IUCN Regional Conservation Forum opens in Ottawa, Canada

The IUCN North American Regional Office and the Canadian Committee for IUCN (CCIUCN) is hosting the two-day event, which addresses key actions for achieving a nature positive future for Canada and the world. It aims to evaluate conservation progress, revisit priority goals, and propose strategic directions for Canada’s key stakeholders.

Addressing participants at the opening, IUCN President Razan Al Mubarak, said: "As we gather for the Regional Conservation Forum, we stand at a pivotal moment in our journey toward a nature-positive future. This forum, along with the eight other regional forums taking place globally, is not only an opportunity to reflect on our achievements but also to contribute to a unified, bold, long-term vision that will guide our collective efforts over the next two decades. These discussions will help shape the direction of IUCN as we prepare for the World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi in October 2025, where we will come together to solidify our commitment to a future where nature and humanity thrive in harmony."  

“There is much we can learn from Canada’s approach to safeguarding the precious biodiversity within and outside its borders, in particular, its whole-of-society approach which is evident in its national climate and biodiversity plans. This approach, which integrates voices from diverse stakeholders – many of whom are IUCN Members – is at the heart of IUCN’s work as a multi-stakeholder Union. And this Regional Conservation Forum serves as a platform to facilitate these critical conversations and  bring together key players whose voices will help shape IUCN and the future of conservation so we can all work together to bring about a just world that values and conserves nature,” said IUCN Director General Dr Grethel Aguilar.

“The Regional Conservation Forum in Canada assembles the country’s preeminent conservation professionals and stakeholders to explore collective goals for nature conservation. It is an opportunity to align actions with Canada’s National Biodiversity Strategy and reaffirm the commitment to empowering Indigenous Peoples with stewardship of their lands, with the ultimate aim of ensuring the future of Canada’s protected areas. IUCN is proud to co-host this event with CCIUCN and to bring together Canada’s conservation community,” said Dr Tracy Farrell, IUCN North America Regional Director.

The Canada RCF is one of nine regional RCFs held throughout this year, taking part across the globe and engaging thousands of IUCN members.

In Canada, more than 100 representatives, IUCN Members, CCIUCN Members, IUCN Commission Members, and partners will gather over the two days of the event, with additional participants joining virtually. The forum will have interactive workshops on Nature-based Education, Habitat Protection Legislation, Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation, and IUCN’s Contributions for Nature Platform, among other topics.

Participants will hear updates on conservation actions pursued by IUCN and CCIUCN Members, will engage and partner with key experts from governments, NGOs, Indigenous Peoples organizations and scientific and academic institutions; and discover and learn from Member initiatives in alignment with global commitments including the Sustainable Development Goals, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

The participants represent 16 of Canada's 27 IUCN Member Organizations and Agencies. Some 20% of attendees are youth participants.

The forum will support the development of new partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders from across the country and advance the formation of conservation actions and policies aligned with Canadian priorities. Participants will contribute to the decision-making process for the IUCN Programme, paving the way to influence the global agenda-setting at the IUCN World Conservation Congress scheduled for October 2025 in Abu Dhabi.

IUCN gratefully acknowledges sponsors including the Canadian Wildlife Federation, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Ducks Unlimited Canada, and the Canadian Government including the Chief Finance Office, Parks Canada, and Environment and Climate Change Canada.