Story 23 Sep, 2024

Uniting for Nature: Key Insights from the IUCN Oceania Regional Conservation Forum

As the IUCN Oceania Regional Conservation Forum comes to an end, we reflect on the opening remarks by IUCN President Razan Al Mubarak on the alignment of IUCN strategies with global targets.

“As we align our strategies with global environmental targets for 2030 and 2050, our focus on inclusivity and innovation will guide us. We're not just planning for the immediate future. We are setting the course for a bold, impactful 20-year strategic vision that embraces all nations within a diverse and dynamic union,” President Razan Al Mubarak said.

The Oceania Regional Conservation Forum is one of the most important regional conservation events in the region. Co-hosted by the Government of Fiji, this gathering of IUCN Members and partners brought together States, government agencies, NGOs, scientific and academic institutions, development agencies and the private sector.

The enriched plenary discussions covered a range of issues, including climate change adaptation through Nature-based Solutions, biodiversity conservation, the impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems and sustainable financing. Other common themes included the focus on culture, language and traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples, and local communities in conservation, the 30x30 goal of protecting 30% of global areas by 2030, gender-responsive approaches and the inclusion of children and youth in conservation through intergenerational dialogues.

The Oceania Regional Conservation Forum has allowed all our Oceania Members, Commission members and conservation partners to reflect on these common themes, which will help shape the direction of IUCN’s programme of work 2025-2029/30.

This process has initiated the strengthening of meaningful conversations that will help mould the work of the Union for years to come, beginning with Oceania’s journey to the 2025 World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi.