1. IUCN Members unite under new guiding vision for nature 

One of the defining moments of the Congress was the formal adoption by IUCN Members of a new 20-year strategic vision, Unite for Nature on the Path to 2045, together with the IUCN Programme 2026–2029, the first implementation plan under this vision. 

This milestone sets the overarching direction for IUCN and positions species conservation at the heart of global efforts to tackle biodiversity loss and climate change. Its core pillars include: 

• Scaling inclusive conservation across land, freshwater, and marine systems. 
• Mainstreaming nature within transformative sectors, from food systems to the blue economy. 
• Embedding equity and rights-based approaches, especially for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), women, and youth. 
• Linking ecological outcomes with social justice and human wellbeing. 

Complementing this, the Abu Dhabi Call to Action, welcomed by acclamation during the 9th sitting of the Members’ Assembly, set out a focused set of key priorities that reflect the most pressing global challenges and opportunities discussed at Congress. It calls on the global community, under IUCN’s leadership, to accelerate urgent and practical action across five key areas: reaffirming nature as the foundation of wellbeing, strengthening multilateralism, ensuring justice and inclusion, advancing knowledge and innovation, and scaling up resources for nature and climate action. It sets a collective vision for transformative change – uniting governments, communities, and sectors to achieve a just, resilient, and nature-positive future for people and the planet. 

Developed through a Union-wide consultation, the Call to Action reflects IUCN Members’ collective determination to translate global ambition into measurable outcomes. Together, the Unite for Nature vision, IUCN Programme 2026–2029, and Abu Dhabi Call to Action chart a united course for transformative conservation over the next two decades. 

2. Equity, rights, and local stewardship are foundational, not optional 

One of the strongest threads at the Congress was this: conservation that ignores rights, equity, and local stewardship will fail. 

• During sessions like “Strengthening indigenous and local leadership in tiger conservation”, community leaders showed how recognising land rights, traditional knowledge, and cultural values is the foundation for coexistence with wildlife. 

• The World Summit of Indigenous Peoples and Nature, convened in parallel with the Congress, underscored that Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) must co-craft conservation decisions, not just be consulted. 

• The “People of the Oceans” breakthrough initiative recognised Indigenous ocean governance and elevated ocean peoples’ voices within IUCN governance. 

• Rangers and frontline conservationists were also celebrated through the International Ranger Awards, honouring 13 individuals and teams for their extraordinary courage and commitment. 

3. Strategic small grants deliver powerful conservation results  

Released during Congress week, the new Fondation Segré Conservation Action Fund: Key results and highlights 2021–2025 report celebrated years of partnership between IUCN Save Our Species and Fondation Segré to protect overlooked and threatened species around the world. 

The report showcases how small, strategic grants can achieve remarkable conservation outcomes, supporting both biodiversity and local livelihoods. Through a combination of research and action grants, the Fund empowers local organisations to implement species conservation projects across 41 countries, helping to restore habitats, strengthen community stewardship, and inform national biodiversity strategies. 

From conserving freshwater stingrays in Thailand to protecting the Critically Endangered dark sitana lizard (Sitana fusca) in Nepal, each project demonstrates how locally led action drives measurable results for both biodiversity and livelihoods.