Ukraine’s participation in the IUCN-2025 World Congress was a turning point: for the first time, war was recognized as a threat to biodiversity at the global level, and Ukrainian NGOs cemented their status as influential players in international environmental policy.
In October 2025, Ukrainian environmental organizations participated in the work of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for the first time. The World Conservation Congress, held in Abu Dhabi, tested the global community’s readiness to recognize war as a factor in the destruction of ecosystems and biodiversity.
The 2025 IUCN Congress brought together about 10,000 offline participants and offered a full remote format. It is a key global platform for scientists, governments, NGOs, and businesses, where the priorities of global environmental policy are formed.
Ukraine was represented by two IUCN member organizations: the Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group and Ecology-Law-People. The Nature Fund of Ukraine, the Tuzlovski Limany National Nature Park, and FZS Ukraine also participated in the work. Despite the absence of state membership, the Ukrainian delegation achieved tangible results.
Ukrainian NGOs initiated and promoted an IUCN resolution on the creation of mechanisms for interaction with union members involved in armed conflicts. The document provides for special conditions of participation for aggressor countries and takes into account the impact of wars on nature conservation. The resolution was adopted by electronic vote and will serve as a guideline for the IUCN’s work in the coming years.
In addition, the Ukrainian side blocked attempts to use the congress to soften sanctions against Russia, received international awards for nature parks, and paved the way for the creation of the IUCN Green List in Ukraine. This confirmed Ukraine’s transition to the status of a significant global player in the field of nature conservation.
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