For decades, conservation has relied heavily on the deep wisdom and technical expertise of seasoned practitioners. Their hard-won knowledge has protected landscapes, endangered species, and cultural heritage across the globe. Yet as we stand on the brink of unprecedented ecological tipping points, there is an urgent need to cultivate the next wave of leadership—one that is agile, inclusive, and ready to inherit the mantle of responsibility.

At the 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congress in Hawai’i, a clear message was sent to the global conservation community:

“We need a global movement that nurtures a new generation across all sectors of society to connect with nature and take action to support conservation.”

The Congress emphasized that nurturing youth requires more than just access to nature as it demands deliberate mentorship and empowerment, “conservation community has a responsibility to help youth by empowering young professionals to develop their capacities and networks…recognizing that youth have as much to teach as they have to learn.” (See 2016 IUCN Congress Navigating Island Earth: The Hawaiʻi Commitments.)

Now, at the crossroads of a planet in crisis and a generation bursting with passion and innovation, CoalitionWILD has tabled a transformative motion for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress (WCC): a global call to institutionalize mentorship within the conservation movement. This call to action is rooted in the recognition that embedding structured mentorship pathways into the DNA of conservation organizations and networks worldwide is an organic transfer of knowledge so the lessons of the past are not lost but rather adapted and carried forward by new voices.

The youth’s fresh perspectives are the “winds” that can help propel conservation forward, yet too often, they face systemic barriers to entry—lack of access to influential networks, limited professional development, and, at times, tokenistic inclusion in major decision-making platforms. Mentorship provides more than just career guidance; youth gain firsthand insights into navigating complex socio-political landscapes, understanding conservation governance, and developing skills that formal education alone cannot provide.

This motion arrives at a critical time. As the IUCN shapes the 2025 World Conservation Congress, the inclusion of mentorship in its strategic agenda will signal to the broader conservation community that youth leadership is not optional—it is essential. The future of protected areas, biodiversity targets, and climate resilience depends on our ability to foster leadership pipelines that are diverse, empowered, and well-equipped.

We are pleased to acknowledge our co-sponsors on this motion, including Wilderness Foundation Africa, Kua`aina Ulu `Auamo, A Rocha International , Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), Center for Large Landscape Conservation, Earth Law Center, EarthX, EuroNatur – Stiftung Europäisches Naturerbe, EUROPARC Federation, Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Ambiental, Synchronicity Earth, WildTeam Bangladesh, Women for Conservation/W4C USA. This motion could not come to the floor without their fearless support.

And we also want to thank the many delegates of the 12th World Wilderness Congress who voted in unanimous agreement on the mentorship resolution that recognizes the importance of championing mentorship opportunities into the wider conservation framework.

You can read Mainstreaming mentorship for young ecological stewards to enhance conservation efforts here. We look forward to announcing later this month the outcome of the IUCN’s initial review of this motion and whether or not it was accepted for debate on the floor of the World Conservation Congress.