WASHINGTON, D.C.—“There is no vaccine for a sick planet,” said French President Emmanuel Macron as he opened the postponed 2020 World Conservation Congress in Marseille, France, Sept. 3, 2021. The Republic of France and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the world’s oldest multilateral environmental organization, are hosting the 2020 Congress’ Forum. The forum brings together governments, civil society, academia and the private sector to discuss urgent conservation challenges. Normally held every four years, this Congress marks the first hybrid online and in-person experience for IUCN with virtual presentations from top conservation leaders.  

Actor and environmentalist Harrison Ford, amongst other dignitaries, emphasized the power of young people in his remarks, urging listeners to “do what we have not” to address the climate crisis. IUCN members are using the Congress’ platform to discuss the Marseille Outcomes, which focus on the COVID-19 pandemic and the important connection between human health, wildlife and nature.

The United States showcased work from multiple federal agencies, including sessions from the Forest Service on forest landscape restoration, conservation education and ecosystem management.

Shira Yoffe of Forest Service International Programs and Alix Cleveland from the Washington Office’s Rangeland Management joined the conference virtually to represent the U.S. government’s commitment to the Bonn Challenge, a global initiative to restore 350 million hectares by 2030. The Forest Service leads the United States Bonn Challenge efforts and, as of 2020, succeeded in placing over 20 million hectares (over 49 million acres) under restoration, surpassing its 2012 pledge of 15 million hectares (37 million acres) by 2020. 

Forest Service-led presentations shared lessons learned from years of restoration work, including collaborative partnerships, multiparty monitoring, scientific research and working at large scales across jurisdictions. Speakers highlighted Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program efforts in Oregon and New Mexico and the breadth of Forest Service ecosystem restoration activities underway across the country.

The virtual Congress has provided new opportunities for Forest Service employees to get involved, and several employees from across the country participated in this year’s Congress.

Rebecca Flitcroft from Pacific Northwest Region, Land and Watershed Management, presented as part of a live virtual panel with speakers from various countries on freshwater ecosystem protection and management. Sherry Hazelhurst from the Pacific Southwest Region, State and Private Forestry, joined with colleagues from USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to create an e-poster on biosecurity capabilities to preserve Pacific Island forests. Similarly, Tinelle Bustam of Conservation Education created an e-poster and participated in a seminar (video embedded below) with partners from Project Learning Tree on leveraging technology to get young people interested and engaged in the outdoors.

Born in Europe in 1948 out of the destruction of World War II, IUCN brings together a wide base of scientists, NGOs, civil society and governments, which vote on IUCN’s programmatic agenda every four years. The Forest Service is a long-standing member of IUCN and contributes through policy and membership support from International Programs, as well as contributions from agency experts. The 2016 World Conservation Congress was hosted by the State of Hawai’i.

For more information on Forest Service engagement with IUCN and this year’s World Conservation Conference, contact IUCN liaison Aysha Ghadiali, Forest Service International Programs.