Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa, President of the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection, took part, on Thursday in the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, as a guest of honor, in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress.
Upon arrival at the National Exhibition Centre, HRH Princess Lalla Hasnaa was received by Sara Awad Issa Musallam, the United Arab Emirates' Minister of State for Early Education.
The opening ceremony was marked by the speech delivered by HRH Princess Lalla Hasnaa, in which Her Royal Highness indicated that under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, who raised the protection of the environment and the preservation of natural ecosystems to national priorities, the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection embodies this Royal Vision through concrete and quantifiable actions.
“Our mission is ambitious: to sustainably integrate education for sustainable development and the preservation of natural ecosystems into public policy, business practices, and civic life,” she emphasized, adding that “we are convinced of a fundamental truth: safeguarding biodiversity is inseparable from educating and mobilizing society.”
Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa emphasized that preserving ecosystems and fostering education for sustainable development are inseparable pillars of a single ambition: building a better future founded on knowledge, responsibility, and solidarity.
Her Royal Highness underscored that the success of any environmental policy depends on citizen participation—especially the engagement of local communities and vulnerable populations. Empowering these communities and supporting their conservation efforts is essential to achieving a fair and inclusive ecological transition.
This spirit is reflected in the programs of the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection, as evidenced by Eco-Schools and Young Reporters for the Environment, through which the Foundation nurtures in children and youth the conviction that protecting biodiversity and ecosystems is not an accessory, but a condition for their future, HRH Princess Lalla Hasnaa stated.
Her Royal Highness also highlighted several actions led by the Foundation showcasing the spirit of inclusion and co-building that guides its commitments, such as the B7ar Bla Plastic campaign which, launched in 2019, has “mobilized entire communities—citizens, NGOs, and businesses alike—around a common goal: to reduce plastic pollution in our oceans and safeguard marine life.”
There is also the preservation of the Palm Grove project in Marrakech, as well as restoration efforts at the RAMSAR sites of Marchica, Oued Eddahab, and Dakhla, she maintained, adding that in this same spirit of innovation, the Foundation is exploring new pathways where the preservation of natural ecosystems can be advanced through sport.
“Sport speaks a universal language. It inspires collective values and has the power to raise awareness, mobilize communities, and engage youth in environmental stewardship,” she said.
Her Royal Highness, who has also placed the youth at the center of her speech, spoke directly to the youth, particularly African youth, by stressing that they are not only the leaders of the future, but are already shaping the present.
In this vein, she noted, technology, and particularly, artificial intelligence, will play an important role, pointing out that AI could help to better understand ecosystems, anticipate risks and design solutions that were previously out of reach.
“But it is you, the youth, who will ensure that these tools are used ethically, inclusively, and in the service of nature and humanity,” Her Royal Highness stressed, adding that “with the strength of youth, especially in Africa, we can build a future where humanity and nature thrive as one.”
HRH Princess Lalla Hasnaa concluded by stressing that “education, mobilization, innovation, and youth: these are our levers to transform this Vision into tangible reality.”
Following the opening ceremony, chaired by HH Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and also marked by speeches from Surangel Whipps Junior, President of the Republic of Palau, Amna Al Dhahak Al Shamsi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates, and Razan Al Mubarak, President of the IUCN, Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa held talks with Dr. Sylvia Earle, American Oceanographer and Marine Biologist, President of the NGO “Mission Blue” and Ambassador to the IUCN.
Her Royal Highness then visited the pavilions of the United Arab Emirates, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and Africa.
Gathering heads of state, ministers, leaders of international organizations and experts from around the world, the IUCN World Conservation Congress is the opportunity for the entire world to pool efforts to define priorities and lead actions for the conservation of nature, the fight against climate change and the promotion of sustainable development.
MAP: 09 October 2025
