Focus on wetlands: Living Lakes at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025
At the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi, partners of the Living Lakes network made a clear statement for climate protection. In light of the dual crisis of species extinction and climate change, two groundbreaking motions were introduced to put wetlands at the center of the political agenda worldwide. An overview of the initiatives:
Motion 023 (Global): The Fundación Global Nature calls for prioritizing the protection of wetlands – from mangroves to urban moors – as an essential nature-based solution. As these ecosystems are disappearing three times faster than forests, binding targets should be integrated into national climate and biodiversity strategies.
Motion 024 (Regional): The Fundación Humedales focuses on the protection of fragile high-mountain wetlands (e.g. in the Andes). The aim is to protect these vital water reservoirs from threats posed by mining and agriculture and to actively involve local communities in their management.
The motion to prioritize wetlands was adopted by an overwhelming majority at the IUCN. The Fundación Global Nature (FGN) represented the Living Lakes Biodiversity and Climate Project (LLBCP) coordinated by the Global Nature Fund (GNF). This decision underscores the central importance of wetlands for climate, water and biodiversity – and highlights the LLBCP as an international flagship project for nature-based solutions.
“Wetlands are not a marginal phenomenon, but central to the future of people and the planet.” – Living Lakes Biodiversity and Climate Project (LLBCP)
