Wcs At The Wcc
​WCS at the IUCN World Conservation Congress

Abu Dhabi, UAE | October 9–15, 2025

*Includes events WCS is sponsoring, co-sponsoring, moderating, or speaking at of September 19, 2025

*These events are open to in-person and virtual registered participants at the IUCN World Conservation Congress (some require prior registration).

Note: All times local to Abu Dhabi

For more information on WCS events:
Susan Lieberman (slieberman@wcs.org), Mary Dixon (mdixon@wcs.org)

Thursday, October 9

ALL IN for One Health: Uniting Efforts to Protect People, Animals, and the Environment
2:00-3:30 pm | CR A-B: Forum–Session Room 4, Hybrid

A Decade of Partnership for Development and Biodiversity Conservation
2:00-2:45 pm | French Pavilion

The Green Status Index: Measuring Progress Towards Species Recovery and the Impact of Conservation Actions Over Time
2:00-2:40 pm | Learning Zone Pavilion: Publications Hub

The COMBO+ Adventure: Ten Years of Supporting African and Asian Partners Reconcile Economic Development With Biodiversity Preservation
4:00-5:00 pm | Business Pavilion

The Elephant in The Room: A Toolkit to Overcome Mental Health Challenges Among Rangers
4:00-5:30 pm | Virtual Channel 2, Online Only

Building Capacity for Monitoring, Early Detection and Action of HPAI in Wild Bird Populations”
4:00-5:30 pm | CR A-A: Forum–Session Room 7, Hybrid

One Health: Tools to Integrate Human, Environmental, and Wildlife Wellbeing
4:30-6:30 pm | CR B: Forum–Session Room 8

Designing a Nature Positive Future: Converging Perspectives Across Business, Science and Finance Sectors
5:00-6:00 pm | Business Pavilion

Friday, October 10

Rangers Unlocking Nature – Positive Economies Through Innovative Finance
11 am-12:30 pm | Hall 4A – Session Room 1, Hybrid

Knowledge to Action: How CEM’s Frameworks Are Shaping the Future of Ecosystem Conservation (Part 1)
12:00-1:00 pm | Commissions Knowledge Hub

Synergies Between Species and Protect Areas
2:00-3:00 pm | Reverse the Red

Big Cat conservation: Developing Synergies by Integration Across and Within IUCN Commissions
2:00-3:30 pm | CR A-A: Forum - Session Room 7, Hybrid

Unusual Coalitions: Indigenous Peoples, Communities and Private Sector Unite for Biodiversity
2:00-3:30 pm | CR A-C: Forum - Session Room 5, Hybrid

OECMs, Effective, Representative, Equitable, and Fair Voluntary Conservation
2:00-3:40 pm | Las Américas Pavilion

OMEC: Conservación efectiva representativa equitativa y justa
2:00-3:30 pm | IUCN - The Américas - Room 1

NaturAfrica: Empowering Communities for Thriving Landscapes
3:30-4:00 pm | Forum - Arena, Hybrid

Protected Areas Management Effectiveness Tool in the Pacific
4:00-5:00 pm | IUCN Oceania

SMART & EarthRanger – Uniting Two Leading Global Protected and Conserved Area Monitoring Tools
4:15-4:45 pm | Press Conference Room

Inclusive Conservation Youth & Women Leading Transformative Action in Biodiversity & Marine Conservation
5:00-5:45 pm | GEF Pavilion

Maintaining, Enhancing and Restoring Ecological Integrity in Conservation Planning and Action
5:00-5:45 pm | IUCN Commissions Knowledge Hub

From the WCC to the WCCrim: a Roadmap on Crimes that Affect the Environment
6:00-7:45 pm | French Pavilion

IUCN Green List Standard–Experiences from the EAGLs and Opportunities for the Youth
7:00-9:00 pm | Green List Pavilion

IUCN WCPA Awards Ceremony
7:00-9:00 pm | IUCN Green List

Saturday, October 11

IUCN Red List of Ecosystems: From Theory to Practice. Step-by-Step Training
8:30-10:30 am | CR B: Forum - Session Room 10

CAE and Nature Crime: A Cross-Sectoral Challenge for Conservation and the Future of IUCN's Mandate
11:00 am-12:30 pm | CR A-A: Forum - Session Room 7, Hybrid

Linking Conservation Translocation Goals with Strategic Monitoring to Increase Responsible Conservation Action
11:00 am-12:30 pm | CR B: Forum - Session Room 10, Hybrid

Scaling Restoration Through the Mitigation Hierarchy: Science and Practice for a Nature Positive Future
12:00-3:00 pm | Programme Pavilion

An Ecosystemic Approach to Protected Areas and OECMs: Insights from the Amazon and Congo Basin
1:00-1:45 pm Green List Pavilion

Sharing Stories on the Power and Practice of Very Large Scale Conservation
2:00-3:45 pm | Americas Pavilion

Mitigation Hierarchy & Biodiversity Offsets: Foundations for Contributing to Nature Positive Goals: Launch of IUCN’s Technical Brief and Training Course
2:30-3:30 pm | IUCN Learning Zone Pavilion

4th IUCN World Heritage Outlook Report Launch: The State of Our Natural World
2:30-3:00 pm | Press Conference Room

Nature Crime in the Americas: Tackling Wildlife Trafficking to Safeguard Biodiversity
3:00-4:00 pm | Americas Pavilion – Room 1

Mitigation Hierarchy in Practice: Strategies for Effective Application
3:00-3:45 pm | Business Pavilion

Identifying Priority Marine Areas for Effective Implementation of Global Biodiversity Goals
4:00-5:00 pm | IUCN Commissions Knowledge Hub

Controlling the Commercial Pet Trade in Terrestrial Wildlife: Development of IUCN Guidelines
4:00-5:30 pm | CR A-C: Forum - Session Room 5, Hybrid

North America Regional Meeting for IUCN Members
4:15-7:30 pm | Hall 5-6

Why a National System of Protected and Conserved Areas
6:00-6:45 pm | Brazil Pavilion

IUCN WCPA International Ranger Award
6:00-9:00 pm | 4A Session Room 1

Sunday, October 12

Focus on: Additional Conservation Actions - IMEC (session B)
10:30 am-12:00 pm | Programme Pavilion

Rethinking Urban Conservation: Framing New Opportunities for Urban Protected Areas
11:00 am-12:30 pm | Conference Hall B: Session Room 9

Prosper with Nature: Safeguarding Biodiversity and Human Rights in Energy Transition Mineral Governance
12:00 pm-1:00 pm | IUCN Programme 2026-2029 Pavilion - R3

Capacity building for the GBF with the IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology
1:30-3:30 pm | CR B: Forum - Session Room 8

From Fortress to Inclusion: Conservation Finance's Role for Implementing Partners
1:00-2:00 pm | IUCN - The Americas - Room 1

ICCAs and Their Role in Meeting KMGBF Through Community-Based Monitoring and Assessments
2:00-3:30 pm | Conference Hall A: Session Room 6

Strengthening Monitoring and Reporting Frameworks for PCA Effectiveness
2:00-2:45 pm | IUCN Commissions Knowledge Hub

Let's talk about the draft IUCN Policy on Synthetic Biology in Relation to Nature Conservation
2:00-3:30 pm | Hall 4C: Forum - Session Room 3, Hybrid

Getting hands-on with the IUCN Green Status of Species recovery assessment
2:30-3:30 pm | Learning Zone Pavilion

Central Stage - Announcement of the Host Country for the IUCN World PCA Congress 2027
4:30-6:10 pm | CS-Nature-Climate-People Nexus

The GEF Fonseca Fellowship Experience
5:30-6:00 pm | Youth Pavilion

Celebrating 9 Years of #NatureForAll in Canada
5:30-7:30 pm | Canada

Monday, October 13

Release Discussion on IUCN WCPA Practice Guidance for Protected and Conserved Area Finance
3:00-4:00 pm | IUCN Green List

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