IUCN's Highest Governing Body Convenes for the First Time in Latin America, in Guatemala
The 112th IUCN Council Meeting takes place in the historic colonial city of La Antigua Guatemala, from 28 to 30 January 2025.

Guatemala City, Guatemala, January 28, 2025 (IUCN) – The colonial city of Antigua Guatemala, recognised as one of the finest examples of 16th-century urban planning in the Americas, is hosting the 112th meeting of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Council.
Recognised as the global authority on the state of the natural world and the measures required to safeguard it, IUCN is the largest and most diverse environmental network in the world, with a presence in more than 160 countries.
IUCN is composed of three pillars: the Secretariat, Membership, and Commissions. Its Membership includes States, governmental agencies, subnational governments, non-governmental organisations, and Indigenous peoples' organisations. Over 17,000 scientists experts form IUCN's seven Commissions, and its Secretariat counts nearly 1,000 staff members worldwide.
As its principal governing body, the IUCN Council is responsible for setting the Union's strategic direction, providing policy guidance, overseeing its performance, and fulfilling fiduciary and accountability obligations to its Members.
“As residents of Antigua and Guatemalans, we are proud that our city, a World Heritage site, has been chosen to host the IUCN Council. This event will transform our city into the hub for key strategic decision-making on global issues critical to human development, such as biodiversity, protected areas, the environment, and environmental policies,” stated Juan Manuel Asturias, Mayor of Antigua Guatemala.
“As a municipality, we share IUCN's objectives. We firmly believe that what is good for nature is good for people. For this reason, we have set clear and strong goals for the preservation of our valuable natural and cultural heritage, enthusiastically joining this noble global cause,” he added.
Since 2021, the IUCN Council has been chaired by Her Excellency Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, the second woman to preside the organisation in its 75-year history, the first female IUCN President from Asia, and the first IUCN President from the Arab world since 1978.
"I am honored to preside over the IUCN Council as it convenes for the first time in Latin America, a region that is a cornerstone of global biodiversity and a hub of environmental leadership. With diverse and active IUCN Members in Guatemala, including Indigenous Peoples organizations, this country exemplifies the power of united voices in conservation. Antigua Guatemala, with its rich cultural and natural heritage, provides a fitting backdrop for strategic discussions that will shape our collective efforts to safeguard nature and support sustainable development. Together, we reaffirm that local action is integral to achieving global environmental solutions", stated Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, IUCN President.
The IUCN Council is composed of elected councillors from Africa, Meso and South America, North America and the Caribbean, South and East Asia, West Asia, Oceania, Eastern Europe, Central and Northern Asia, and Western Europe, as well as the Chairs of IUCN's seven expert Commissions and IUCN Director General, Dr Grethel Aguilar, who is from Costa Rica and leads the IUCN Secretariat.
“The choice of Antigua Guatemala as the location for the 112th IUCN Council Meeting highlights not only the cultural and historical richness of this city but also its strong commitment to sustainability and its capacity to tackle future environmental challenges. Cities, as spaces where diversity and human creativity converge, play a fundamental role in nature protection and in the fight against climate change, generating innovative solutions. Initiatives such as those reflected in Antigua's Municipal Climate Action Plan demonstrate how local governments can lead sustainability efforts, significantly contributing to global commitments like the Global Biodiversity Framework and the Paris Agreement,” remarked Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General.
Two Guatemalans are part of the IUCN Council: Marco Vinicio Cerezo, Councillor for the Mesoamerican region, and Ramiro Batzín, an additional appointed Councillor for Indigenous Peoples and Vice President of IUCN.
The Council is elected by the Union's General Assembly of Members during the IUCN World Conservation Congress, held every four years. The current IUCN Council will serve until the next IUCN World Conservation Congress, to take place 9–15 October 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.