A Voice for Nature #36, IUCN news from Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Dear readers,

Welcome to the October issue of A Voice for Nature, with news and updates from across Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

As the UN Biodiversity Conference in Yerevan approaches, we look forward to joining partners to advance action for nature. If you will be attending, we invite you to explore IUCN’s programme of sessions and events and join us for discussions on turning biodiversity commitments into practice.

This issue marks an important milestone for regional cooperation: the endorsement of the Western Balkans Biodiversity Strategic Plan 2030 and Forest Landscape Restoration Plan. These two agreements provide a shared direction for protecting biodiversity and restoring ecosystems across the region.

In Central Asia, we explore the connections between conservation and health. One Health trainings across five countries brought together conservation, veterinary and public health professionals to strengthen preparedness for zoonotic disease risks. We also share news of the first record of the Turkmen long-eared bat in Uzbekistan, highlighting how field research continues to deepen our understanding of the region’s wildlife.

Restoration and resilience are another focus. A new report and accompanying infographics examine ecosystem restoration opportunities in three regions of Uzbekistan, while a blog from Georgia reflects on lessons from droughts and what they mean for managing landscapes in a changing climate.

We are also pleased to welcome two new IUCN Members, expanding our community and the opportunities to work together for nature.

As always, we thank our contributors and partners for sharing their stories and helping shape this issue.

Enjoy the read,
IUCN ECARO Editorial Team

IUCN ECARO at the UN Biodiversity Conference in Yerevan

Under the theme Taking action for nature, COP17 will assess the global progress in GBF implementation. With only four years left to meet the 2030 targets, IUCN is calling for accelerated implementation, stronger means of implementation, better use of existing science and knowledge, and greater participation of non-State actors.

For IUCN Eastern Europe and Central Asia, COP17 is an opportunity to bring regional experience, priorities and solutions into the global biodiversity conversation. Attending in person? Find us there!

Where to find ECARO at COP17

IUCN Pavilion

IUCN will host official side events and a rich programme of events taking place in the IUCN Pavilion in the Blue Zone of COP17, under the banner Unite for Nature, Home of Union.

IUCN Pavilion programme

LAND, WATER AND OCEAN

Western Balkans ministers endorse two regional nature frameworks

Ministers from the Western Balkans have endorsed two regional frameworks that set a shared direction for nature protection and recovery to 2030. The Western Balkans Six Biodiversity Strategic Plan 2030 and the Forest Landscape Restoration Plan set out regional priorities and targets, including the effective conservation of at least 30% of terrestrial, inland water, marine and coastal areas, the restoration of at least 20% of degraded ecosystems, action to halt species loss, and measures to strengthen ecological connectivity and landscape resilience.

From endorsement to action for nature in the Western Balkans

With the regional direction for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration now politically endorsed, attention in the Western Balkans is shifting to the harder part: implementation. At a biodiversity session convened by IUCN on the second day of the Third Ministerial Meeting on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans in Žabljak, participants focused on what will be needed to translate regional ambition into action on the ground.

Field research on wildlife in Prespa

The Prespa Region is a true open-air laboratory, a fact clearly demonstrated by the ongoing biodiversity field research on birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals, being conducted by the Macedonian Ecological Society in cooperation with local protected areas as part of the project “Prespa: Green & Blue Initiative”, funded by the European Union under the "EU for Prespa" programme.

Connecting conservation and health: Central Asia strengthens preparedness for zoonotic disease risks in protected areas

From Kazakhstan’s steppe and mountain landscapes to Turkmenistan's deserts, protected and conserved areas play an important role in the region’s One Health response. A series of national trainings across Central Asian countries is helping conservation practitioners recognise potential wildlife disease risks, protect themselves in the field, and connect their observations with wider veterinary, public health and scientific systems.