African Visions Driving Conservation Futures

13/10/2025
13:00 - 13:45
IUCN Africa , Hybrid

Why attend

Join us to discover bold African-led solutions for conservation: from inspiring youth and community voices shaping policy, restoration, and innovative finance to the launch of the Exploring Conservation Futures in Africa report — an interactive session bridging foresight and action to spark equitable, innovative, and scalable conservation futures.

Session Description

This interactive session brings foresight and practice together to spotlight African-led conservation solutions to the challenges of the 21st century. It will open by showcasing inspiring experiences from more than 80 IUCN-supported initiatives across Africa, with youth, conservation leaders and community representatives sharing their direct engagement in biodiversity policy, restoration initiatives, and grassroots action. This will be followed by the launch of the Exploring Conservation Futures in Africa report, a collaborative vision shaped by African conservation leaders and futures-thinkers, charting pathways for improved participatory governance, youth leadership, and innovative finance. The session’s format invites active audience participation, encouraging dialogue across generations and sectors while connecting strategic insights with on-the-ground practice. Participants will leave with practical lessons, opportunities to scale successful approaches across regions, and recommendations feeding into future IUCN programming and networks. Above all, the session highlights how Africa’s voices and leadership are driving equitable, innovative, and resilient conservation futures.
Organised by
Eastern and Southern Africa Region
Partners
Nigerian Conservation Foundation ( Nigeria ) logo
Nigerian Conservation Foundation ( Nigeria )
Wildlife Conservation Society ( United States of America ) logo
Wildlife Conservation Society ( United States of America )
South African National Parks ( South Africa ) logo
South African National Parks ( South Africa )
Wilderness Foundation ( South Africa ) logo
Wilderness Foundation ( South Africa )
ICLEI logo
ICLEI
African Leadership University logo
African Leadership University
IUCN Save Our Species logo
IUCN Save Our Species
Cheetah Conservation Fund logo
Cheetah Conservation Fund
African Conservation Centre logo
African Conservation Centre

Speaker

Speaker Ingrid COETZEE

Director: Biodiversity, Nature & Health, ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability

Speaker Kristin SMITHERS

Advocacy and Development Officer, Wilderness Foundation Africa

Speaker Laurie MARKER

Executive Director, Cheetah Conservation Fund

Speaker Stella EGBE

Species Conservation Manager, IUCN Species Survival Commission 2021-2025

Speaker Felicien Nyenty ACHARE

Programme Officer- Conservation Action, International Union for the Conservation of Nature

Moderator

Speaker Catherine MUNGAI

Senior Programme Officer - Climate and Biodiversity Engagement, International Union for Conservation of Nature