In the past Congresses were held every two years, then every three, and now every four years. Initially, the Congress only consisted of the Members’ Assembly of all IUCN member organizations. Since 1996, the Congress has grown to include the Forum, open to all, to debate major sustainable development issues, propose solutions and facilitate the sharing of information and experiences.
The IUCN World Conservation Congress has been held in all corners of the world.
History
According to IUCN’s statutes, the IUCN World Conservation Congress is the highest organ of IUCN that shall convene every fourth year in Switzerland or any other State that agrees to host a session of the Congress.
60 years of Congresses
| 2008 Barcelona | 1972 Banff | |
| 2004 Bangkok | 1969 New Delhi | |
| 2000 Amman | 1966 Lucerne | |
| 1996 Montreal | 1963 Nairobi | |
| 1994 Buenos Aires | 1960 Warsaw | |
| 1990 Perth | 1958 Athens | |
| 1988 San José | 1956 Edinburgh | |
| 1984 Madrid | 1954 Copenhagen | |
| 1981 Christchurch | 1952 Caracas | |
| 1978 Ashkhabad | 1950 Brussels | |
| 1975 Kinshasa | 1948 Fontainebleau |
