Abu Dhabi, UAE, October 8, 2025—The IUCN World Conservation Congress is poised to adopt a new motion on One Health -- developed and championed by WCS and its partners—to fully integrate One Health into conservation policies and programs, recognizing the interdependence of wildlife, ecosystem, animal, and human health.

The motion reflects a growing global consensus that the health of people and the planet are inextricably linked. It urges stronger collaboration between environmental and health sectors to prevent future pandemics, mitigate climate and biodiversity crises, and strengthen resilience for communities and ecosystems alike.

The One Health motion builds on more than two decades of WCS leadership in advancing this integrated approach—beginning with the landmark 2004 Manhattan Principles and continuing through the 2020 Berlin Principles and WCS’s global field programs that bridge conservation, health, and development.

One Health is vital to ensuring that ecosystem degradation, wildlife markets and trade, and land-use change—drivers of disease emergence—are addressed at their source. From forest monitoring and disease surveillance in Africa and Asia to sustainable landscape management in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, WCS works with governments and communities to reduce the risks of pathogen spillover while protecting biodiversity.

“WCS’s health and field teams have seen firsthand how human well-being depends on the integrity of nature,” said Dr. Sarah Olson, WCS Health Program Director. "This motion recognizes that protecting natural systems is a frontline defense for global health security and climate resilience."

“There can be no prevention of future pandemics of zoonotic origin without the protection and ecological integrity of nature,” said Dr. Chris Walzer, WCS Executive Director of Health. “The ongoing degradation of nature is driving interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and systemic health declines, endangering ecosystems, economies, and societies. Protecting ecological integrity is critical to public health, and primary prevention must be at the forefront.”

“The IUCN motion on One Health represents a powerful step toward uniting conservation and health communities around a shared vision,” said Dr. Sue Lieberman, WCS Vice President for International Policy. “Protecting wildlife and ecosystem integrity is essential not only for biodiversity, but also for preventing future pandemics and ensuring a healthy planet for all.”

The motion has been approved and will be adopted on October 9th; it will guide IUCN Members to embed One Health principles into biodiversity frameworks, strengthen intersectoral collaboration, and encourage investment in prevention—prioritizing intact ecosystems, responsible land-use planning, and wildlife protection as critical components of global health policy. 

This action follows other large multi-lateral bodies embracing One Health, including the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Cali, Colombia last year and the UN Climate Conference in Dubai in 2023. The global community is mainstreaming a One Health approach to help address the widespread assaults on nature.

WCS looks forward to working with IUCN, governments, and partners to advance these commitments through the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Global Health Security Agenda, and other key international platforms. The motion’s adoption will mark a significant step toward ensuring that conservation and health goals are achieved together, for nature and people.

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