Washington, DC, 20 August 2024 (IUCN) – On August 20-21, 2024, the North American Regional Office of IUCN is hosting the Regional Conservation Forum for the United States, under the theme Acting Together to Drive Conservation Impact.
Held every four years, the IUCN Regional Conservation Forum (RCF) in the United States serves as the leading platform for knowledge and partnerships in the region, bringing together key stakeholders from conservation organisations, Indigenous Peoples’ Organisations, and government agencies focused on nature and biodiversity conservation. This year, the IUCN North America Regional Office and the United States National Committee of IUCN will convene the 8th RCF to address key transformative directions and actions for achieving a nature-positive future for the United States and the world.
“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 fora 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,” said IUCN President Razan Al Mubarak, addressing RCF participants.
“We meet now at a significant moment in history, with only a small window of time to reverse rapid declines in biodiversity. This Regional Conservation Forum is an opportunity for our IUCN Members in the United States to lend their powerful voice to shape the Union’s response to this crisis and the global conservation agenda. IUCN is proud to work alongside such wonderful partners, and we are excited to show the world what we can do when we work together,” said IUCN Director General Dr Grethel Aguilar.
“This is a critical time for the United States and the world to come together to make progress on the most ambitious conservation agenda in generations. The IUCN Regional Conservation Forum in the United States is a vital and transformative opportunity for IUCN Members, leaders, and staff to connect, strategise, and shape the priorities of the Union for the next five years. The Forum will be as practical as it is inspirational, with opportunities to engage with IUCN senior experts on conservation tools, policy, and scientific expertise of the Union,” said Dr Tracy Farrell, IUCN North America Regional Director.
Almost 150 Representatives of Union Members, Commissions, and partners will gather at Conservation International offices in Arlington, Virginia for this event, with some participating virtually.
“In a world that is more divided today – on politics, ethnicity, religion, racial distinctions, economic distinctions, really on everything – we’re finding this unbelievable commonality in nature. Countries and leaders across the globe are seeing the importance and value of nature. It is an extraordinary thing,” said Dr M. Sanjayan, CEO of Conservation International, as he delivered the welcoming remarks.
Co-organised with the IUCN US National Committee, the RCF aims to evaluate conservation progress, revisit priority goals, and propose strategic directions for the region’s key stakeholders to best address challenges concerning the environment and biodiversity. Participants will be seeking input into the four-year Program of Work and, for the first time, will be developing a 20-year vision for IUCN, while also planning for 2030 in sync with the Global Biodiversity Framework.
The IUCN US National Committee Annual Meeting will immediately follow the RCF on August 22, 2024, also generously hosted by Conservation International. The meeting, titled Honoring Our History, Forging Our Future: Members at the Heart of IUCN, brings together the volunteer Members of the US National Committee representing Members from key organisations and disciplines across the country.
“We are convening this year with the theme: ‘Members at the Heart of IUCN – Members are the Heart of IUCN’ because our critical conservation work could not be accomplished without the support of volunteers with our 140 organisations who share a vision of a just world that values and conserves nature cultures and who assist societies throughout the world to ensure the integrity and diversity of nature and the equitable and sustainable use of natural resources.” said Christopher Dunn, Chair, US National Committee and Executive Director of Cornell Botanic Gardens.
The US National Committee Annual Meeting will focus on strengthening our collaboration as Members in the US and with the larger universe of IUCN.
