From forests to coral reefs: conservation excellence takes centre stage at the Green List Awards

Hosted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Ceremony honoured 26 new Listings over the last year on the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas, raising the total to 104 Listings, now covering 230 individual sites worldwide. These sites exemplify verified conservation success—combining equitable governance, strong community engagement, ecological integrity, and effective management.

“In just over a decade, the IUCN Green List has grown into a global benchmark for conservation excellence,” said Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General. “With over 100 listed sites, it is inspiring communities around the world to raise the bar for nature and for people.”

Backed by IUCN’s globally recognised assurance mechanism, the Green List sites are rigorously assessed, peer-reviewed, and internationally benchmarked examples of effective and equitable conservation. The IUCN Green List Standard provides the foundation for quality and credibility, giving national and international stakeholders the confidence to invest in protected and conserved areas that deliver for both nature and people.

“The Green List is the global standard to guide the way of effective and equitable protected and conserved areas, inspiring action that delivers real benefits for both people and the planet,” said Thierry Lefebvre, Green List Programme Manager at IUCN.

Global celebration, local champions

This year’s awarded sites span 12 countries across Africa, Asia, the Americas, France and a West Asia, including marine sanctuaries, national parks, private reserves, and World Heritage sites. From the lush forests of Côte d'Ivoire to Vietnam’s coastal wonders, the sites stand as proof that impactful conservation is happening at scale.

The awarded sites:

• Côte d’Ivoire: Comoé National Park and Taï National Park Complex - N’zo Fauna Partial Reserve 
• Chile: Cerro Castillo National Park
• Colombia: Galeras Flora and Fauna Sanctuary and Gorgona National Natural Park
• USA: California Marine Protected Area Network
• China: Bogda Component of Xinjiang Tianshan World Natural Heritage site, Huanglong World Natural Heritage Site, Hubei Dalaoling National Nature Reserve, Hubei Mulinzi Nationnal Nature Reserve, Hubei Wufeng Houhe National Nature Reserve, Hunan Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander National Nature Reserve, Jiangsu Yancheng Wetland Rare Birds National Nature Reserve, Shaanxi Zhouzhi National Nature Reserve
• France: Champ du Feu Managed Biological Reserve, Hochfeld Managed Biological Reserve, Natural Marine Park of Iroise
• Malaysia: Pin Supu Forest Reserve
• Jordan: Aqaba Marine Reserve
• Lebanon: Al Shouf Cedars Nature Reserve
• Saudi Arabia: Ibex Reserve, King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, King Salman Royal Nature Reserve, Sharaan National Park and Uruq Bani Ma‘arid protected area
• UAE: Sir Bu Nair Island Protected Area
• Vietnam: Con Dao National Park

Conservation with credibility: assurance that delivers

What sets the IUCN Green List apart is its independent assurance process. Every site is assessed against the IUCN Green List Standard, which is built on four components: good governance, sound design and planning, effective management, and successful conservation outcomes. This process is led by over 300 local and international experts and verified by independent reviewers, ensuring that results are trustworthy, and progress is measurable.

Driving global commitments and regional momentum

The IUCN Green List is more than a recognition, it is a standard for national commitments, global policy targets, and nature-positive transformation. As the world moves to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Green List offers a practical way to track Target 3 (30x30) while ensuring quality, equity, and sustainability.

Momentum is rising:

Over 300 sites globally are now on the path to the IUCN Green List certification.

• New national commitments have emerged from Central Asia, the Coral Triangle region, Eastern Europe and Central and Latin America, setting the stage for broader regional collaboration.
• Governments and partners are embracing the IUCN Green List not only to assess progress but to drive investment and accountability in protected and conserved areas.

Looking ahead

This year’s ceremony also marks the growing integration of the IUCN Green List into climate adaptation, Indigenous-led conservation, and sustainable finance agendas. As the world prepares for major milestones in 2026 and beyond, the IUCN Green List is positioned as a powerful lever to unite action across sectors and borders.

In Abu Dhabi, celebration was mixed with resolve: a determination to grow the movement, support more sites, and ensure that protected and conserved areas are more than lines on a map, they are living, thriving landscapes of hope.

The France-IUCN Partnership has been a key driver in supporting and expanding the IUCN Green List programme. With financial backing from France, particularly through the French Development Agency (AFD), the Ministry of Ecological Transition, and the Ministry of Overseas, this partnership has significantly strengthened the technical and institutional capacities of partner countries. This has facilitated the integration of the Green List as a powerful governance and conservation tool. Notably, the Partnership has played a pivotal role in expanding the Green List to include marine protected areas, contributing to the global target of protecting 30% of the planet’s surface by 2030. This expansion represents a major advancement in marine conservation, supported by a science-based approach and robust international cooperation.