In October 2025, Vivek Menon, an Indian wildlife conservationist, environmental commentator, author and photographer, elected as Chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) for the 2025–2029 term, became the first Asian to lead the SSC in its 75-year history.
- He is the Founder and Executive Director(ED) of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and has been actively involved with the IUCN for over 25 years, serving in roles such as Chair of the SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group and as an IUCN Councillor.
- The election took place during the IUCN World Conservation Congress held from October 9 to 15, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Exam Hints:
- What? IUCN Leadership & Elections 2026–2029
- When? During the election held in Abu Dhabi (UAE)
- Tenure: From 2026 to 2029
- SSC Chair: Vivek Menon (India), First Asian to lead the SSC
- Presidency: Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak
- South & East Asia Regional Councillors: Lima Rosalind (India), Roshani Adhikari Pathak (Nepal), Atsuhiro Yoshinaka (Japan), Yinfeng Guo (China), Amran Hamzah (Malaysia)
- New Member: Tuvalu became 90th State Member of IUCN
IUCN Leadership and Regional Council Elections 2026–2029:
Presidency: Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak was re-elected as the President of IUCN. She will serve a second term from 2026 to 2029.
South & East Asia Councillors: Lima Rosalind from India, Roshani Adhikari Pathak(Nepal), Atsuhiro Yoshinaka (Japan), Yinfeng Guo (China), and Amran Hamzah (Malaysia) were elected as Regional Councillors for South and East Asia.
WCPA: Dr Madhu Rao(India) will continue as Chair of World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).
CEC: Dr Margaret Otieno(Kenya) has been elected as Chair of Commission on Education and Communication (CEC), replacing Sean Southey
CEM: Dr Liette Vasseur(Canada) has been elected as Chair of Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM), replacing Angela Andrade Perez.
CEESP: Ernesto Herrera Guerra(Mexico) has been elected as Chair of Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP), replacing Kristen Walker Painemilla.
WCEL: Dr Christina Voigt(Norway) was re-elected as Chair of World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL).
CAC: Manuel Pulgar-Vidal(Peru) was re-elected as Chair of Climate Action Commission (CAC).
Tuvalu Joined IUCN:
New Member: Tuvalu, a small island country in the west-central Pacific Ocean, joined IUCN, becoming its 90th State member.
Access to Global Expertise: With this move, the membership provides access to IUCN’s scientific expertise and partnerships, global conservation efforts, and support for protecting its marine ecosystems.
About International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN):
IUCN has over 1,400 members, including governments, non-governmental organizations, and Indigenous peoples’ organizations.
- Its key functions include maintaining the Red List of Threatened Species, the world’s most comprehensive inventory of the conservation status of species.
President – Razan Al Mubarak
Headquarters – Gland, Switzerland
Established – 1948
