Safeguard
Nature's Integrity
Pause genetically engineered
wildlife releases
A new push to engineer nature
Biodiversity is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history – and the rate of species extinction is accelerating. This loss is a direct result of human activity. We are eroding the very foundations of life on Earth, including humanity’s own existence.
At the same time, more and more proposals are being made to genetically engineer nature itself – not only domesticated crops and livestock, but wild species within complex ecosystems.
Proposals range from eradicating mosquito populations and invasive species (such as mice, rabbits or snails), to making endangered animals disease-resistant or even ‘reviving’ extinct species (such as mammoth or dire wolf).
Most of these applications remain speculative. So far, none has proven successful. The risks, however, are clear.
Risks of genetically engineering nature
- Irreversible ecological impacts – Once released, genetically engineered organisms cannot be recalled. There is no “off-switch.” Their interactions with other species are unpredictable and could permanently damage already fragile ecosystems.
- Scientific uncertainty – We still know far too little about how wild species interact in nature to confidently “re-programme” them. Removing or altering one species may have cascading effects we cannot foresee.
- Inadequate regulation – Current biosafety frameworks were designed for domesticated species in agricultural settings. They are inadequate and insufficient for managing the ecological, ethical, and cross-border implications of genetically engineering nature. No effective mechanisms for international liability and redress exist.
- Violation of Indigenous Peoples’ and Local Communities’ rights – Genetic engineering of nature risks marginalising Indigenous Peoples’ and Local Communities’ (IPLCs) worldviews and conservation practices, undermining their sovereignty and ecological stewardship. It might disrupt the deep relationships IPLCs maintain with sacred beings, kin, and culturally significant species.
A paradigm shift in nature conservation
The use of genetic engineering in conservation would mark a profound departure from established principles. Rather than safeguarding nature for its intrinsic value, conservation could shift toward redesigning nature to fit human preferences.
While often described as simply another “tool in the toolbox”, the use of genetic engineering in nature conservation represents a paradigm shift whose ecological and ethical implications demand careful consideration.
A responsible path forward
Responsible innovation requires pause, precaution, and inclusive public debate.
No intentional environmental release of genetically engineered wild species – including experimental releases – should take place until
- Science can provide the answers needed to predict outcomes;
- Robust regulations are in place to prevent harm;
- Safeguards are established to respect, preserve, and maintain the knowledge, innovations, and practices of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs); and
- Broad societal consensus has been achieved on whether – and under what conditions – the boundary between protecting and re-engineering nature may be crossed.
A moratorium is a legitimate and internationally recognised strategy for addressing technologies that carry irreversible environmental risks. It is also a well-established policy instrument of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN):
2004: Moratorium on further environmental releases of GMOs,
2012: Moratorium on the fishing of the Chilean jack mackerel in the South Pacific,
2019: Moratorium on projects impacting the Critically Endangered Tapanuli orangutan,
2021: Moratorium on deep-sea mining.
This moratorium will allow time to advance scientific understanding, foster broad and inclusive societal debate, and implement strong safeguards before any environmental releases occur. In light of the serious and wide-ranging risks of genetically engineering nature, it offers the best way to uphold IUCN’s commitment to the intrinsic value of biodiversity, the Precautionary Principle, and the recognition of IPLCs.
Support Motion 133 on a moratorium on genetically engineering wild species in natural ecosystems
Support
Motion 133 – A moratorium on genetically engineering wild species in natural ecosystems has been proposed by:
Background
At the upcoming World Conservation Congress, taking place 9–15 October 2025 in Abu Dhabi, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) will take a decision on IUCN Motion 133 – A moratorium on genetically engineering wild species in natural ecosystems.
This motion has been introduced by NGOs from around the world to safeguard nature’s integrity in the face of rising proposals to genetically engineer wild species in natural ecosystems.
Response to rapidly evolving technology
Motion 133 aims to protect nature by applying the Precautionary Principle to rapidly advancing genetic engineering technologies:
“Specifically, the motion introduces greater specificity and operational clarity regarding the application of the Precautionary Principle in the context of rapidly advancing genetic engineering technologies and their potential use in natural environments and responds to rapidly evolving technological developments not yet addressed in current policy frameworks.“
World Conservation Congress Preparatory Committee acting as Appeals Body
What is the Precautionary Principle?
The Precautionary Principle is a risk management strategy advocating for preventive action against potential harm. Under this principle, if an activity might harm the public or the environment and there is still no scientific agreement on the issue, the activity should not be carried out. The Convention on Biological Diversity states in its Preamble that, “Where there is a threat of significant reduction or loss of biological diversity, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to avoid or minimize such a threat.”
From genetic engineering to synthetic biology
Capabilities of genetic engineering technology have radically expanded in recent years. Latest advances allow engineers to create organisms and biological elements that are
- radically different from those occurring in nature (“new-to-nature”),
- perpetuate genetic engineering processes outside the laboratory (“outdoor genetic engineering”), and
- engineer or wipe out entire populations of wild species (“gene drives”).
The convergence of genetic engineering technologies with generative artificial intelligence has opened the door to so-called generative biology or machine-driven biodesign, by which AI models, trained with large amounts of biological data and equipped with enormous data processing power, generate new genetic (DNA/RNA) and protein (amino acid) sequences.
Given today’s fragmented regulatory framework, synthetic organisms, microorganisms or genetic elements could be released without adequate oversight, potentially disrupting ecosystems, harming human health, and undermining socio-economic and cultural rights.
What is synthetic biology?
The term synthetic biology refers to biotechnologies that can engineer, redesign, or synthesize biological systems – including organisms. It blurs distinctions between older genetic engineering methods and newer approaches such as genome editing. The Convention on Biological Diversity defines it as “a further development and new dimension of modern biotechnology that combines science, technology and engineering to facilitate and accelerate the understanding, design, redesign, manufacture and/or modification of genetic materials, living organisms and biological systems” (Decision XIII/17).
IUCN responses to these developments
The IUCN has been debating its approach to synthetic biology – the latest manifestation of genetic engineering – for several years.
In 2016, at the IUCN Congress in Hawai‘i, members called for an assessment of synthetic biology, along with recommendations for IUCN’s approach. They also asked for an urgent review of gene drives and opposed any research or field trials until that review is completed (Resolution 086).
What are gene drives?
Engineered gene drives aim to bias inheritance so an engineered trait, such as sterility or sex-ratio bias, spreads rapidly through a population. Their potential to permanently alter entire species and ecosystems raises significant concerns for biodiversity and the integrity of IPLC’s cultures, traditions and territories. Gene drives have been proposed to eradicate invasive rodents on islands and to suppress populations of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes which can transmit malaria. First environmental releases are planned before 2030.
An IUCN assessment, Genetic frontiers for conservation, was published in 2019. The report was criticised both by NGOs – including IUCN member organisations – and scientists as an insufficient basis for IUCN deliberations. In addition, a draft set of IUCN Principles on Synthetic Biology and Biodiversity Conservation was presented to the IUCN Congress in Marseille, which was postponed to 2021. The Principles included the option of moratoria:
“There could be situations in which moratoria on the environmental release of specific applications of synthetic biology (including engineered gene drives) are warranted. Specific guidance would be required regarding what data and other information are needed to determine if or when a moratorium might be introduced, how a moratorium would be implemented, and how a moratorium on a particular application could be removed.”
Principles on Synthetic Biology and Biodiversity Conservation, draft version of December 2019
In 2021, at the IUCN Congress in Marseille, members did not adopt the Principles but called for an “inclusive and participatory process” to develop an IUCN policy on the “use of synthetic biology in nature conservation” to be adopted by the next Congress (Resolution 123). NGOs have denounced the policy development process for its lack of transparency, conflicts of interest and insufficient involvement of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs).
In the lead up to the 2025 Congress, a draft IUCN policy on synthetic biology in relation to nature conservation has been proposed as part of Motion 087. The proposed policy fails to provide sufficient safeguards against negative and irreversible harm to nature. It requires significant improvement.
We urge IUCN members to endorse a moratorium on genetically engineering wild species, to protect biodiversity and the integrity of nature conservation. Such a pause is essential to:
- expand scientific knowledge,
- enable broad and inclusive public debate, and
- establish robust safeguards before any irreversible interventions occur.
Support Motion 133 on a moratorium on genetically engineering wild species in natural ecosystems
Resources
Here you can find some background materials on synthetic biology in relation to nature conservation:
Synthetic biology
A Bigger Conversation, 2022, Gene Editing and Conservation – the Unknown and the Unknowable.
Convention on Biological Biodiversity, 2024, Report of the multidisciplinary Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Synthetic Biology to Support the Process for Broad and Regular Horizon Scanning, Monitoring and Assessment.
German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), 2022, Genetic engineering, nature conservation and biological diversity. Boundaries of design.
IUCN French Committee, 2024, The future of life. Our values for action.
Redford et al., 2019, Genetic frontiers for conservation: An assessment of synthetic biology and biodiversity conservation.
Save our Seeds, Pollinis, 2024, Synthetic Biology = Genetic Engineering of Wild Species
Gene drives
Austrian Environment Agency, 2019, Gene drive organisms. Implications for the environment and nature conservation.
Christophe Boëte, Gene drive: communication, hype, and the publics, Journal of Medical Entomology, Volume 62, Issue 3, May 2025, Pages 745–748
Econexus, Gene Drive Monitor
European Network of Scientists for Social and Environmental Responsibility (ENSSER), 2020, Gene Drives. A report on their science, applications, social aspects, ethics and regulations.
Kristin Hagen, Mathias Otto, Karl Stracke, Margret Engelhard, 2024, Synthetic Biology, genetic engineering in the wild, and biological diversity, EurSafe2024 Proceedings
Save Our Seeds, 2021, Gene Drive Organisms: A new dimension of genetic engineering. Applications, risks and regulation
Save our Seeds, 2020, Gene Drive Film, Youtube video (15 mins)
Sarah Hartley and Tom Law, 2022, Should we create gene drive grey squirrels?, Youtube video (18 mins)
‘De-extinction’
IUCN Species Survival Commission Canid Specialist Group Taxonomic Review Task Force. Conservation perspectives on gene editing in wild canids. Commentary on the announced re-creation of a genetic proxy of an extinct dire wolf by Colossal, 18 April 2025
Martin Boer-Cueva, Dieter Hochuli, Marco Salvatori and Peter Banks, ‘‘De-extinction’ of dire wolves promotes false hope: technology can’t undo extinction, The Conversation, 16 April 2025
Genetically engineered trees
Ricarda A. Steinbrecher, EcoNexus, 2024, Genetically Engineered American Chestnut: Discussion of the performance limitations of Darling 58/54.
Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN), 2022, The Global Status of Genetically Engineered Tree Development: A Growing Threat.
Save Our Seeds, 2025, GMO Promises: GM as “shortcut to creating a truly American blight-resistant chestnut”.
Contact
Meet us at the IUCN World Congress:
IUCN World Congress Exhibition Booth 141
Safeguard Nature – Pause Genetically Engineered Wildlife Releases
Attend our events:
Exhibition event – Thursday, 9 October 2025, at 15:00-16:00, IDEA Campaign & IUCN ENCA
Press conference – Friday, 10 October 2025, at 12:30-13:00, High Level Speaker Area and online