Across the globe, governments are beginning to operationalize Rights of Nature in real territories. Motion 054 builds on this momentum, focusing especially on protected areas and sites on the IUCN Green List. Building on legal precedents from countries like Ecuador, Bolivia, Spain, New Zealand, and Uganda, as well as the recognition of the Rights of Nature in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, this resolution calls on governments to officially recognize Nature’s inherent rights and translate them into action on the ground. It urges States to integrate ecological limits into planning, strengthen environmental democracy, and ensure the active participation of Indigenous peoples and local communities as guardians of the living world.

The motion also calls on IUCN to launch pilot projects, document inspiring initiatives, and develop replicable toolkits for applying Rights of Nature frameworks globally.

By operationalizing these principles, Motion 054 seeks to transform conservation practice and foster true reconciliation between humanity and the natural world.

Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are essential for maintaining global climate stability and sustaining life on Earth. Motion 055 calls on IUCN and its Members to recognize the inherent rights of Antarctica and its ecosystems: the right to exist, to flourish, and to continue natural processes free from human interference.

Facing growing threats from climate change, overexploitation, and human activity, this resolution recalls IUCN’s longstanding commitment to protecting Antarctic ecosystems and wilderness, and urges:

Motion 056 emphasizes the urgent need to transform humanity’s relationship with the ocean from one of exploitation to one of stewardship, care, and respect. Recognizing that the health and integrity of the ocean are essential for life on Earth and the fulfillment of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14), this resolution calls on IUCN Members and governments to integrate the ocean’s intrinsic values — and, where recognized, its inherent rights — into governance, law, and policy.

It urges the creation of best practices and guidelines for ocean governance, the recognition of Indigenous peoples’ rights and knowledge, and the strengthening of the ecological rule of law to ensure that human activity respects marine biodiversity and ecological integrity.

The motion also advances dialogue toward an international framework for an ethical human–ocean relationship and encourages measures to address large-scale environmental harms, including ecocide.

By adopting these approaches, Motion 056 seeks to lay the foundation for a truly sustainable and ethical future for the ocean and for humanity.

Rivers are the lifeblood of the planet, sustaining ecosystems, cultures, and communities across the world. Motion 067 calls on IUCN Members to recognize rivers not as mere resources, but as living entities with intrinsic rights and value.

Alarmed by the 85% decline in freshwater wildlife populations since 1970 and the widespread damage caused by dams, diversions, pollution, and climate change, this resolution urges governments and institutions to adopt ecocentric legal frameworks that safeguard rivers, wetlands, and the biodiversity they sustain.

By advancing the Rights of Rivers, this motion aims to transform water governance, promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing, and secure policy and financial support for living in true harmony with the world’s waterways.

This motion addresses the urgent need for stronger, science-based strategies to restore ecosystems and promote coexistence between humans and wildlife. Alarmed by the severe decline of species and habitats across Europe, the motion emphasizes Nature’s intrinsic value and the essential role of predators and other species in maintaining ecological resilience.

It calls on IUCN and its Members to integrate rights-based approaches, Indigenous and local knowledge, and rigorous scientific evidence into restoration and rewilding efforts.

The resolution urges governments to strengthen protections, develop ambitious recovery plans, and embed coexistence and ecological integrity into policy frameworks. By advancing ecological recovery beyond outdated management models and countering misinformation, Motion 070 aims to secure healthier landscapes and seascapes, reduce human-wildlife conflict, and foster a future of harmony and resilience between people and the natural world.

This groundbreaking motion declares that severe and widespread harm to ecosystems should be prosecutable as the crime of ecocide under national and international law. It calls on IUCN’s World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL) to study and advance pathways for integrating ecocide into criminal frameworks, complementing Rights of Nature principles with accountability for large-scale environmental destruction.

It calls on IUCN and its Members to integrate rights-based approaches, Indigenous and local knowledge, and rigorous scientific evidence into restoration and rewilding efforts.

The resolution urges governments to strengthen protections, develop ambitious recovery plans, and embed coexistence and ecological integrity into policy frameworks. By advancing ecological recovery beyond outdated management models and countering misinformation, Motion 070 aims to secure healthier landscapes and seascapes, reduce human-wildlife conflict, and foster a future of harmony and resilience between people and the natural world.