This bi-annual report highlights the 2020 and 2021 achievements of IUCN in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. We are grateful to our Members, partners, and donors for making these results possible!

The outburst of a global pandemic beginning of 2020 has affected our lives on all levels, as a stark reminder of the fragility of our societies and the persistent environmental crisis. We had to adapt our operations and project activities to this new reality, and once again, we thank our donors and partners for their understanding and continuous support.

We are proud to say that our membership network in Eastern Europe and Central Asia continues to grow at pace. We welcome Uzbekistan as a State Member joining in 2021, along with eight new non-governmental organisations. Read about IUCN Members in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Some of our main achievements when it comes to programme implementation include:

• The publication of the IUCN Thematic Report on World Heritage in Central Asia;
• Successful civil society and community-led conservation activities that were supported through the Living Buna and SOS Central Asia grant mechanisms;
• A significant contribution to the achievement of the Aichi Target 11 as a result of the World Database of Protected Areas updates facilitated through the Global Partnership;
• Development of the biodiversity pillar of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans with the Biodiversity Task Force of South East Europe;
• The baseline assessments for the pilot NbS projects in Serbia and Albania developed through the ADAPT (Nature-based Solutions in the Western Balkans); and
• The application of IUCN protected area standards supported the designation of Shar Mountain National Park in North Macedonia, the development of the valorisation study for Lake Ohrid, and the protection study for the Vjosa River Valley in Albania.

For more information read the full report, or visit the IUCN Open Project Portal.

Photo: IUCN

For more insights related to the strategic orientation of IUCN in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, a recap of the IUCN Congress, the programme and the team implementing it, financial and communications summary, kindly browse through the IUCN ECRO bi-annual report 2020-2021. Let us continue strengthening regional cooperation, and raising the bar on sustainability with nature at the heart of all our considerations.