The U.S. states of California and Massachusetts have become Members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
They join a growing group of subnational governments, building on momentum from the last IUCN World Conservation Congress where IUCN Members voted to welcome and expand the role of regional and local governments throughout the Union.
“We are delighted that California and Massachusetts are now officially recognised as IUCN Members and are the first U.S. states to join IUCN. States, cities and other subnational governments play a critical role in protecting and restoring the world’s biodiversity, and contributing to a more stable, healthier, safer future for us all.
“As IUCN Members, these two States join a growing group of subnational governments who are driving change processes locally, exchanging knowledge, and contributing to the achievement of conservation targets of global significance,” said IUCN Director General, Dr Grethel Aguilar.
With 34 other subnational government Members, IUCN recognises the key contributions these bodies make to conserving nature through protection, restoration, management and enhancement of territories under their jurisdiction.
These States join at an opportune moment, as IUCN actively works with subnational government Members to maximise their role in the Union’s work. At the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025, Members voted to increase the participation of subnational governments throughout the Union, calling for a strategy to embed their perspectives in all activities. Momentum has been building since the 2021 IUCN Congress created a membership category for subnational governments.
The USA is unique in its extraordinary diversity of life, supporting a broader array of ecosystems than any other nation on Earth. California is home to one of the largest ecological networks in the world; its Marine Protected Area Network is part of the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas, an example of large-scale conservation spanning over 1,100 miles of coastline. The California condor is an iconic success story, where rigorous conservation efforts saved the species from extinction and continue to support the wild population today.
Massachusetts is implementing a 25-year biodiversity initiative that aims to conserve 30% of state land and water by 2030, and 40% by 2050, combating development and climate change threats and ensuring ecosystem resilience for forests, wetlands, and marine habitats.
The two States had announced their intention to join the Union during the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi in 2025.