We are living through a planetary emergency. Since 1970, global wildlife populations have plummeted by 69%, and one million species are now at risk of extinction. The World Economic Forum estimates that more than half of global GDP – $44 trillion – is moderately or highly dependent on nature1. And yet, ecosystems continue to be treated as backdrops to human ambition: scenery to be admired, but rarely invested in.
This must change. And it is changing.
Innovation is nature’s new ally
Across IUCN’s vast network of members and partners, innovation is reshaping conservation in ways that go far beyond fences and fines. In Kenya, community-led conservancies under the Northern Rangelands Trust have combined anti-poaching patrols, local governance and new wildlife monitoring systems – cutting elephant poaching considerably, whilst creating sustainable incomes.
In the UAE, we have integrated AI and advanced technologies into our national conservation strategy. Initiatives like the Nabat platform use AI-powered drones for mangrove restoration (2), whilst Jaywun, a state-of-the-art research vessel, is equipped with real-time data platforms and AI-driven marine sensors (3). Jaywun plays a pivotal role in monitoring fish stocks, mapping coral reefs, and collecting oceanographic data that feeds into predictive models for conservation.
The Wildlife Monitoring Programme automates analysis of camera trap data in reserves, and AI-driven monitoring supports air and soil quality assessments. These efforts align with the UAE’s National AI Strategy 2031, which promotes AI adoption across key sectors, including environmental sustainability (4).
Meanwhile in the Pacific, Indigenous communities are leveraging blockchain to track and trade sustainably harvested tuna, ensuring profits flow back into local stewardship.
These are not stunts. They are lifelines. They show that conservation today is about data, design, and disruption – blending cutting-edge technology with ancient wisdom.
Nature: the next asset class
The financial case is equally compelling. According to the UN State of Finance for Nature, reversing biodiversity loss requires $700 billion annually. The bulk of the current finance for nature comes from the government and only 17% of it comes from the private sector. This is more than a funding gap – it is a profound market challenge.
But the tide is turning. In 2023, the world’s first coral reef insurance policy paid out to restore the Mesoamerican Reef after a hurricane struck, recognising reefs as natural infrastructure that buffer coasts. In 2024, the UAE launched its first sovereign green sukuk directly tied to mangrove restoration – blending Islamic finance principles with ecological stewardship.
Globally, biodiversity credits, nature-based bonds, and new accounting frameworks like the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) are reshaping how markets perceive ecosystem risks and opportunities (5).
Nature is no longer just a cost centre. It is a value driver. Investors are waking up to the reality that biodiversity loss is a systemic financial risk.
A new social contract with nature
Yet innovation and capital alone are not enough. We need a new social contract with nature – one rooted in equity, guided by Indigenous knowledge, and implemented by local communities.
In the UAE, we are embedding this ethos into everything we do. From reintroducing the scimitar-horned oryx to Chad, to supporting women-led conservation cooperatives in Al Dhafra, we are proving that ecological restoration and social justice go hand in hand. This is an important strategy because the most resilient ecosystems are those stewarded by the people who depend on them.
In Mexico, the “Sembrando Vida” program employs more than 420,000 farmers to restore degraded lands, one of the world’s largest social-ecological restoration efforts. These initiatives underline that protecting nature is also about sustaining livelihoods and cultures.
Incrementalism is our challenge
Let us be clear: we are out of time for half-measures. The IUCN Congress must be a turning point. We need governments to embed natural capital into national accounting systems and climate strategies. We need businesses to measure and mitigate their biodiversity impacts. Financial institutions must align portfolios with nature-positive outcomes. Citizens need to demand that nature is treated as infrastructure, not scenery.
The cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of innovation.
The UAE’s commitment — and a global imperative
As host of this year’s Congress, the UAE is proud to welcome the world’s experts in nature. We are scaling blue carbon markets, advancing technologies, and forging partnerships that bridge science, policy, and capital. We are committed to accelerating our environmental and conservation initiatives.
Because in the end, the most exciting innovation is not a new app or algorithm. It is a new mindset. One that sees nature not as something be saved, but as a partner to be respected and a foundation on which human prosperity depends.
And that is the future we must build – together.
[1] Source: World Economic Forum
[2] Source: TII
[3] Source: ADMO
[4] Source: UAE National AI Strategy
[5] Source: TNFD