A Voice for Nature #35, IUCN news from Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Dear readers, August 2026

Welcome to the latest issue of A Voice for Nature, with news and updates from across Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

In this edition, we mark the first anniversary of IUCN’s Central Asia Office, celebrating a year of strengthened presence, partnerships and conservation action across the region. Species conservation also takes centre stage: discover what endemic biodiversity in the Western Balkans can tell us about climate resilience, the rediscovery of the Dinaric vole in Prokletije, and new research into the unusual behaviour of tortoises on Golem Grad. We also share highlights from the latest Biodiversity Task Force for the Western Balkans meeting, which took stock of progress under Pillar 5: Protection of Nature and Biodiversity of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans and strengthened regional coordination on shared biodiversity priorities. Experts and partners are also invited to contribute to Argali stakeholder mapping and submit nominations for the Snow Leopard Award.

Restoration is another strong thread throughout this issue. We look at how the Western Balkans is strengthening cooperation on ecosystem restoration and NbS under the Green Agenda, including efforts to translate KM-GBF Target 2 from policy into practice, alongside a new infographic explaining the principles and benefits of Forest Landscape Restoration. From Central Asia, we share how local knowledge is shaping restoration priorities in three regions of Uzbekistan and celebrate the launch of two new projects.

We also celebrate an important milestone for IUCN’s constituency with the official establishment of the IUCN National Committee of Armenia, and welcome two new IUCN Members in the region. Finally, we invite you to join two upcoming gatherings: the symposium Beyond State Protected Areas: Recognising Diverse Conservation Approaches for Effective Area-Based Conservation in Armenia, and the 7th Congress of Ecologists with international participation in North Macedonia.

As always, we thank all contributors and partners for sharing their stories and helping shape this issue.

Enjoy the read,
IUCN ECARO Editorial Team

IUCN Central Asia Office marks first anniversary, strengthening regional cooperation for nature

IUCN Central Asia Office is marking its first anniversary as a growing regional hub for cooperation, knowledge exchange and action for nature. Opened in June 2025 with the support of the Government of Uzbekistan, the Office serves Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, helping connect national and regional priorities with IUCN’s global expertise, standards and tools.

LAND, WATER AND OCEAN

Local species, global signals: what biodiversity in the Western Balkans tells us about climate resilience

Across the Western Balkans, wild species are already responding to a changing climate. From mountain meadows and rivers to wetlands, forests and karst landscapes, their decline, recovery and ability to adapt reveal much about the resilience of the ecosystems we all depend on. This World Environment Day, discover what these species are telling us, why their signals matter, and how today’s climate choices will shape their future - and ours as well.

Advancing action for nature under the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans

The 15th Regular Meeting of the Biodiversity Task Force of the Western Balkans concluded in Tirana, Albania, bringing together Task Force members, regional partners, donors and experts to review progress and agree on next steps to advance biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration across the region.

Lake Shkodra receives the UNESCO seal!

The Albanian part of the Shkodra Lake Watershed has been designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, recognising its biodiversity and its role in balancing conservation with sustainable development. The designation strengthens cooperation between Albania and Montenegro and highlights the area's ecological, cultural and socio-economic values, contributing to the IUCN Nature 2030 Programme, particularly under the Water and People thematic areas.

Dinaric vole rediscovered in Prokletije after more than 70 years

The Dinaric vole (Dinaromys bogdanovi), one of the Balkans' rarest endemic mammals, has been recorded in Prokletije National Park for the first time in more than 70 years. This remarkable finding confirms the ecological importance of the Prokletije Mountains and highlights the value of long-term biodiversity monitoring. The record contributes to a better understanding of the species' distribution and supports ongoing efforts to conserve mountain ecosystems in Montenegro.