Island Conservation Society engages in pivotal Africa Conservation Forum 2024

​The Island Conservation Society (ICS), a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), earlier this year, participated in the 2024 Africa Conservation Forum (ACF) held in Nairobi, Kenya. This forum, which occurs every four years, serves as a platform for sharing knowledge, building partnerships, and connecting key stakeholders dedicated to nature and biodiversity conservation across the African continent.

In previous years, the IUCN sub-regions of Africa—Eastern and Southern Africa (ESARO), West and Central Africa (PACO), and the Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (MED)—each organised their own Regional Conservation Forums. However, this year marked a significant shift as IUCN, inspired by the successful IUCN Africa Protected Areas Congress held in Kigali, Rwanda, in July 2022, combined all three sub-regions into a single, unified Africa Conservation Forum.

Held over five days, the 2024 ACF centred around the theme: "African solutions for nature and people – creating transformative responses to the biodiversity and climate crisis in Africa.” The forum brought together over 700 representatives, including IUCN members, government officials, business leaders, indigenous people, local communities, and scientific experts, to evaluate conservation progress across the continent, revisit priority goals, and propose strategic directions for Africa’s key stakeholders to address the most pressing environmental and biodiversity challenges over the next 20 years.

The ACF emphasized the necessity of cooperation across countries, governments, communities, and sectors to effectively tackle the intertwined crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. Other key discussions at the ACF included the promotion of agro ecological practices, nature-based solutions, and the empowerment of local communities through education and sustainable development initiatives.

ICS's participation underscored the importance of integrated, people-centered conservation solutions, particularly for unique ecosystems such as islands that are often vulnerable to environmental changes and human activities. Emma Mederic, Science Officer (Projects) at ICS, highlighted that "The Africa Conservation Forum offers a unique opportunity for originations like ours to collaborate with a diverse array of stakeholders and align our initiatives with broader continental conservation strategies. We are committed to advancing sustainable practices that protect both our island ecosystems and the marine environments they support."

A notable outcome of the forum was a renewed call to action in preparation for the upcoming IUCN World Conservation Congress in the United Arab Emirates in 2025. This call emphasizes the urgency of implementing transformative and integrated actions addressing the biodiversity-climate-energy nexus.
ICS is poised to leverage the connections and knowledge gained from the ACF to influence global conservation agendas and advocate for increased support for island and marine conservation projects. As the environmental challenges facing Africa and the world continue to evolve, platforms like the ACF remain crucial for fostering collaboration, innovation, and a unified approach to conservation.
Contributed by Emma Mederic, Science Officer (Projects)