In 2020, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Primate Specialist Group’s Section on Great Apes (SGA) and Section on Small Apes (SSA) launched a bold and innovative initiative to address one of the gravest threats facing apes today: the spread of large-scale infrastructure, agribusiness, mining, and renewable energy projects across ape habitats.
The ARRC Task Force – standing for Avoid, Reduce, Restore, and Conserve – was created as a direct response to the rising impact of large-scale development projects on great ape populations. With over one-third of African apes already threatened by mining activities1, the urgency is clear. These projects not only destroy and fragment habitats but often generate ripple effects far beyond the source of impact.
The Task Force represents an innovative new model for how conservation science can positively influence development outcomes - without compromising independence or integrity.
From policy to practice: making IFC standards count
This effort builds on a major policy win by SGA/SSA members: the successful advocacy for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to adopt stricter lending regulations to such projects by including a new clause – Paragraph 73 – in its 2019 Guidance Note for Performance Standard 6 (PS6). This clause acknowledges the sensitivity of development projects within great ape range and recommends project developers consult with the SGA for input into their mitigation approach.
The ARRC Task Force was created to make this guidance operational – a pioneering move in bridging conservation science with private-sector finance. Since its launch, more than 35 projects have reached out for guidance. Each request is reviewed by a 20-member IUCN steering committee. If the Task Force agrees to engage after its due diligence process, it forms a tailored review panel of 3-5 ape experts to evaluate the project’s approach and recommend improvements.
Transparent, expert-led, and independent
The ARRC model is built on independent, science-based advice, with all feedback made public on its website. This transparency strengthens accountability – not only to lenders and developers but also to the conservation community and civil society.
ARRC’s input has led to stronger baseline ape surveys and long-term monitoring plans, more robust mitigation strategies, and management plans that are both practical and effective. Importantly, the Task Force also works directly with lenders, putting pressure on projects to adopt best practices and avoid greenwashing. Finally, the ARRC Task Force works to empower the next generation of primatologists through its Primate WATCH capacity development program. So far, 25 primatologists from West, Central and East Africa have been trained in global best practices for managing development impacts.
But challenges remain. Many projects still fail to follow through on plans, in part due to weak audit systems and limited enforcement. The Task Force maintains its independence by refusing funding from projects, thus sustainable financing for this kind of innovative advisory work remains a critical gap.
A scalable model and a Congress conversation
The success of the ARRC Task Force offers a potential blueprint for other IUCN Specialist Groups. Lenders and developers are increasingly asking how to connect with experts on a wider range of species and ecosystems – but currently, there is no formal mechanism for engaging expertise across species. We believe that expert consultation should be mandatory for any project impacting threatened species.
The ARRC Task Force’s approach to embedding conservation expertise within projects complements Motion 080’s call for improvement in the minimisation and disclosure of impacts by companies, as well as Motion 079’s call for regulated, accountable financing mechanisms that safeguard biodiversity and prevent greenwashing.
As the conservation community prepares for the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025, this is a conversation that needs to happen now. How do we scale up expert engagement with the private sector, without compromising credibility, transparency, or scientific integrity?
The ARRC Task Force shows that it is possible – and that when IUCN expertise is applied strategically, it can disrupt business-as-usual and deliver better outcomes for nature.