Assad Serhal: “A renewed mandate for unity, science, and hope for nature and people.”

Beirut, 16 October 2025 — The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), BirdLife’s national partner, extends its heartfelt congratulations to Razan Al Mubarak on her re-election as President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) at the 2025 World Conservation Congress held in Abu Dhabi.

In a statement, Assad Serhal, SPNL’s Director General and member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, said:

“Razan Al Mubarak’s renewed presidency is a powerful signal of trust and continuity within the IUCN family. Her leadership has brought science, community, and diplomacy together under one vision — a vision where nature, climate, and people are inseparable. Her re-election reinforces the global momentum to translate strategies into tangible actions on the ground.”

Serhal highlighted that under Al Mubarak’s first mandate, IUCN strengthened its engagement with governments, local communities, and civil society actors worldwide, enabling nature-based solutions, climate adaptation, and biodiversity restoration efforts to reach new scales. He added:

“For us in Lebanon, and for partners across the Middle East, this victory renews our collective determination to advance the Hima approach — a home-grown model of community-based conservation rooted in culture and shared stewardship. We stand ready to contribute to IUCN’s 2030 Programme of Work with local knowledge, scientific collaboration, and grassroots leadership.”

Razan Al Mubarak was re-elected by over 1,400 Member organisations from 160 countries during the IUCN Members’ Assembly. Her new four-year mandate will guide the Union through the decisive final years toward the 2030 biodiversity, climate, and land-restoration targets.

“This is a moment of renewed hope,” Serhal concluded. “It is a call for solidarity — from the Mediterranean to the Himalayas — to act for nature, for climate, and for people.”