Reverse the Red at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille

The Reverse the Red movement is joining world leaders and decision makers in Marseille, France, for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress from 3 to 11 September 2021. Through the Reverse the Red Pavilion at the congress, the movement will share stories of hope and conservation success, showing that when we work together, we can save species.

In the wake of various apocalyptic alarms about the state of ecosystems and species, and more than one million species at risk of extinction, Reverse the Red, an umbrella movement that brings together a diverse coalition of global partners, aims to inspire optimism about species conservation and reverse the negative trends in species decline.

We believe the time is now to reverse the negative trends in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species that show we are pushing nature to the brink. Reverse the Red provides the tools and partnerships to catalyze conservation impact.

“We need an umbrella movement that links countries, individuals, NGOs and partners to achieve conservation goals" said Jon Paul Rodríguez, Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission.

Reverse the Red showcases examples of conservation success. For example, the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), which disappeared from Gorongosa National Park after the civil war, is a positive example of Reverse the Red action. Using the Assess, Plan, Act methodology, conservationists were able to reintroduce wild dogs back into the park and the species is now making a recovery in Gorongosa. This and many more stories of conservation action will be shared at the Reverse the Red Pavilion at the IUCN Congress.

“Reverse the Red highlights the value of biodiversity for people and planet" said Martín Zordan, CEO of WAZA

Inaugurated by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, the congress will bring together representatives of governments, local authorities, businesses and civil society, scientists and NGOs and should result in the development of a four-year strategic action plan for biodiversity. The outcome of the IUCN Congress will also influence the negotiations at the next UN conference on biodiversity, COP15. The conference is scheduled to take place in April 2022 in China and is intended to enable states to agree on a global framework up to 2030.

Reverse the Red Partners:

The Reverse the Red movement is founded and supported by the following main partners: The IUCN Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC), the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, Smithsonian's Earth Optimism, On the Edge Conservation and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

(09/04/2021)