RCMRD Showcases at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi

By Abigael Sum| Oct, 2025

The Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) proudly participated in the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025, held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The IUCN World Conservation Congress is one of the world’s most influential platforms shaping the global conservation and sustainable development agenda. With only five years remaining to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Global Biodiversity Framework, this year’s Congress called for bold, collective action to accelerate progress for both nature and people. 

Representing its role as one of Africa’s Technical and Scientific Cooperation Support Centres (TSCs) under the Convention on Biological Diversity, RCMRD showcased its expertise and impact in biodiversity data, ecosystem management, and capacity building across Eastern and Southern Africa.

At the IUCN Africa Pavilion, RCMRD presented its mandate, key activities, and partnerships supporting 11 countries, highlighting the integration of spatial data in ecosystem monitoring and policy development. RCMRD co-hosted an exhibition booth alongside CIFOR-ICRAF, the Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE), and the Observatoire des Forêts d’Afrique Centrale (OFAC) to showcase activities under the Africa Regional Centres of Excellence (ArcX) Programme. The programme aims to serve as a leading reference point for up-to-date information that informs policy decisions on forestry and biodiversity, while advancing both regional and global conservation agendas.

The booth drew significant interest from conservation leaders, researchers, and policymakers keen to learn more about RCMRD’s innovative tools, particularly the RCoE-ESA Map Book and Geoportal, which provide valuable spatial insights to support evidence-based decision-making in ecosystem management.

During the Congress, RCMRD also engaged in bilateral meetings with UNEP-WCMC and Madagascar’s Ministry of Environment to discuss updates to the World Database on Protected Areas, reinforcing its pivotal role in supporting accurate, up-to-date conservation data.

The event, held once every four years, featured dynamic sessions on topics such as Geospatial AI, ecosystem typologies, protected area governance, and storytelling for conservation, underscoring the importance of bridging science and emotion in environmental communication.

RCMRD also took part in the unveiling of the Atlas of African Protected Areas, a flagship publication developed by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in collaboration with RCMRD and other partners. The Atlas provides invaluable geospatial insights and analyses to guide policymakers and conservation practitioners across Africa.

Among the key announcements at the congress, Panama was confirmed as host of the next IUCN World Protected and Conserved Areas Congress (2027), while IUCN introduced the RHINO framework to accelerate nature-positive outcomes globally.

RCMRD’s participation reaffirmed its commitment to advancing data-driven conservation and strengthening partnerships that empower African countries to achieve their biodiversity goals through science, innovation, and collaboration.