Cheetah Conservation Fund at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025

Every four years, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) convenes the World Conservation Congress, a global gathering of governments, NGOs, research institutions, and conservation professionals. The Congress serves as a forum for sharing science, building coalitions, and aligning priorities for the protection of nature. While it does not set binding policy, it plays an influential role in shaping how organizations and governments work together to address conservation challenges.

The 2025 Congress in Abu Dhabi brought together thousands of participants from 189 countries and concluded with several landmark outcomes. Among these, IUCN’s members endorsed a new 20-year strategic vision “Unite for Nature on the Path to 2045”. The Congress also resulted in the adoption of the Abu Dhabi Action Plan https://youtu.be/qt5v5oY22Hg, which calls for stronger partnerships, greater innovation, and expanded investment in nature-based solutions.

For organizations like CCF, these commitments align closely with our mission: combining science, community engagement, and collaboration across borders to ensure that people and wildlife can thrive together. We congratulate all newly elected IUCN leaders, including the President, Commission Chairs, and Council members, and look forward to working together to advance shared goals for biodiversity and sustainable coexistence between people and wildlife.

By the Numbers: IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025

• 10,000+ participants from 189 countries
• 1,000+ sessions and exhibits
• 148 motions adopted to guide international conservation action
• 104 globally recognized protected and conserved areas on the IUCN Green List
• 27 new sites added this year
• 1 shared goal: building partnerships that protect nature and sustain communities

CCF’s Participation

CCF was proud to represent cheetah conservation throughout the Congress, sharing lessons from decades of field experience and demonstrating how coexistence programs developed in Namibia can inform conservation strategy across Africa and beyond.

Dr. Laurie Marker, Founder and Executive Director of CCF, was honored during the event with the Order of the California Condor, presented by Vance Martin, Patricio Robles Gil, and Ramon Perez Gil of the WILD Foundation. This lifetime recognition, established by the IUCN Art and Species Specialist Group and the Wilderness Specialist Group, celebrates individuals who have devoted their lives to protecting species and wild nature. Dr. Marker was recognized alongside other leading conservationists including IFAW President Azzedine Downs, Dr. Sylvia Earle and Dr. Russell Mittermeier.

Throughout the Congress, CCF contributed to a series of sessions highlighting practical and scalable approaches to conservation:

• Press Conference: A New Model to Combat Wildlife Crime in the Horn of Africa — showing how CCF’s Namibia-based model of community conservation is being adapted to support the Government of Somaliland’s work to protect wildlife and strengthen rural livelihoods.
• CheetahTV Presentation: Making a Beautiful Future for Cheetahs: Art and Conservation in Action — exploring how creativity and storytelling can inspire empathy for wildlife.
• CCF e-Poster Presentation: Building Climate Resilience Through Community-Centered Cheetah Conservation — demonstrating how research, education, and partnerships foster coexistence.
• Showcase: Applying IUCN SSC HWC Guidelines for Effective Management of Human-Wildlife Conflict — focusing on practical strategies to reduce conflict between people and predators.
• Africa Pavilion Session: African Visions Driving Conservation Futures — celebrating African-led conservation and the next generation of environmental leadership.

Shared Commitment to a Sustainable Future

CCF’s engagement at the Congress reflected its role as a trusted partner to governments including Ethiopia, Namibia, and Somaliland, advancing coexistence, education, and applied research across the cheetah’s range.

Participating in the IUCN World Conservation Congress strengthened our shared conservation goals and reaffirmed that effective partnerships, rooted in trust, science, and shared purpose, are the key to securing the cheetah’s future. With your support, CCF continues to build coalitions that protect wildlife, restore landscapes, and sustain the people who share them.

Thank you for helping us take part. Your support keeps cheetahs in the wild and builds a stronger, more sustainable future for all who share their landscapes.