Glitz, Glamour, and the IUCN Green List: Celebrating conservation success at COP16
The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), held in Cali, Colombia, from October 21 to November 1, 2024, marked a significant moment for global conservation. Under the theme “Peace with Nature,” COP16 reinforced commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), with a focus on Target 3—the ambitious “30x30 target” to protect 30% of the world’s terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems by 2030. To advance this vision, the IUCN Green List Awards highlighted countries that have achieved excellence in conservation through the IUCN Green List standard, a comprehensive global benchmark for protected and conserved area management that goes far beyond certification.
Lorenna Duarte de Oliveira of Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade and Paulo César Jesus Torres, President of ASSUREMAS (Associação dos Usuarios da Reserva Extrativista Marinha de Soure, receive their award.
The IUCN Green List
The IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas is the global standard for fairly governed, well managed and effective conservation sites worldwide. Beyond simply providing certification, the Green List serves as a diagnostic tool and gap analysis framework for protected and conserved areas, enabling them to identify weaknesses, streamline resources, and strengthen conservation planning with scientific rigor. As an evidence-based system, it helps protected and conserved areas improve or establish management plans, backed by guidance and metrics for governance, ecological integrity, adaptive management, and sustainable financing. The Green List contributes the objectives of Target 3 and the broader KM-GBF goals and is already recognized by the CBD as a voluntary tool to support achieving and reporting on effective area-based conservation.
Recognising Conservation Leaders
At COP16, six countries with 9 news sites and two countries with 2 relisted sites were celebrated. In South America, Brazil's Soure Marine Extraction Area on Marajó Island has made history as the country’s first site on the Green List. This area supports local fishing communities while promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, featuring some of the tallest mangrove forests in the world and a rich variety of wildlife, including mangrove crabs and manatees.
Moving to Colombia, three sites have been recognized for their exemplary conservation efforts. Los Katios National Park, a biodiversity hotspot, is home to numerous endemic species and over 450 bird species. The Guanentá Alto Río Foncé Fauna and Flora Sanctuary showcases stunning glacial landscapes and protects species like the spectacled bear, while Alto Fragua Indi Wasi National Park features cloud forests that shelter diverse wildlife, including jaguars.
The Matsés National Reserve has solidified its position as the fifth area in Peru to achieve Green List certification, a milestone that highlights its dedication to sustainable management and biodiversity conservation within the Amazon. This recognition not only reflects its ecological importance but also emphasizes the reserve's commitment to fostering social and economic development by integrating local community knowledge and active participation in its management practices.
In Zambia, Nsumbu National Park has joined the IUCN Green List, celebrated for its rich ecosystems and abundant wildlife along the southwest shore of Lake Tanganyika.
Shifting to the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has added two sites: in alphabetical order, the Ibex Protected Area, home to the wild Nubian ibex and various desert mammals, and the King Salman Royal Nature Reserve, which boasts over 300 species and a wealth of archaeological heritage.
In Asia, China has made notable additions to the Green List with four sites. Wuyishan National Park in Jiangxi province showcases well-preserved subtropical forests, while the Shandong Kunyushan Nature Reserve holds cultural significance in Taoist tradition. Nanshan National Park is recognized for its diverse wetlands and pastures, offering a sanctuary for city dwellers, and the Guizhou Mount Fanjing National Nature Reserve is noted for its ecological importance and unique species, such as the Guizhou golden monkey. Viet Nam adding Cat Tien National Park harbours endemic and endangered species such as the gaur, Siamese crocodile, and yellow-cheeked gibbon. Recent camera trap surveys revealed a high number of pangolins—one of the world’s most trafficked animals—in some parts of Cat Tien, illustrating the success of conservation efforts in recent years. It is home to 1,729 wildlife species and 1,615 documented plant species. Asia accounts for 50% of the globally approved Green List sites.
In France, the Maures Integral Biological Reserve has been added to the list, featuring a rich array of oak and chestnut trees, birds of prey, and unique reptiles. The Regional Natural Park of the Northern Vosges, straddling the French-German border, has also had its status renewed for its remarkable natural and cultural heritage.
Finally, in Mexico, the Biosphere Reserve Island San Pedro Mártir has been re-listed, noted for its biodiversity, which includes 292 species, 30 of which are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, as well as its importance as a stopover for migratory birds.
Green Lights at COP16
At COP16, the IUCN Green List took centre stage as a driver of conservation quality and effectiveness, with various sessions underscoring its alignment with global biodiversity goals. The "Green List Development Dialogue" showcased the framework’s value in promoting adaptive management, ecological connectivity, and equitable governance, demonstrating how Green List criteria support Target 3 and the broader KM-GBF vision. This session illustrated how the Green List not only elevates conservation standards but also creates actionable pathways for protected and conserved areas to reach their highest potential.
The Green List Awards Ceremony celebrated outstanding protected and conserved sites, highlighting the Green List as a benchmark for long-term success in governance, ecological integrity, and sustainable finance. By providing a transparent, standards-based approach, the Green List framework enables countries and conservation areas to monitor and enhance biodiversity preservation effectively.
In an innovative session titled "Advancing Conservation Effectiveness through the IUCN Green List Dashboard," IUCN introduced a groundbreaking digital tool for real-time monitoring of conservation metrics. This dashboard allows protected and conserved areas to track and analyse data, make evidence-based adjustments, and achieve greater transparency. This monitoring system directly supports the KM-GBF's objectives of transparency and informed decision-making, enabling adaptive management based on reliable, up-to-date insights.
Another session, "Scaling Impact through Partnerships," explored how collaborative projects under the Green List can drive broader conservation efforts. By engaging governments, NGOs, Indigenous communities, and private-sector partners, the Green List is expanding its reach, encouraging a collective approach to biodiversity protection. Together, these COP16 events highlighted the Green List as a catalyst for achieving the 30x30 target, supporting global conservation with standards that prioritise resilience, quality, and community engagement.
Dr. Frank Griffin, Executive Director of the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat, expressed his excitement at the potential for Green Listing in the Coral Triangle:
“On behalf of the Coral Triangle Initiative Regional Secretariat and the six-member countries we represent - Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste - it is an honour to express our interest and commitment to the IUCN Green List Programme. The Coral Triangle region has long prioritised marine conservation, and the Green List provides a powerful framework to enhance our marine protected and conserved areas, ensuring they are equitably and effectively managed and resilient against challenges. This aligns with the global ambition of the 30x30. Thank you to IUCN and all our partners for your invaluable collaboration. We look forward to continuing this journey together.”
Beyond Certification
The Green List framework supports resilient and inclusive conservation by emphasizing standards such as sustainable financing, inclusive governance, ecological connectivity, and adaptive management. These elements are essential for effective conservation outcomes, and the Green List actively promotes the engagement of local communities and Indigenous peoples to ensure equitable benefits. By prioritizing ecological connectivity, the Green List supports habitat corridors and biodiversity resilience, safeguarding ecosystems essential to wildlife.
In addition to certification, the Green List’s diagnostic approach provides a valuable tool for assessing management needs and operationalizing site-specific plans. Through structured gap analysis, conservation areas can identify areas for improvement, streamline resources, and enhance resilience in governance and ecosystem management. This evidence-based approach empowers conservation practitioners to establish or refine management plans with greater assurance and scientific backing, ensuring that conservation actions are robust and impactful.
The Future of the Green List
Through the IUCN Green List at COP16, certified and well-managed protected and conserved areas are showcased as vital to achieving global biodiversity targets. As the Green List expands, it will continue to drive meaningful progress toward a sustainable, resilient, and equitable future for conservation worldwide, offering a model for others to follow on the journey toward sustainable, equitable, effective and inclusive conservation. In addition to nearly 100 listed sites, the future looks green - more than 80 candidate sites, and over 200 applicants have embarked on their journeys to certification.
As more countries embrace Green List standards, the framework is becoming a powerful vehicle for advancing conservation quality and meeting the 30x30 target. The Green List’s science-based, adaptive approach enables protected and conserved areas to navigate challenges, optimize resource use, and foster resilience in governance, transparency, and ecological integrity. By supporting a network of sites that exemplify excellence in biodiversity conservation, the Green List aligns with the KM-GBF’s vision of a nature-positive future.
Photo: A participant at the Green List Awards displays her certificates.
