EAZA at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025
From 9–15 October, EAZA representatives participated in the IUCN World Conservation Congress (WCC) in Abu Dhabi. Read below our highlights of the world’s leading forum for setting conservation priorities.
A strong voice for action and collaboration!
From 9–15 October, EAZA representatives participated in the IUCN World Conservation Congress (WCC) in Abu Dhabi, joining over 10,000 participants from governments, NGOs, Indigenous communities, academia, and business to shape the future of global conservation.
The Congress reaffirmed that science, unity and tangible action must guide our collective response to biodiversity loss and climate change. As IUCN President Razan Al Mubarak reminded us: “understanding must turn into unity, and unity into action.”
Key highlights for EAZA included:
Championing ex situ conservation: Together with WAZA and Species360, we co-hosted a successful session at the Reverse the Red pavilion, showcasing how zoos and aquariums contribute to species recovery.
Advancing conservation science: The launch of the IUCN SSC Biobanking Guidelines for Conservation Purposes, co-authored by EAZA’s Ania Brown and Christina Hvilsom (Copenhagen Zoo) marks an important step in securing the genetic future of threatened species.
Collaborating across Europe: At the European Members Meeting, EAZA presented how our community contributes across all pillars of the IUCN European strategy, reinforcing our role as an active and trusted partner.
Driving policy and governance: EAZA co-sponsored 10 motions, that were all approved, on topics ranging from One Health to genetic diversity and ex situ conservation.
Congratulations!
We are also proud that two EAZA Members’ representatives, Ann Katrine Garn (Copenhagen Zoo) and Ruben Khachatryan (FPWC, Armenia), were elected to the IUCN Council, as Councillors for West Europe and for East Europe, North and Central Asia, respectively.
What a testament to our community’s leadership and expertise!
Photo: Ruben Khachatryan, Danny de Man and Ann Katrine Garn
Our zoo and aquarium community’s broad and plentiful work towards saving species and biodiversity was strongly visible and recognised by the global conservation community gathered in Abu Dhabi.
As a long-term IUCN Member, EAZA continues to help shape global conservation policy, with a growing EAZA/IUCN joint membership, and drive effective, science-based action for nature.
Pictures © EAZA, except the 1st, 2nd and 6th pictures © IUCN, Trevor Brown
Blog post by Danny de Man and Sandrine Camus, 20 October 2025