Galicia brings together the IUCN and its Members to discuss the future of conservation

The Centre for University Extension and Environmental Outreach of Galicia (CEIDA), an IUCN Member, hosted a working meeting of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) that brought together institutional representatives, Union members, and experts to reflect on the future of nature conservation and the role of cooperation networks.

The meeting, organised by CEIDA, took place at the emblematic Santa Cruz Castle, home to CEIDA and the Mariñas Coruñesas e Terras do Mandeo Biosphere Reserve, and was attended by officials from the Government of Spain, the Xunta de Galicia, and the Oleiros Town Council, as well as IUCN member organizations in Spain.

During the opening ceremony, IUCN Director General, Grethel Aguilar, highlighted two key ideas. On one hand, she stressed the importance of strengthening environmental multilateralism in a complex international context. On the other, she underscored the role of subnational governments and civil society organizations in implementing conservation policies, noting that the IUCN's unique structure allows it to bring together states, public administrations, NGOs, and scientific experts within a single network to work toward shared solutions.

Also speaking at the opening session was the Director General of Biodiversity, Forests and Desertification at Spain's Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), María Jesús Rodríguez de Sancho, who highlighted the close collaborative relationship between Spain and the IUCN. She underscored the Union's influence on key international and national environmental policy processes, from scientific tools such as the Red List to the development of approaches like nature-based solutions, which now guide public policies and conservation strategies. She also noted the importance of continuing to strengthen cooperation with the IUCN to advance the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework and marine conservation and restoration initiatives.

The Director of CEIDA, Carlos Vales, moderated the opening session and recalled the importance of coordinating the IUCN’s lines of work and priorities for the coming years among the Secretariat, the Membership, and the experts from IUCN’s Commissions.

Likewise, the Director of the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN Med), Maher Mahjoub, highlighted the close working relationship with the Spanish Committee of the IUCN and its members, including the Xunta de Galicia, describing it as a constant and strategic collaboration to advance conservation solutions both in Spain and across the wider Mediterranean region.

The Value of networks and cooperation

One of the central moments of the meeting was the dialogue with IUCN member entities in Galicia, who shared experiences on conservation, participatory governance, and environmental education.

The Lonxanet Foundation highlighted the role of artisanal fishing as a model of sustainable, territory-based management, drawing on experiences of co-management of marine resources that integrate scientific knowledge and local expertise. The Mariñas Coruñesas Biosphere Reserve emphasized the value of the IUCN as a space for generating new ideas and connecting conservation with the economic and social life of the territory. As a Reference Centre for Environmental Education, CEIDA highlighted the importance of environmental education as a management tool for the conservation of natural and cultural heritage

Organizations such as Ecoloxistas Galicia Atlántica and the Corripa Association highlighted the importance of human capital, applied research, including work on pollinators, and the involvement of the primary productive sector in developing real, on-the-ground solutions.

The Spanish Committee and the strength of the Union

The meeting also provided an opportunity to review the work of the Spanish Committee of the IUCN over the past two decades, with the participation of the Committee's three most recent Presidents. The need to strengthen collaboration among members, commissions, and the secretariat to drive joint initiatives was also raised.

During the session dedicated to the IUCN Council and Commissions, the Union's Councillor for Western Europe, Sonia Castañeda, highlighted the value of the organization's expert network and the fundamental role of its scientific commissions in providing independent knowledge to guide conservation decision-making.

The day concluded with a shared message about the importance of continuing to strengthen collaboration among institutions, the scientific community, and civil society. At the closing ceremony, the Rector of the University of A Coruña, Ricardo Cao, highlighted the opportunity to explore new avenues of collaboration between the university, public institutions, and the IUCN network, joining efforts to address current environmental challenges.

Institutional Meeting with the Xunta de Galicia

As part of the visit, the IUCN Director General also held an institutional meeting with the Galician Regional Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Ángeles Vázquez Mejuto. The meeting served to strengthen the relationship between the Xunta, a subnational IUCN member since 2016, and the Union, as well as to explore opportunities for cooperation in areas such as biodiversity conservation, environmental education, and international cooperation.

The Galicia meeting underscored the value of the IUCN network as a space for dialogue between administrations, scientific organizations, and civil society, a key alliance for advancing sustainable solutions in the face of growing environmental challenges.