challenges and opportunities for maintaining ecological connectivity, strengthening protected areas, and integrating scientific and traditional knowledge in conservation strategies.
The discussion will also highlight ongoing initiatives led by IUCN and partners, including efforts to strengthen environmental monitoring and community engagement in coastal mangrove ecosystems.
By promoting exchange across sectors and scales, the event aims to reinforce the importance of wetlands within the CMS agenda and identify pathways for enhanced technical cooperation, institutional support and joint action for migratory species conservation.