PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE on Measuring and Monitoring Urban Nature - 19 February 2025

Become a Champion for Greener Cities

The IUCN Academy introduces the Professional Certificate on Measuring and Monitoring Urban Nature, an advanced course tailored for professionals across various sectors designed to equip participants with the critical skills and knowledge needed to lead urban conservation efforts and enhance biodiversity in cities worldwide.

ABOUT THIS COURSE

As urban areas expand, cities face increasing challenges in tracking and managing their environmental impacts. Existing monitoring methods often lack consistency, resulting in fragmented data that hinders a comprehensive understanding of a city’s environmental performance.

In response, IUCN has developed the Urban Nature Indexes (UNI), a standardized system designed to provide a holistic view of a city's impact on nature. To develop the UNI, technical support was provided by a team of consultants at Urban Biodiversity Hub, along with 30 experts drawn from IUCN Members and Commissions, and representatives of 26 local governments.

The UNI is a versatile and user-friendly framework that encompasses six key themes: consumption drivers, human pressures, habitat status, species status, nature’s contributions to people, and governance responses. By addressing these themes, the UNI helps cities understand their ecological impacts not only within their physical boundaries but also on distant peri-urban and rural ecosystems. This comprehensive approach enhances environmental transparency and accountability, fostering local action for nature conservation and sustainable urban development.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Professionals from all sectors who wish to gain a deeper understanding of how cities affect nature and explore the UNI to address today’s challenges.

WHAT WILL YOU GET FROM THIS COURSE?

• Learn how to use UNI to assess, plan, and measure the impact of your urban conservation initiatives.

• Learn to use scientific methodologies, including the UNI, to assess cities’ influence on urban biodiversity and tackle challenges related to nature conservation, protection and restoration, as well as climate change mitigation and adaptation.
• Access case studies and success stories from initiatives (i.e. related to urban planning, urban ecology, citizen engagement) around the world, applying these lessons to local contexts.

• Inform and support local authorities, communities and stakeholders in identifying threats and opportunities in their cities.

• Develop interdisciplinary, inclusive and holistic approaches to involve communities in biodiversity conservation, restoration and monitoring.

WHY SHOULD YOU TAKE THIS COURSE? 

• Contribute to the sustainable development and sustainable use of natural resources within their cities.

• Employ a wide range of methodologies and tools, spanning different disciplines, to address urban societal challenges.

• Join a global movement, spearheaded by IUCN, to transform cities into biodiversity champions.

COURSE DETAILS

🕒 Start date: 19 February 2025

🕒 End date: 02 April 2025

For a detailed schedule, click here

🕒 Live session timing:

The live sessions are scheduled from 14:00 to 16:00 CEST.

🕒 Duration: 5 weeks     

🕒 Weekly estimated effort: 5 - 7 Hours weekly, self-paced

📖 Course type: Hybrid with self-paced e-learning and online live sessions with sustainability experts.

📖 Course includes: Modules, individual project and group work

🗨️ Language: English

Registration: OPEN 

Award:   Professional Certificate on successful completion

FEES:

• IUCN Commission members: 33% discount on the non-profit rate.

• Young Commission members (under 35): 50% discount on the non-profit rate.

• IUCN Members organisations: up to 75% discount depending on category of membership as detailed here

• Non-Profit Organisations:  1’450 CHF 

• For-Profit Organisations:   1’750 CHF

• A number of partial scholarships are available for nationals from developing countries and LDCs, contact academy@iucn.org for more information.

• IUCN Staff: sign up via this link. 

FOR A SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION, PARTICIPANTS MUST:

• Attend live sessions.

• Complete the individual and group assignments.