ACKNOWLEDGING IUCN Resolution 3.007 A moratorium on the further release of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) (Bangkok, 2004), Resolution 5.004 Establishment of the Ethics Mechanism (Jeju, 2012), Resolution 7.123 Towards development of an IUCN policy on synthetic biology in relation to nature conservation (Marseille, 2020) and Resolution 6.086 Development of IUCN policy on biodiversity conservation and synthetic biology (Hawai‘i, 2016);

AWARE that synthetic biology develops new technologies for genetic engineering, including engineered gene drives, and commonly gives rise to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO), and that synthetic biology is converging with generative artificial intelligence (AI) to engineer microorganisms, viruses and genetic elements;

FURTHER AWARE of proposals to expand genetic engineering to wild species in natural complex and interconnected ecosystems, which raises significant conceptual and value questions, as well as biosafety challenges;

CONCERNED that genetic engineering of wild species in natural ecosystems undermines established and effective nature conservation strategies, many grounded in the traditional knowledge and practices of Indigenous peoples and Local communities;

FURTHER CONCERNED that the genetic engineering of wild species in natural ecosystems, including in protected areas, is not compatible with the practices, values and principles of nature conservation and the mission and objectives established in the IUCN Statutes;

RECALLING point 3 of the fundamental principles of the IUCN Biosphere Ethics Initiative, recognising the danger of synthetic creations being introduced into the biosphere;

REAFFIRMING the intrinsic value of biological diversity as laid out in the Preamble of the Convention on Biological Diversity;

CONCERNED that genetic engineering of wild species in natural ecosystems is irreversible, and leads to unforeseeable impacts over space and time that could exacerbate biodiversity loss and significantly damage ecosystems, and may also lead to uncontrollable transboundary movement of GMOs; and

REAFFIRMING, therefore, the fundamental importance of applying the Precautionary Principle, as set out in the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, regarding GMOs;

The IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025, at its session in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates:

1. CALLS for a moratorium on synthetic biology and related technological approaches that: a) involve genetically modified wild organisms in natural ecosystems, including engineered gene drive organisms and modified microbial communities; or b) create novel genetic elements in natural ecosystems, until the IUCN World Conservation Congress formally votes to lift the moratorium;

2. CALLS on the Ethics Specialist Group of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law to assess the legal, ethical and conceptual aspects of the genetic engineering of wild species in natural ecosystems, in relation to the practices, values and principles of nature conservation and the mission and objectives established in the IUCN Statutes, and to report to Council; and

3. REQUESTS the Director General to include the present Resolution and Resolution 3.007 into IUCN’s public communication materials addressing synthetic biology and genetic engineering.

The final version going to the IUCN Members’ Assembly has been published here.