Thank You for Joining Us in Rethinking Urban Conservation

On 12th October 2025, participants gathered at the World Conservation Congress to explore investment, innovative management, and citizen involvement in Urban Protected Areas (UPAs). With a globally representative panel and an interactive World Café format, the session aimed to provide important insights for the 11-year update of the IUCN Urban Protected Areas Guidelines.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to panelists whose depth and diversity of perspectives enriched the discussion: Ingrid Coetzee, Marco Cerezo, Alison Barnes, and Pedro Menezes. We would also like to thank WCPA Chair Madhu Rao for opening the session and championing this conversation. Our gratitude goes to all who joined and contributed their voices. Finally, we extend a special thanks to Peter Frost for skillfully moderating and guiding this dynamic discussion, as well as co-facilitators Yen Parico, Loredana Scuto, and Mitali Sharma.

Madhu Rao set the tone by asking whether a distinct IUCN category for UPAs is needed, and if so, how it might strengthen their management and recognition. Building on that framing, in our video message to the workshop, we invited participants to rethink how to value and connect with urban nature. We spoke about the need to shift old paradigms and embrace new, inclusive narratives that recognize Urban Protected Areas as “the lungs and soul of our cities,” not only ecological spaces, but deeply social ones that nurture well-being, resilience, and belonging."

Panelists built on this foundation with diverse perspectives: Pedro Menezes reminded participants that urban protected areas should be understood not as a distinct category but as an integral part of a global network of protected landscapes, highlighting that urban parks are the front line of conservation, places where awareness and advocacy begin. Alison Barnes emphasized the need to “focus in on the human networks that support the ecological networks,” urging IUCN to prioritize the skills that enable practitioners to bridge sectors, connect communities and decision-makers, and make protected urban spaces thrive. Marco Cerezo expressed that urban conservation has historically been overlooked in national and municipal agendas. He shared how Guatemala has begun to change this by integrating urban conservation into the country’s Global Biodiversity Framework program and expanding green belt projects to other intermediate cities. Ingrid Coetzee underscored the “power of law” as a driving force for advocacy, noting that the IUCN is uniquely positioned to mobilize investment for urban-edge parks and engage partners across sectors. She also pointed to the strength of local governments in advancing conservation, while underscoring the need for the IUCN to provide clear, practical guidance to help build technical capacity on the ground.

During the World Café discussions, participants identified both the challenges and opportunities shaping urban conservation. They emphasized that while issues like flooding, habitat fragmentation, inequitable access, and fragmented governance remain major barriers, progress depends on collaboration across scales and sectors. Participants highlighted the importance of co-creation led by local governments and communities—the people who live in and understand these landscapes best—working in partnership with subnational agencies, academia, and civil society. They pointed to success stories such as Panama City’s Metropolitan Park and Delhi’s community-led tree protection efforts as proof that inclusive governance, foresight, and knowledge exchange can turn constraints into innovation. Across groups, there was a shared call for long-term planning, replication of good practices, and recognition of community and civil society efforts through capacity building, funding, and policy support.

This conversation is one of many shaping how we envision the future of conservation in an urbanizing world. The IUCN WCPA Urban Conservation Strategies Specialist Group looks forward to carrying this momentum forward. Insights from this collaborative session will inform the upcoming 11-year update of the Urban Protected Areas Guidelines and other ongoing efforts to elevate urban green spaces within the global conservation dialogue.

Finally, for those who were not in attendance for this session, we would like to take this opportunity to let you know that both of us will soon be taking Maternity Leave (Hoda - early December start, Carolina - mid-January start). During this period of time, please contact Peter Frost ceo@petefrost.com or our wcpa.urban@gmail.com account, which our IUCN WCPA Young Professional, Amie Kusch, will be monitoring, with any questions or comments you may have. We look forward to continuing this critical conversation when we both return to this work in the Spring of 2026.

With gratitude and in continued collaboration,

Carolina Figueroa and Hoda Gray

Co-Chairs of the WCPA Urban Conservation Strategies Specialist Group