An actor, two big bees and a lot of experts: a week spent tackling the planet’s problems

At times in Marseille’s early autumn sun, pre-pandemic life felt tantalisingly close at the world’s largest conservation gathering since Covid began. Scientists presented the latest research on nature – in-person – to colleagues they had not seen for months or even years.

Amid the excitement of 4,000 people meeting face to face at the IUCN’s world conservation congress in the French port city, with more participating online, there was broad agreement that conservation is experiencing a moment of opportunity, despite obvious challenges, and that essential work has not stopped under lockdowns.

From sharks to Hainan gibbons, coral reefs to rivers, myriad projects were presented. Kenya revealed its first wildlife census,. There were talks and debates on the universal declaration of the rights of the river, alien species, human-wildlife conflict, the use of Smart technology in conservation, genetic engineering and much more.