The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress 2020 was held between 3 and 11 September, 2021, in Marseille, France, focusing on nature-based recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. The Congress was structured around seven main themes: landscapes; freshwater; oceans; climate change; rights and governance; economic and financial systems; and knowledge, innovation, and technology. The Congress closed by setting the nature conservation agenda for the next decade and beyond. The Congress urged governments to implement a nature-based recovery from the pandemic, investing at least 10% of global recovery funds in nature.

Held once every four years, this Congress brought together several thousand leaders and decision-makers from government, NGOs, civil society, Indigenous Peoples organizations, the private sector, and academia, with the goal of conserving the environment and promoting nature-based solutions to global challenges. This year due to Covid 19, it was held in a hybrid (in-person and virtual) format. IUCN is a membership Union of more than 1,400 organizations, including more than 18,000 experts.

The inaugural ceremony touched the heart of everyone, which was inaugurated by the French president. Everyone including the President HE Mr Emmanuel Macron spoke very well. Although ocean was in the centre of discussion, and nearly 100 ocean-related events were organised, Mr Macron brought biodiversity to fight against climate change. He argued that it's important for everyone to focus on climate and biodiversity. He is going to orgnaise a "One Ocean Summit" in France in near future.

WildTeam, a member of IUCN, not only voted for most of the motions, and for the new Council of the IUCN, but also co-sponsored one of the motions, No. 132, which was passed. WildTeam's tiger conservation activities were showcased and discussed by Awely https://www.iucncongress2020.org/programme/official-programme/session-53324, which was aired by a Bangladeshi TV Channel https://youtu.be/Zg7nxEOveGc.

Professor Dr Md. Anwarul Islm, CEO of WildTeam, represented WildTeam at the Congress, shares the following Marseille Manifesto with the Dhaka Courier.