IUCN Congress adopts landmark resolution on Crimes that Affect the Environment

A new Resolution on Crimes that Affect the Environment, co-coordinated by World Resources Institute through the Nature Crime Alliance and its partners, has been adopted at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi.

The resolution recognises environmental crime as a major threat to biodiversity, climate goals and human rights, and calls for stronger cooperation between governments, law enforcement agencies, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, civil society, and the global conservation community to tackle crimes such as illegal logging, deforestation, mining, fishing and wildlife trafficking and related offences.

How did the resolution come about?

In 2024, World Resources Institute (WRI) through its Nature Crime Alliance initiative, was invited by IUCN to mobilise its members around nature crime – a key subset of crimes that affect the environment (CAE) encompassing illegal logging, mining, fishing, and wildlife trade. Following workshops convened at the IUCN US Regional Conservation Forum, which recommended the development of a motion to strengthen IUCN’s engagement on this issue, WRI worked closely with Alliance members the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the National Whistleblower Center (NWC) to draft such a motion.

Separately, the Government of France and the International Council of Environmental Law (ICEL) developed a different motion on CAE. Given the complementary aims, proponents of both motions decided to merge them, resulting  in Motion 048/52 on Crimes that Affect the Environment, which incorporates language from all parties and reflects broad member input. The resolution is therefore the product of two motions – one led by France and ICEL, the other by WRI and members of the Nature Crime Alliance including WCS and NWC. 

The resolution also builds on the efforts of all partners to raise the profile of environmental crime across different international fora over recent years, including a session at UNEA6 convened by WRI and the Government of Norway that featured the Government of France and other partners, and an event at the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime COP12 that featured the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime.

Why does this resolution matter?

Environmental crime is one of the world’s most profitable illegal enterprises. It fuels deforestation, drives biodiversity loss, causes immense human suffering, and robs countries and communities of resources and revenue.

The resolution gives IUCN a mandate to address environmental crime in its workplan, and calls on the global conservation community to work together to tackle illicit activities such as illegal logging, mining, fishing, wildlife trafficking, and other forms of environmental crime.

Dr Susan Lieberman, Vice President, International Policy, WCS, said: “Governments and civil society must recognise that nature crime is not a peripheral issue. It strikes at the heart of conservation, governance, and human rights. This motion is an essential step toward building a global response equal to the scale of the threat.”

The resolution also recognises the role of those who shine light on environmental crime, often at great personal risk.

Scott Hajost, Senior Environmental Policy Adviser, National Whistleblower Center, and also Vice-chair of the IUCN US National Committee, said: “This resolution is key not just for getting crimes that affect the environment into IUCN’s work going forward, but also in highlighting the critical role of whistleblowers in exposing these crimes. It calls for states to promote whistleblower protection and incentives alongside broader efforts to address environmental crime.

“The Nature Crime Alliance has really been the glue that has bound us together in this process, providing a crucial focal point to coordinate members and other stakeholders, including governments, in developing the resolution. This outcome reflects the essential role of cross sector collaboration in the fight against crimes that affect the environment.”

A breakthrough resolution

Dr Charles ‘Chip’ Barber, Director, Nature Crime Alliance, WRI commented: “This resolution is a breakthrough because it puts action against these crimes squarely on the conservation agenda. It signals growing resolve among IUCN members to confront environmental crime as a serious threat to people, nature and climate.

“The resolution provides a mandate for IUCN to incorporate efforts to tackle environmental crime within its workplan and encourages governments to address this issue at the national level.

“This is a milestone that lays the groundwork for stronger global cooperation on environmental crime, aligns IUCN’s efforts with other international frameworks and fora, and builds momentum heading into the UN Crime Congress in 2026.”

For further information, please contact Elodie Perrat, Senior Manager, Nature Crime Alliance, WRI: elodie.perrat@wri.org