(By the Brazilian Committee of the IUCN)
Representatives from the Brazilian Committee met this afternoon, September 9th, with Razan Al Mubarak, the newly elected president of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
On the agenda was a conversation about the fundamental role that Brazilian biomes play in maintaining biodiversity and climate worldwide, the daily threats faced by nature defenders and their traditional peoples, and the weakening of our environmental policies and management structures, as well as the role that the IUCN can play in coordinating actions that strengthen IUCN member institutions in Brazil and the work they perform. In addition to the conversation, the Committee sent a letter to the then-candidate last week. Brazil Matters – access it here.
The president enthusiastically welcomed the proposals presented by the members, especially the suggestion to promote a large communication campaign to publicize Brazilian biomes within the Union. Upon hearing the proposal that Brazil host one of the IUCN World Congresses, Razan was practical and suggested that the first step be to promote one of the meetings with the IUCN advisors.
"Brazil is at the heart of the world, and I will work to ensure that it is at the heart of the IUCN," commented the president shortly after stating that she understands the role Brazil plays and inviting members to work with her to strengthen the Union in Brazil and, consequently, in the world.
Brazil has 26 IUCN member institutions that are part of the National Committee and meet periodically to develop strategies to enhance their results through integration among the institutions. The Committee will continue working to strengthen its institutional space, its members, and the IUCN's presence in Brazil.
The Elections
The election results were announced on Wednesday, September 8, at the third meeting of the Assembly of Members, which took place during the World Conservation Congress in Marseille, France.
Competing against two other candidates, Razan Al Mubarak won, securing the majority of votes in the first round with 69% from governments and 63% from civil society organizations. Razan, from the United Arab Emirates, is the second woman to assume the presidency of the IUCN in the institution's 14 terms and 73-year history. Yolanda Kakabadse, from Ecuador, led the organization from 1996 to 2004.
As a woman and young compared to her predecessors, Razan faces an immense challenge, especially in addressing the climate and health crises, where nature conservation plays a crucial role in both cases.