IUCN Academy
Training in conservation and sustainability for real-world impact
Join the IUCN Academy for globally recognised environmental education and conservation training that empowers you to create real impact.
- 25,000+ Learners Worldwide
- Live & Self-Paced Classes
- Certificates Awarded
Featured Courses
Browse through our offering. Flexible formats, practical tools, and certificates awarded to help you drive conservation action.
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE on Nature for Cities - 3rd Edition
Learn how to measure and monitor cities’ ecological performance, starting 5 February 2026
5 weeks
17 Modules
Individual and group assignments
Professional Certificate
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE on Finance for Nature – 6th Edition
Explore how finance can support a sustainable future for our planet, starting 11 February 2026
- 5 weeks
- 4 Modules
- Individual and group assignments
- Professional Certificate
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE on the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions™ - 8th Edition
Learn about the updated Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions™, developed by IUCN and the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management, starting 17 February 2026
- 5 weeks
- 5 Modules
- Individual and group assignments
- Professional Certificate
Biodiversity Offsetting in a Nature Positive World
Understand the role of biodiversity offsets within the broader Nature Positive agenda. Explore how development projects can better manage their…
- 1-2 hours
- 5 Modules
- Knowledge-check quiz
- Certificate of completion
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE on Nature for Cities - 3rd Edition
Learn how to measure and monitor cities’ ecological performance, starting 5 February 2026
- 5 weeks
- 17 Modules
- Individual and group assignments
- Professional Certificate
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE on Finance for Nature – 6th Edition
Explore how finance can support a sustainable future for our planet, starting 11 February 2026
- 5 weeks
- 4 Modules
- Individual and group assignments
- Professional Certificate
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE on the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions™ - 8th Edition
Learn about the updated Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions™, developed by IUCN and the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management, starting 17 February 2026
- 5 weeks
- 5 Modules
- Individual and group assignments
- Professional Certificate
Biodiversity Offsetting in a Nature Positive World
Understand the role of biodiversity offsets within the broader Nature Positive agenda. Explore how development projects can better manage their…
- 1-2 hours
- 5 Modules
- Knowledge-check quiz
- Certificate of completion
Learn from Leading Conservation & Sustainability Experts
Our training programmes are developed by experts from IUCN, top academic institutions, civil society and the private sector
Stewart Maginnis
Deputy Director General
Nature-based Solutions
Global Conservation Leadership
IUCN
Prof Jorge E. Viñuales
Harold Samuel Professor of Law & Environmental Policy
Environmental Policy
International Law
University of Cambridge
Pauline Poutrain
Climate Change and Biodiversity Specialist
Climate Change
Biodiversity
Agence Française de Développement
Charles Karangwa
Global Head, Nature-based Solutions
Nature-based Solutions
Ecosystem Management
IUCN
Russell Galt
Head, Science and Natural Capital
Urbanism
Sustainable Development
Nature Broking
Candice Stevens
Founder and CEO
Sustainable Finance
Conservation Economics
Sustainable Coalition
Prof Jun Yang
Professor, Department of Earth System Science
Earth System Science
Urban Ecology
Tsinghua University
Tim Badman
Director, Protected, Conserved and Heritage Areas
World Heritage
Cultural Conservation
IUCN
Bertrand Gacon
Co-Founder and CEO
Impact Measurement
Sustainable Finance
Impaakt
Hesta Groenewald
Associate
Conflict Sensitivity
Organisational Development
PeaceNexus Foundation
Marcos Valderrabano Herrero
Programme Manager, Red List of Ecosystems
Ecosystem Risk Assessment
Red List Training
IUCN
Lucita Jasmin
Group Sustainability Director
Corporate Sustainability
Environmental Governance
Royal Golden Eagle
In Partnership with Global Academic Partners
Trusted by 25,000+ Learners
Hear how our environmental education & sustainability training programs have helped learners grow their careers, lead conservation projects, and create impact around the world.
Teresa
Senior Project Manager
Bridging finance and nature through real-world insights
I gained insights on how to regulate businesses with double materiality reporting and how different tools and instruments can be applied in the real world. Learning about nature finance and seeing practical examples, like the case of April Group, helped me understand how finance for nature can be assessed and practised beyond theory.
The Hong Kong Countryside Foundation
Finance for Nature, 5th Edition
Benni
Vice President
Intellectually stimulating and inspiring
The program is intellectually stimulating and inspiring with ongoing reflections on how the Urban Nature Indexes can be applied in our cities and how, as professionals, we can strengthen international and cross-disciplinary collaboration to advance environmental stewardship.
The Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects
Nature for Cities, 2nd Edition
Stephen
Transport Planner
Create lasting Nature-based Solutions
The course taught me about the importance of economic viability and effective governance mechanisms to create lasting nature-based solutions. This is critical for projects to outlive their funding lifecycles and be sustainable.
Mott MacDonald
Nature-based Solutions, 7th Edition
Claudia
Architect/ NbS Project manager
Guiding practitioners toward sustainable cities
The course allowed me to better understand the challenges that urban areas face in relation to climate change related issues and also helped understand how these spaces could be game changers for conservation and human well-being efforts. The Urban Nature Indexes is a comprehensive and easy-to-follow tool to guide practitioners in this process.
NBSCLIMATE
Nature for Cities, 1st Edition
Chris
Chief Executive Officer
Combined theory with practical applications
The course effectively combined theoretical frameworks with practical applications, offering a comprehensive understanding of how financial mechanisms can support nature conservation and sustainability efforts. The guest presentations offered unique insights from industry experts who provided first-hand accounts of real-world applications and challenges in the field of environmental finance. I would highly recommend this course to anyone looking to deepen their understanding of the nature-finance nexus.
Marine Conservation Society Seychelles
Finance for Nature, 4th Edition
Suzan
Project Manager
Invaluable tool for creating sustainable solutions
The course helped me understand the difference between Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and other solutions used to tackle climate change and other environmental challenges. Learning how to assess and implement NbS using the IUCN Global Standard has given me the skills to assess and implement impactful projects that restore ecosystems and engage communities—making it an invaluable tool for creating sustainable solutions.
Tilad Environmental Consultants
Nature-based Solutions, 7th Edition
María
Regional Curator
Fascinating and inspiring lessons
From learning how Berlin is measuring vegetation cover—and grappling with data on key services supported by biodiversity such as wild swimming, mushroom collection or birdwatching—to discovering how Beijing uses mobile location data to monitor human exposure to green spaces, the lessons learnt from this course have been both fascinating and inspiring. Honoured to have been part of this journey!
The Nature of Cities
Nature for Cities, 1st Edition
Tommi
Conservation Specialist
Comprehensive and well-organized
This certification course was comprehensive, well-organized, and thoughtfully constructed to be relevant to today’s environment. The topic is innovative and much needed. I was impressed with the depth and science behind the content. We enjoyed access to incredibly well-qualified and passionate experts. The class was a great use of my time and investment.
Wildlife Protection Solutions
Finance for Nature, 4th Edition
David
Senior Ecologist
Learning the financial language was invaluable
For me as an ecologist, learning the financial language was probably the most useful. Learning about different tools like IBAT and ENCORE was particularly interesting, and it certainly opened my eyes on their application regionally and internationally.
Aurecon
Finance for Nature, 4th Edition
Lucy
Senior Landscape Architect
A truly collaborative learning experience
The course was well-structured, engaging, and provided a diverse range of international challenges and opportunities. I learnt a lot from the interactions with my team where I gained valuable insights discussing region-specific issues. Hearing about how different groups applied the Standard and receiving feedback from the technical experts was particularly enlightening.
Arup
Nature-based Solutions, 6th Edition
News and Insights
IUCN Academy launches new suite of courses ahead of the IUCN Congress 2025
In the lead up to the IUCN World Conservation Congress – the largest marketplace for conservation and sustainable development science, practice and policy – the…
Learn More
IUCN Academy at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025
At the upcoming IUCN World Conservation Congress, the Academy will soon be opening the doors to the Learning Zone – a vibrant space for training,…
Learn More
The power of a multidisciplinary approach in today’s conservation workplace
In today’s fast-changing world, solving complex challenges requires more than one’s technical expertise. Climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and sustainable development are interconnected issues that…
Learn More
IUCN Academy launches new suite of courses ahead of the IUCN Congress 2025
In the lead up to the IUCN World Conservation Congress – the largest marketplace for conservation and sustainable development science, practice and policy – the…
Learn More
IUCN Academy at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025
At the upcoming IUCN World Conservation Congress, the Academy will soon be opening the doors to the Learning Zone – a vibrant space for training,…
Learn MoreSeed Partners Supporting Innovation in Environmental Education
