Inclusive nature action principles

The eight principles for inclusive nature action are intended to provide a guiding framework to help governments, donors, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders support and scale up transformative action to conserve, restore and sustainably use and manage global biodiversity

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Partners

A range of organisations helped to co-develop these principles

iied logo Cambridge Conservation Initiative logo Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs logo Fauna & Flora International logo Forest Peoples Program logo Global Alliance of Territorial Communities logo UNEP-WCMC logo Women4Biodiversity logo logo image

These principles provide a guiding framework for ensuring that biodiversity policies and actions are truly inclusive and effective

Mrinalini Rai's picture

Mrinalini Rai
founder and director, Women4Biodiversity

Get involved

We welcome feedback on these principles for inclusive nature action, and would love to hear how you are using them in your work.

To share your views, find out more or get involved, email IIED principal researcher [email protected] 

The eight inclusive nature action principles are intended to provide a guiding framework to help governments, donors, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders support and scale up transformative action to conserve, restore and sustainably use and manage biodiversity in ways that are locally-led, gender-responsive and inclusive of a wide diversity of rights holders. 

This includes women, youth, children, people living with disabilities, displaced people, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, people of African descent and other ethnic groups. These groups are often at the frontline of biodiversity action, yet least empowered to effect change due to systemic barriers and discrimination. 

Evidence shows that these approaches are, ultimately, more effective for biodiversity as well as being more socially just. 

Background

The principles were developed during a Wilton Park conference on 'Transformative change for global biodiversity: the role of gender equality and social inclusion' hosted by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in September 2024. 

They draw on the principles for locally led adaptation and on the Shandia Principles (PDF), developed by the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities, as well as the outcomes of discussions during the conference. They are also in line with the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity Gender Plan of Action (PDF). 

Faith Muniale, Amelia Arreguin Prado and Jennifer Tauli Corpuz discuss the role of women, girls and marginalised groups in biodiversity conservation at the Wilton Park conference in 2024

“These principles challenge us to rethink how we fund, design and deliver climate and biodiversity solutions," said former UK Minister for Nature Mary Creagh, speaking at NYC Climate Week in September 2025. 

"They call for structural change – like securing land rights, strengthening local leadership and weaving Indigenous knowledge into policy and practice. They also call on us as funders to be more flexible, patient and adaptative, and most crucially, for us all to ensure that the rights and security of environmental defenders – often Indigenous Peoples and local communities and very often women – are safeguarded.”