The 2024 Global Congress of the International Land Conservation Network (ILCN) was successfully held in Quebec City, Canada, from October 16 to 18. Centered on the theme Building Relationships for a Resilient World, the conference explored how to foster ethical, equitable collaborative networks to secure sustainable conservation financing and deliver long-term, effective protected area management.
This congress aligns with the 30×30 Target laid out in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in 2022, which aims to effectively conserve 30 percent of the world’s land and ocean areas by 2030.
The event brought together 257 in-person delegates from 26 countries and regions, alongside an additional 289 online participants. It featured 25 parallel breakout sessions and two high-level keynote panel discussions. Through diverse exchanges and in-depth dialogues, participants shared cutting-edge global land conservation topics and on-the-ground practical experience.
Liu Zhi, Executive Director for China and Asia Programs of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and Director of the Peking University–Lincoln Institute Center for Urban Development and Land Policy; Liu Shenmin, Asia Representative of the ILCN and Manager of Siwuling Nature Site under the Jianghe Hui Zhejiang Cui Program; and Liu Jingyi, Policy Research Fellow at the PKU-Lincoln Center, attended the congress.
Liu Zhi, Executive Director for China and Asia Programs, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy & Director of the PKU-Lincoln Center, delivers a speech
Conservation networks serve as vital catalysts for civic land conservation worldwide, acting as platforms for information exchange, enabling practitioners to learn from peers, and supporting the delivery of long-range, large-scale conservation targets. A panel discussion titled Emerging Civic Land Conservation Networks was moderated by Victoria Marles, President of Australian Land Conservation Alliance. Panelists included Liu Shenmin, Hernán Mladinic, ILCN Regional Representative for Latin America (Chile), Santiago Ortiz de Zevallos from the Amazon Conservation Network (Peru), and Kiragu Mwangi, ILCN Regional Representative for Africa (UK). Liu Shenmin shared the establishment and achievements of China’s civic nature reserve alliance as well as community conservation networks across East and Southeast Asia.
Liu Shenmin, ILCN Asia Representative & Manager of Siwuling Nature Site, delivers a speech
A session themed Pockets, Minds and Hearts: Three Core Tools for Protected Area Communities was chaired by Mireia Llorente from Spain’s Entretantos Foundation. Panel speakers comprised Brendan Dunford, Lead of Ireland’s Burren Programme; Darcy Riddell, co-founder of Canada’s Indigenous-led RAD Network; and Liu Jingyi, Policy Research Fellow at the PKU-Lincoln Center. The panel showcased innovative environmental governance practices and illustrated how policy, legal and financial instruments can work hand-in-hand with local communities to deliver conservation outcomes. Liu Jingyi presented a special talk titled Conservation Easements in China: A Case Study of Qianjiangyuan National Park. Her presentation unpacked mainstream models of conservation easement reform in China and elaborated on the formulation and implementation of conservation easement contracts based on Qianjiangyuan National Park. The speech sparked extensive discussion among experts and offered fresh perspectives and references for international protected area governance.
Liu Jingyi, Policy Research Fellow at the PKU-Lincoln Center, delivers a speech
The successful convening of this congress has further boosted policy innovation and practical exchange on protected area management across nations. All participants reached a consensus that stronger cross-partnerships are essential to tackle global environmental challenges and achieve long-term sustainable governance of protected areas. Following the conclusion of the congress, the ILCN and its member organisations will continue to collaborate, advance new conservation policies, deepen international dialogue, and collectively strive toward the shared 30×30 biodiversity target.
Contributors: Liu Shenmin, Liu Jingyi
Reviewer: Liu Zhi
