BELGIAN IUCN FOCAL POINT
The Belgian Biodiversity Platform is the Belgian IUCN National Focal Point. We work on strengthening conservation-related actions in Belgium and we promote success stories of Belgian IUCN members. We are active in engaging Belgian experts in IUCN Commissions. We also provide the opportunity for IUCN members in Belgium and actors in the field of nature conservation to meet and discuss conservation issues, exchange best practices and information, and influence national policies related to the conservation of nature.
IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025
Held once every four years, the IUCN World Conservation Congress is one of the major conservation events gathering nature conservation experts, leaders, and decision-makers from across the globe to shape the future of nature conservation.
The event is fully hybrid (which means virtual participation possible) and IUCN members benefit from a discount.
Taking place from 9 to 15 October 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, this year’s Congress is organised around three components:
⇢ the Forum (9–12 October): a large knowledge marketplace with public debates, thematic sessions, art, and workshops. It addresses the economic, social, scientific and technical aspects of nature conservation issues, ranging from wildlife to oceans, protected areas to sustainable business, and climate change to human rights.
⇢ the Exhibition (9–13 October): where IUCN Members and Commissions, businesses, partners, and academia host pavilions, booths, and events to showcase their research, innovations, and work to the broadest Congress audience.
⇢ the Members’ Assembly (13–15 October): IUCN’s highest decision-making body, where Members vote on resolutions and urgent conservation issues.
Check out the full Congress programme for more information.
Why attend?
- Exchange knowledge and ideas with thousands of conservation professionals worldwide.
- Take part in shaping the global agenda for biodiversity.
- Be inspired by world-renowned speakers, including:
- Razan Al Mubarak, IUCN President
- Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General
- Jane Goodall, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute
- Bob Walton, Founder of the Bob Walton Foundation
… and many other global leaders in science, policy, and conservation.
Stay connected and up to date!
Engage with the IUCN Community worldwide via the ENGAGE Platform (for IUCN Member organisations only).
To know more about what's happening in our region:
- Join the IUCN Europe, North and Central Asia Hub on ENGAGE.
- Watch the webinar: Towards the IUCN Congress: a focus on the participation of IUCN regions “East Europe, North and Central Asia” and “West Europe”
More information?
BBPf Coordinator Divija Jata will attend the Congress as IUCN Belgian Focal Point.
For further details, including how to participate to the Congress, you can contact her by email.
Find more details about the Congress on the IUCN WCC 2025 website.
IUCN Regional Conservation Forum 2024 Europe, North and Central Asia
Once every four years, IUCN convenes its Regional Conservation Fora as a crucial platform for the IUCN Members, Commissions and the Secretariat to prepare for the upcoming IUCN World Conservation Congress. Bringing IUCN constituents from two Statutory Regions – West Europe, and East Europe, North and Central Asia, RCF 2024 was a major opportunity to present their work and sustainable development issues and conservation priorities from the global to regional perspectives, advance the next IUCN quadrennial programme and help inform and steer IUCN’s strategic direction in the regions.
Set to meet the highest standards in sustainability, and based on the principles of diversity and inclusion, RCF 2024 aimed to:
- Draw inspiration: To draw inspiration from the diversity of ideas, knowledge tools and practices offered by IUCN and its partners.
- Build networks: To provide an opportunity for IUCN Members, experts and partners from the two regions to reinforce existing and forge new partnerships.
- Identify areas of collaboration: To identify areas of mutual interest for collaborative actions across the two regions and present ideas for motions for the Congress.
- Formulate priorities: To discuss and formulate priorities of relevance for the region and ensure their consideration during deliberations on the draft IUCN programme.
Envisaged as an intersection between the two regions, the Regional Conservation Forum for Europe, North and Central Asia 2024 was a collaborative effort by the Government of Flanders, the city of Bruges, the IUCN Belgian Focal Point, local partners, and the IUCN.
Information about the #RCF24ENCA, including the report of the Forum, can be found on the ENGAGE Platform.