Fuelled by evidence that the planet is entering its sixth mass extinction event, global leaders from 196 countries committed to 23 targets to stem this tide of extinction.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aims to address biodiversity loss, restore ecosystems and protect Indigenous rights, and includes concrete measures to halt and reverse nature loss, including putting 30% of the planet and 30% of degraded ecosystems under protection by 2030.

The full Framework and Targets can be read here

Vale Dr Haydn Washington - All of us at the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute are deeply saddened by the recent passing of Haydn Washington. Haydn was Research Manager for the Institute for a period of time and since the Institute’s inception has been a pivotal collaborator. He co-facilitated a workshop on varied perceptions of ‘wilderness’ with a focus on Indigenous perspectives, and later joined our teaching team in the Master of Environmental Management at the University of NSW, where he expanded his work in academia. Haydn was a person who felt deeply and passionately in his tireless work to protect the natural world and his presence is sorely missed.

IUCN DG Bruno Oberle addresses the plenary at UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP 15

“COP15 offers a unique, once in a lifetime opportunity to set a clear path towards a nature-positive society and economy by 2030. For this to happen, we must secure a bold, ambitious yet practical Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework here in Montreal.”

The full IUCN Statement is available here. 


Ever wonder why the Blue Mountains are regarded as World Heritage? Now is your chance to find out while having some fun too.

Scenic World and the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute are celebrating the anniversary of the Blue Mountains being globally recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site by hosting two guided tours on 3 December 2022 at Scenic World.

Last week First Nations and non-Indigenous people met for the Reimagining Conservation Forum. This First Nations-led forum co-hosted by the Protected Areas Collaboration brought together First Nations and non-Indigenous leaders and practitioners involved in the policies and practices of land and sea management across Australia to reimagine how we think about and the systems that drive conservation efforts.