The IUCN World Conservation Congress brings together thousands of leaders and decision-makers from governments, non-profit organizations, civil society, Indigenous groups, and the private sector to shape global conservation policy and action. This influential gathering serves as a platform to share knowledge, build partnerships, and advance initiatives that protect our planet’s biodiversity.

As a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation was honored to take part in the Congress, joining a global community of leaders, organizations, and changemakers committed to protecting nature and advancing sustainable futures.

Sponsored Motions

As part of our engagement, we proudly co-sponsored two key motions that reflect our mission to conserve and restore living oceans through research, education, and a commitment to Science Without Borders^®:

• Motion 37: Fourth global coral bleaching event: urgent action to reduce the risk of catastrophic loss of the world’s coral reefs, which recognizes the critical role coral reefs play in supporting biodiversity and sustaining human communities worldwide. This motion underscores the alarming severity of the 2024 global coral bleaching event and calls for urgent measures to enhance coral resilience, protect vulnerable ecosystems, and prevent catastrophic losses. It highlights the need for targeted research, monitoring, restoration, and climate-adaptive strategies, as well as increased financial resources to support coral reef conservation globally. Learn more about Motion 037.
• Motion 128: Strengthening human-nature connectedness to advance transformative change for nature, which highlights the urgent need to foster meaningful relationships between people and the natural world. It emphasizes that lasting conservation requires a shift in societal values, norms, and beliefs—acknowledging human-nature interconnectedness as central to global sustainability. Motion 128 builds on previous IUCN resolutions and initiatives, including the #NatureForAll movement and Inter-Commission Task Forces on Behavior Change and Nature-based Education, calling for research and collaborative efforts to scale programs that connect people with nature worldwide. Learn more about Motion 128.

Session on the Role of Arts and Culture in Conservation

We were also proud to participate in The Role of Arts and Culture for Reimagining Conservation and Abundant Futures, a collaborative presentation with AEON Collective, TBA21, Alligator Head Foundation, and the IUCN. Our Jamaica Awareness of Mangroves in Nature (J.A.M.I.N.) program, represented by Machel Donegan and in partnership with the Alligator Head Foundation, was featured as a model for using cultural engagement to connect communities to ocean conservation. The session explored how creativity and storytelling can inspire emotional connections to nature, reframe conservation narratives, and motivate transformative action. 

#NatureForAll Art Contest

A highlight of our involvement was co-sponsoring the #NatureForAll 30 x 30 Youth Art Contest, organized in collaboration with IUCN #NatureForAll, the Bow Seat, and Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants. Open to students ages 5–19 worldwide, the contest celebrated young people’s creativity and their vision for a sustainable future. More than 360 students from North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and Central America submitted their artwork—each piece reflecting a unique connection to the natural world. We were thrilled that selected student artwork was exhibited at the World Conservation Congress, providing a vivid and inspiring reminder of the power of youth voices in shaping a sustainable future. 

Winning Artwork

Through these initiatives, the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation continues to champion the intersection of art, science, collaboration, and conservation, empowering communities, young people, and global audiences to imagine and create a more abundant and sustainable future for nature.