News published: 12 August 2025

As we approach the IUCN World Conservation Congress, IUCN’s Reverse the Red are putting on several webinars to provide information on a variety of IUCN Motions that are up for vote at the congress. These webinars are targeted for IUCN members, but all are welcome to attend to find out more!

BGCI has been invited to speak at two webinars. This includes the first webinar session taking place next week on some of the plant-focused motions partners have proposed and are sponsoring. We have colleagues from BGCI, The Morton Arboretum, Fondation Franklinia, NRDC, and more coming to share details about upcoming campaigns and discussions at the World Conservation Congress.

Webinar 1: Proposed Plant Motions at the Upcoming WCC: what you need to know to vote!
Date: Aug 19, 2025
Time: 0800 EDT / 1400 CEST
Description: Join Reverse the Red as we prepare for the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi in October 2025. In this session, colleagues from around the plant world will discuss some of the important motions regarding plants.

Speakers:

• Amy Byrne, The Morton Arboretum
• Carly Cowell, BGCI
• Domitilla Raimondo, SANBI
• Ellis Pepper, NRDC
• Jennifer Skene, NRDC
• Olivier Hasinger, Fondation Franklinia

Motions:

1: Improving tree planting practices
11: Delivering equitable accountability and means of implementation for international forest protection goals
45: Reducing the impacts of forest biomass energy on climate and biodiversity
83: Urgent action to prevent illegal succulent plant trade
93: Recognise and strengthen the fundamental role of plant and fungal taxonomy and associated herbaria for the conservation of biodiversity, particularly in Global South countries

Webinar 2: Lost from Nature: the Opportunity is in Our Hands
Date: Sep 22, 2025
Time: 0900 EDT / 1500 CEST
Description: Join Reverse the Red as we prepare for the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi in October 2025. In this session, members of the Extinct in the Wild Alliance will showcase the success stories of species reintroduced to the wild and discuss methods to rescue species, revitalise populations in human care, release individuals back into the wild, and reinforce released populations so that these species can return.

Speakers:

• Fiona Sach, ZSL
• John Ewen, ZSL
• Cara Martel, Re:wild
• Barney Long, Re:wild
• Paul Smith, BGCI
• Axel Moehrenschlager, IUCN SSC Conservation Translocation Specialist Group