World Conservation Congress 2025: Hope is the strategy

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress may well be the FIFA or World Expo of environmental conservation. It is a rare global gathering held once every four years and hosted by a different country each time. This October, more than 10,000 participants convened in Abu Dhabi and online to share ideas, commitments, and solutions for the planet's future.

- BILLIE DUMALIANG

IUCN Philippine National Committee launched its 'Pledge for Nature'. The BBC Media Action Center held workshops on misinformation and disinformation.

It was heartwarming to see old friends and mentors who continue to light the way for many of us: Atty. Tony Oposa, tireless advocate for Philippine environmental law; Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, CEO of the Global Environment Facility and former Costa Rican environment minister; and the inspiring Panorama IUCN team, who continue to connect communities solving real-world challenges.

We were part of the high-level panel on “Inclusive Innovation and Bold Leadership: The Disruption We Seek.” There, we shared the story of Masungi Georeserve—a project our father began over two decades ago, and one that my sister and I continue to nurture with our team.

Just an hour and a half from Manila, Masungi protects the upper reaches of a watershed that supplies water to more than 20 million people downstream. What was once barren, abused, and neglected has been slowly healing. Through geotourism, engineering, and community partnerships, the area has transformed into a living classroom on ecosystem regeneration. It is proof that when people work with integrity, collaboration, and patience, the land responds in kind, promising hope.