Call for Nominations: 2027 Conservation Visionary Awards
At each Global Congress, the ILCN recognizes outstanding leaders and organizations who are setting strategically significant global precedents. Nominations are now open for conservation visionaries to be recognized at the 2027 ILCN Global Congress. Nominations will close on September 1, 2026.
About the Congress
Countries around the world have made ambitious commitments to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. With the deadline fast approaching, realizing this global agenda requires conservation at a scale, pace, and level of cross-boundary collaboration never seen before.
Across the globe, private and community-led land conservation offers powerful pathways to safeguard natural systems and wildlife, manage and reduce the impacts of climate change, and strengthen communities and economies. The challenge now is to better enable, connect, adapt, and scale existing solutions and emerging innovations.
The ILCN Global Congress brings together the international land conservation community leading this effort. Each Congress strengthens this growing community of practice, showcases host-country leadership, and accelerates the ideas, investment, and partnerships needed to secure healthy ecosystems and their cultural, social, economic, and environmental benefits.
In 2027, the Congress will be co-hosted by the Australian Land Conservation Alliance (ALCA). The event will bring together more than 500 conservation practitioners, including Indigenous peoples, conservation and land management organizations, government representatives, universities, businesses, and local communities – all working together to conserve land and water for present and future generations.
The next three years will be critical in shaping our future. Backing people, backing nature, and backing action are essential to achieving the global conservation agenda. Join us.
Why Australia?
Australia, one of the most biodiverse continents on Earth, is on the frontline of nature loss – but also a place where land conservation is delivering results that bring bold hope and ambition. Across the continent, species are being brought back from the brink; innovative, cross-sector partnerships are proving that everyone has a role to play in conservation; and emerging finance models are redefining how we value and invest in nature.
Australia’s vast landscapes, ancient ecosystems and iconic wildlife offer a living showcase of what the global conservation community works to conserve and care for. With Country that is cared for by the world’s oldest continuous culture, engaged landholders and a dedicated and skilled conservation sector, hosting the Global Congress in Australia brings the international community together in a place where people, nature, and action intersect to create real impacts at scale.
Photo Credit: Annette Ruzicka
Intended Congress Impacts
- Increased knowledge of the diversity of tools and approaches being used around the world to protect and steward private and non-government land for the long-term;
- Establishment of meaningful and actionable relationships among practitioners from around the world, leading to continued knowledge exchange, sharing of expertise, and sense of global community;
- Greater understanding of strategies that can be used to advance private and civic land conservation in specific country contexts;
- The emergence and transfer of innovations in private and community-led land conservation policy and practice across sectoral, jurisdictional, and geographic boundaries;
- Recognition and elevation of the role and importance of private and civic land conservation in achieving national and international goals for land protection, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience;
- Learn from and celebrate Australia's leadership in caring for Country, nature stewardship and land protection.
Overview of the Conservation Visionary Award
At each Global Congress the ILCN celebrates the achievements of private and civic land conservation efforts in the host country and internationally by recognizing outstanding leaders and organizations who are setting strategically significant global precedents. Two Conservation Visionary Awards will be presented by the ILCN at the 2027 Global Congress to honor practitioners, organizations or initiatives in Australia and beyond that demonstrate visionary leadership and enduring impact.
Past ILCN Conservation Visionary Awardees
Anne Richardson
Virginia, United States of America
Mandy Gull-Masty
Quebec, Canada
Miquel Rafa Fornieles
Catalonia, Spain
Jack and Laura Dangermond
California, United States of America
Michelle Bachelet, President and Marcelo Mena, Minister of the Environment
Santiago, Chile
Humberto Delgado Rosa
Brussels, Belgium
Co-Hosted By
Australian Land Conservation Alliance
ALCA is Australia's peak national body for nature conservation, and represents organisations that protect, steward and restore nature on private and non-government land.
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International Land Conservation Network
ILCN connects the global private and civic land conservation community of practice to accelerate the protection and strengthen the management of land and natural resources.
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Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy seeks to improve quality of life through the effective use, taxation, and stewardship of land.
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Enduring Conference Sponsor
Congress Partner
Archive of Previous Congresses
