News published: 25 September 2025

Freshwater and tree biodiversity are among the most neglected in the global conservation agenda despite their fundamental role in sustaining life on Earth. The Center for Species Survival Trees and Center for Species Survival: Freshwater will be co-hosting a reception event in the Reverse the Red Pavilion on October 11 from 7-9 pm at the IUCN World Conservation Congress.

Towards integrated conservation actions for freshwater and tree species

The reception event, titled: Towards integrated conservation actions for freshwater and tree species, seeks to motivate collective action to expand the narrative, scale up integrated responses, and bring these critical topics to the forefront of global action. Using freshwater biodiversity and tree species as case studies, an interdisciplinary and experienced panel of global experts will share successes and challenges in their journey towards integrated and scalable solutions in the conservation of biodiversity in two keystone ecosystems for our planet: forests and freshwater.

• Dr. Jean-Christophe Vié (Director General at Fondation Franklinia) will discuss the development of the Global Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment, and the Global Tree Assessment (GTA). The Global Tree Assessment brought together hundreds of experts from around the world, who worked for more than 10 years to publish conservation assessments for almost 50,000 tree species.
• Dr. James Dalton (Director of the IUCN Global Water Programme) will talk about the development and implementation of the IUCN Freshwater Biodiversity Strategy as a roadmap for integrated conservation within the IUCN’s Vision 2030.
• Dr. Topiltzin Contreras-MacBeath (Co-chair of the IUCN SSC Freshwater Conservation Committee)- will reflect on IUCN’s work to elevate freshwater conservation and the use of IUCN knowledge products to drive strategic priorities and enable informed conservation planning.
• Finally, Bruna Martins (co-founder and coordinator of Cuíras) will bring it all together, showcasing tree and freshwater conservation projects at a local/ regional scale in the Amazon, engaging with local youth and community partners.

The road ahead is not easy, but commitment and action are no longer optional. Join us to explore how cutting-edge science with traditional knowledge, empowering communities, and fostering new leadership models can drive meaningful and resilient biodiversity conservation for all.