Protecting the Planet Newsletter, April 2025

Mapping equitable, effective paths to achieving 30x30

Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy ©IUCN Green List

Gran Paradiso National Park, the first national park established in Italy in 1922, was added to the Green List during the Pilot Phase in 2014. The park spans a vast area of high mountains, ranging from the valley bottoms at 800 meters to the peak of Gran Paradiso at 4,061 meters. Its diverse landscapes, including larch and fir forests, expansive alpine meadows, rugged rocks, and majestic glaciers, provide an ideal habitat for a variety of wildlife. This breathtaking scenery invites visitors to explore and discover the enchanting world of the high mountains.

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Highlights

IUCN promotes Andalusia and Saudi Arabia protected areas exchanges

IUCN and Junta de Andalucia recently facilitated a technical exchange for the King Abdulaziz Royal Nature Reserve (KARNR) team to share and gain expertise in protected area management. The exchange aimed to improve ecological connectivity between protected areas & integrate biodiversity conservation with tourism and public use, including visitor management & ecotourism facilities.

Polynesian storm petrels return to Kamaka Island

Endangered Polynesian storm-petrels are returning to Kamaka Island, just two years after invasive rats were removed. This milestone highlights the power of community-led restoration and international support. At a recent SOP Manu event, projects backed by the EU’s BESTLIFE2030 programme showcased how local action and global partnerships are reversing biodiversity loss across French Polynesia and restoring vital island ecosystems.

Phase two of Tech4Nature Jaguar Protection launched in Mexico

The 2025 Tech4Nature Summit highlighted innovations and approaches in technology-driven conservation. Aligned with Huawei’s Tech4all initiative and the IUCN Green List, Tech4Nature is a global partnership launched by Huawei and IUCN in 2020 to scale up success in nature conservation through technological innovation.

The path to protect 30x30

We're committed to supporting nations around the world to achieve Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and with it, to conserve 30% of the world's ecosystems by 2030.

IUCN and RCMRD strengthen regional collaboration for biodiversity conservation in Eastern and Southern Africa

Building on a strong foundation, including our work through the BIOPAMA programme, this renewed MoU formalises a shared commitment to leverage geospatial technologies and data to drive informed decision-making and policy in support of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

AlUla celebrates key milestone in restoration

In alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the Saudi Green Initiative, and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and IUCN convened the Closing Ceremony of the Strategy and Execution Plan for Ecosystem Restoration in AlUla, marking a significant step toward environmental resilience and sustainable development.

What counts? - Ensuring effective conservation

Through the IUCN Green List Standard, the global benchmark for Protected and Conserved Areas governance and management, we are working to ensure that 30x30 means real and effective achievement of conservation goals.

Cristalino Private Nature Reserve: Inspiring Conservation and Ecotourism in the Heart of Mato Grosso

During its Green List journey, the Cristalino Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN) identified a crucial gap: the thresholds of