Submitted by
traorea
on Mon, 10/12/2026 - 17:05
General Information
Resolution
52746
Period covered
Resolution implementation status
11-30% - Limited
Comments
As sponsor of the resolution, the Wild Foundation is currently developing a concept note regarding the implementation of the resolution with the Secretariat Focal point Aissa Traore, Programme Officer, Protected Conserved and Heritage Areas Team / IUCN Headquarters. The purpose of this concept note is to provide a practical pathway for implementing IUCN Resolution 8.096 by outlining the objectives, proposed approach, key activities, partners and roles, expected results, timeline, and resource needs for the next three years, leading up to the IUCN World Conservation Congress in 2029. Once developed, the concept will be shared for input, and an expert group will be established to provide advice on it.
Activities to implement this Resolution from Activity Reports
| Relevant operative para(s) of Res/Rec | Activities Overview | Description | Status | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | Scientific/technical activities | 8.096 Mainstreaming mentorship for young ecological stewards to enhance conservation effort Action points of the resolution IUCN Resolution 8.096 Mainstreaming mentorship for young ecological stewards to enhance conservation efforts (formerly Motion 097), was adopted at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in October 2025. The resolution aims to mainstream mentorship across IUCN Member organisations, governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academic institutions, and the private sector. The action points of the Resolution establish specific operational mandates for different arms of the Union, its leadership, and external partners: 1. For the Director General & Secretariat, to advocate for the integration of youth mentorship with an explicit focus on Indigenous youth - across member strategies. Train Secretariat staff members to serve as effective mentors, embedding reciprocal guidance into standard IUCN operations; 2. For IUCN Commissions e.g., CEESP & CEC to co-create the standardized guidance framework for intergenerational mentorship grounded in equity, reciprocity, mutual safety, and protection for young environmental defenders; 3. For Member Organizations, NGOs & Academia, to institutionalize youth mentorship models into core conservation programming, deliver mentorship in local and Indigenous languages, and share best practices through IUCN platforms to establish a global community of practice; 4. For Donors, Funding Bodies & Governments, to provide targeted incentives and prioritize funding for programs that pair senior experts with young leaders, with explicit support for underrepresented groups and youth-led initiatives. Progress reported to date: 1. YOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE · The selection of the second cohort of the UCN Youth Advisory Committee is at its finalization stage with ~150 applications screened and interviews conducted with 30+ applicants. Formal appointments are expected to be held in the course of October 2026. 2. WORK OF THE TASK FORCE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF IMPLEMENTATION OF RESOLUTION 8.096. The Wild Foundation is currently developing a concept note regarding the implementation of the resolution as its sponsor. The purpose of this concept note is to provide a practical pathway for implementing IUCN Resolution 8.096 by outlining the objectives, proposed approach, key activities, partners and roles, expected results, timeline, and resource needs for the next three years, leading up to the IUCN World Conservation Congress in 2029. 3. A YOUNG SECRETARIAT STAFF MEMBER WITHIN PCHAT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS THE FOCAL POINT FOR RESOLUTION 8.096. • Aissa Traore, Programme Officer, Protected Conserved and Heritage Areas Team / IUCN Headquarters · The IUCN Secretariat, through the dedicated youth focal point within PCHAT, is responsible for coordinating the implementation of resolution 8.096 and two other key World Conservation Congress (WCC) resolutions on youth engagement and nature conservation: Resolution 8.122: Accelerating equitable youth empowerment and engagement across the Union; Resolution 8.100: Organisation of a Global Youth Summit prior to each IUCN World Conservation Congress; Resolution 8.096: Mainstreaming mentorship for young ecological stewards to enhance conservation efforts; • In addition, the same team within the Secretariat co-leads Output 3 of the IUCN Nature 2030 Programme, which focuses on culture and youth engagement. The Secretariat's youth focal point convenes a network of youth focal points from across the Secretariat to review implementation progress, strengthen internal coordination, share lessons learned, and identify opportunities to advance youth-related commitments across the Union. This coordination mechanism helps ensure that policy commitments adopted through Congress resolutions are effectively integrated into programme delivery and institutional practice. |
On-going | Full activity report |
| 3, 5 | Education/Communication/Raising awareness | Students and Teachers Restoring A Watershed (STRAW) reaches 4,000 K-12 students a year across 15 California counties. Students learn how their local watersheds work, then do professional-quality habitat restoration alongside ecologists and educators. The Community College Conservation Internship pairs paid field experience with mentorship for students underrepresented in conservation careers. | On-going | Full activity report |
Actors involved from Activity Reports
| IUCN Members | IUCN Commissions | IUCN Secretariat | Other non-IUCN related organisations |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional Actors involved in this resolution
| IUCN Members | IUCN Commissions | IUCN Secretariat | Other non-IUCN related organisations |
|---|---|---|---|
|
BirdLife International ( United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland )
The WILD Foundation ( United States of America )
|
IUCN Commission on Education and Communication 2026-2029
IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy 2026-2029
|
Yes
|
Challenges / lessons learned from Activity Reports
| Challenges / lessons learned | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Insufficient / lack of resources | As sponsor of the resolution, the Wild Foundation is currently developing a concept note regarding the implementation of the resolution with the Secretariat Focal point Aissa Traore, Programme Officer, Protected Conserved and Heritage Areas Team / IUCN Headquarters. The purpose of this concept note is to provide a practical pathway for implementing IUCN Resolution 8.096 by outlining the objectives, proposed approach, key activities, partners and roles, expected results, timeline, and resource needs for the next three years, leading up to the IUCN World Conservation Congress in 2029. There is a need for resources to support the implementation of the actions identified under this resolution. |
Full activity report |
| Other (please specify) | This is a participatory model, so community engagement and leadership are what sustain restoration sites over time. The majority of funding for this program comes from public sources, which prioritize restoration implementation. Greater investment in the social infrastructure this model depends on, including the mentorship of students and early-career conservationists, would build long-term capacity for community-led stewardship. |
Full activity report |
Additional Challenges / lessons learned
| Challenges / lessons learned | Description |
|---|---|
|
Insufficient / lack of resources
|
There is a need for resources to support the implementation of the actions identified under this resolution. |
External link(s)
Report status
Published