IUCN Eastern Europe and Central Asia

IUCN Eastern Europe and Central Asia Good governance, biodiversity protection & sustainable use of nature IUCN

10/06/2026

🌳 The first day of the Western Balkans Restoration Conference: Advancing Nature-based Solutions under the Green Agenda has officially closed on a high note, bringing together policymakers, experts, and partners from across the region to accelerate and strengthen regional cooperation.

Discussions on Day 1 highlighted the growing urgency to address degradation in the Western Balkans and reinforced the role of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in tackling climate change, biodiversity loss, and socio-economic challenges.

Today’s programme focuses on moving from vision to action, deepening dialogue and exploring practical pathways for implementation.

👉 Today’s key objective:
To advance coordinated regional action by aligning policy frameworks, financing mechanisms, and on-the-ground implementation of restoration efforts.

The conference continues to serve as a vital platform for knowledge exchange, partnership building, and concrete action to restore ecosystems and build a more resilient Western Balkans.

Organised as part of The ADAPT 2.0, funded by Sweden / Sida - Styrelsen för Internationellt Utvecklingssamarbete in close colaboration with Министерство за животна средина и ПП / Ministria e Mjedisit Jetësor dhe PH

📹Watch key highlights from Day 1 👇

🌿 Western Balkans step up cooperation on ecosystem restoration and Nature-based SolutionsToday, the Western Balkans Rest...
09/06/2026

🌿 Western Balkans step up cooperation on ecosystem restoration and Nature-based Solutions

Today, the Western Balkans Restoration Conference officially opened in Ohrid, bringing together regional leaders, experts and partners to accelerate action for nature and people under the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.

The conference was opened by distinguished speakers highlighting the urgency of restoring ecosystems and scaling up Nature-based Solutions across the region:

🎖️ A special moment marked the 10th anniversary of Министерство за животна средина и ПП / Ministria e Mjedisit Jetësor dhe PH, Republic of North Macedonia, (MoEPP) membership in IUCN, with Dr. Oliver Avramoski, IUCN Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, presenting a certificate to Mr. Vlatko Jovanovski Trpeski, Head of the Nature Department.

Key messages from the opening highlighted that:
- Ecosystem restoration is essential to address climate change, biodiversity loss and socio-economic resilience
- Stronger regional cooperation is critical to scaling up impact
- Nature-based Solutions offer practical, cost-effective pathways benefiting both people and nature
- Aligning regional frameworks, such as biodiversity and forest landscape restoration plans, will be key to delivering results

🤝 The conference sets the stage for deeper collaboration, new partnerships and concrete action across the region.

🔗 Read more about the conference: https://bit.ly/4e02GKg

The conference is implemented within the framework of The ADAPT 2.0: Nature-based Solutions for Climate Mitigation and Adaptation in the Western Balkans, funded by Sweden through Sida - Styrelsen för Internationellt Utvecklingssamarbete



Austrian Development Agency

Nature does not stop at borders, and neither should our response 🙌 This was the key message from last week’s side even...
08/06/2026

Nature does not stop at borders, and neither should our response 🙌

This was the key message from last week’s side event “Regional Cooperation for Connected Landscapes in Central Asia and Eastern Europe under Global Environment Facility”, which explored how regional programmes can help countries respond more effectively to shared nature and climate challenges.

We heard from the representatives of the Asian Development Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Bank Group
Europe and Central Asia Region; and IUCN ECARO, as well as GEF Focal Points from Central Asia, the South Caucasus and the Western Balkans.

The exchange showed why regional programmes matter 🎯 they create space for shared learning, knowledge exchange and scaling up successful approaches across landscapes and communities. By combining national action with regional coordination, they can also achieve greater impact and cost-effectiveness through joint policy engagement, capacity building, monitoring, and learning.

The experience offered one example of this approach. Through the Biodiversity Task Force WB, supported by IUCN, partners from the WB6 are working together under Pillar 5 of the to support coordinated action on biodiversity, nature protection and ecosystem restoration. Ongoing regional work includes the development of the WB6 Strategic Biodiversity Plan and the WB6 Forest Landscape Restoration Plan, supported by regional projects such as The ADAPT 2.0 funded by Sida - Styrelsen för Internationellt Utvecklingssamarbete /Sweden, and Greening the Western Balkans, enabled by .

🌿 Two more days to register! 📣Join the Western Balkans Restoration Conference and be part of the conversation on scaling...
07/06/2026

🌿 Two more days to register! 📣

Join the Western Balkans Restoration Conference and be part of the conversation on scaling up Nature-based Solutions and advancing ecosystem restoration across the region. The ADAPT 2.0

🗓️ 9–11 June 2026
📍 Ohrid, North Macedonia & online
💻 Hybrid – join online via IUCN Engage

🔗 Registrations: https://bit.ly/4uM5lgp
📄Programme https://bit.ly/4dN0BRZ

Bringing together policymakers, experts, and practitioners, the conference will explore policy, finance, and practical action to enhance ecosystem restoration across Western Balkans.

💡 After registering on IUCN Engage, click “Enrol” to receive your Zoom link. Guest registration is also available.

Don’t miss your chance to engage and contribute to regional action under the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.

Local species, global signals 🐾 This , we are looking at what biodiversity in the Western Balkans can tell us about cli...
05/06/2026

Local species, global signals 🐾

This , we are looking at what biodiversity in the Western Balkans can tell us about climate resilience.

In mountain meadows, rivers, wetlands, forests, grasslands and karst landscapes, nature is already sending signals. Some can be seen in iconic species like the Balkan lynx. Others are hidden in rare plants, freshwater insects and reptiles found only in some parts of the region.

Their presence, decline or recovery tells us something important about the health of the ecosystems that sustain clean water, food, livelihoods and climate resilience.

Today, we open a series of local biodiversity stories, starting with the Balkan lynx and Fiala’s milk-vetch, with more species to follow 👉 https://bit.ly/4ftky1g

Stay tuned!


| Austrian Development Agency | Balkan Lynx Recovery Programme | Македонско еколошко друштво | Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania

Great to see Uzbekistan’s FOLUR experience showcased at the in Samarkand 👏Led by FAO in Uzbekistan, with support from ...
05/06/2026

Great to see Uzbekistan’s FOLUR experience showcased at the in Samarkand 👏

Led by FAO in Uzbekistan, with support from IUCN and International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas - ICARDA, the FOLUR project in Uzbekistan is helping advance more sustainable wheat landscapes by connecting land restoration, biodiversity conservation, Nature-based Solutions and climate-resilient food systems 🌿

| | Global Environment Facility

At the , countries and partners came together around one clear message: nature knows no borders — and protecting it req...
04/06/2026

At the , countries and partners came together around one clear message: nature knows no borders — and protecting it requires cooperation across borders too.

From migratory wildlife and shared ecosystems to the growing risks at the human-wildlife-livestock interface, the discussion showed why ecological connectivity matters. Healthy, connected landscapes support species movement, strengthen resilience to climate change, and can help reduce risks linked to zoonotic diseases by supporting healthier ecosystems.

Speaking at the event, Dmitri Gorshkov, Head of , stressed that regional cooperation is essential because nature cannot be protected within borders alone. This approach is also central to the project, which supports countries in strengthening conservation systems and reducing risks at the interface between people, animals and the environment.

The session brought together representatives of the Convention on Migratory Species, Michael Succow Stiftung, IUCN, the Global Environment Facility Secretariat and high-level national authorities, including GEF Operational Focal Points from Central Asia.

The takeaway was clear: with growing political commitment and strong interest from partners, Central Asia is well positioned to turn shared environmental challenges into opportunities for regional cooperation, stronger ecosystems and long-term resilience.

Bundesumweltministerium Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection | International Climate Initiative (IKI)
UN Environment Programme UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre IUCN Protected and Conserved Areas

🌿 In Samarkand, an important step was taken to help protect Uzbekistan’s nature and agricultural heritage.On the sidelin...
04/06/2026

🌿 In Samarkand, an important step was taken to help protect Uzbekistan’s nature and agricultural heritage.

On the sidelines of the , the Ekologiya qo‘mitasi・Комитет по экологии, IUCN and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) signed a Statement of Intent to strengthen cooperation on biosafety, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and ecosystem restoration.

For a country located along major trade routes, strong biosafety systems are essential. They help ensure that living modified organisms are properly assessed, monitored and managed — protecting biodiversity, wild relatives of crops, local plant varieties and the ecosystems people depend on.

The signing marks the launch of a new Global Environment Facility (GEF) - funded project that will support Uzbekistan in putting the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety into practice. Through stronger rules, institutions and technical capacity, the project will help turn international commitments into practical action at the national level.

The launch event brought together Aziz Abdukhakimov, Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan on Environmental Issues and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change; Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General; Jeffrey Griffin, Head of the GEF Unit at FAO; and Asad Naqvi, Director of the Implementation Support Division at the United Nations Biodiversity. The event was moderated by Dr Oliver Avramoski, IUCN Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

For IUCN, this cooperation is another step in supporting countries to protect nature, strengthen environmental security and build more resilient futures.

🔎 Read more: https://bit.ly/49GZqB3

FAO in Uzbekistan

What does preventing future health risks have to do with nature? Quite a lot 🐐When ecosystems are under pressure from la...
03/06/2026

What does preventing future health risks have to do with nature? Quite a lot 🐐

When ecosystems are under pressure from land-use change, biodiversity loss, climate impacts and closer contact between people, livestock and wildlife, risks can increase, too. That is why prevention needs to start earlier, by protecting the natural systems that support healthier and safer communities.

A new project was launched today in Samarkand - the Nature4Health Uzbekistan Scoping Phase. The work will focus on Karakalpakstan, a region deeply shaped by desertification, biodiversity loss and the long-term impacts of the Aral Sea crisis. Together with national partners, local stakeholders, health and veterinary experts, environmental specialists and international partners, the process will explore practical ways to reduce risks before outbreaks occur.

Led by , in coordination with the Ekologiya qo‘mitasi・Комитет по экологии and national partners, this new initiative will help shape the next phase of work in the country. It will also build on and align with the regional work in Central Asia, strengthening IUCN’s efforts to advance preventive approaches that put healthy ecosystems at the centre of healthier, safer and more resilient societies 💚

More 👉 https://bit.ly/4uOUX7G

| | UN Environment Programme | IUCN | IUCN Save Our Species | Bundesumweltministerium |

🌿 Registrations are now open for online participation! 📣Join the Western Balkans Restoration Conference and be part of t...
03/06/2026

🌿 Registrations are now open for online participation! 📣

Join the Western Balkans Restoration Conference and be part of the conversation on advancing Nature-based Solutions under the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans—now accessible online! The ADAPT 2.0

🗓️ 9–11 June 2026
📍 Ohrid, North Macedonia (Hotel Metropol) & online
💻 Format: Hybrid

This conference brings together policymakers, experts, and practitioners to scale up ecosystem restoration and drive practical, sustainable solutions across the region.

🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/4uM5lgp

📄 View the programme: https://bit.ly/4dN0BRZ

💻 How to join online:
Register via the IUCN Engage platform using the event page link and click “Enrol.” You’ll receive a Zoom link to follow the livestream. You can also register as a guest if you're not an IUCN Member or Commission Member.

✨ Don’t miss the chance to join regional discussions shaping a more resilient and biodiverse Western Balkans!

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