In the past, Congresses were held every two years, then every three, and now they are held every four years. Initially, the Congress only consisted of the Members’ Assembly of all IUCN member organizations. Since 1996, the Congress has grown to include the Forum, open to all, to debate major sustainable development issues, propose solutions and facilitate the sharing of information and experiences.
The IUCN World Conservation Congress has been held in all corners of the world:
- 2016 Hawaiʻi
- 2012 Jeju
- 2008 Barcelona
- 2004 Bangkok
- 2000 Amman
- 1996 Montreal
- 1994 Buenos Aires
- 1990 Perth
- 1988 San José
- 1984 Madrid
- 1981 Christchurch
- 1978 Ashkhabad
- 1977 Geneva (extra ordinary session)
- 1975 Kinshasa
- 1972 Banff
- 1969 New Delhi
- 1966 Lucerne
- 1963 Nairobi
- 1960 Warsaw
- 1958 Athens
- 1956 Edinburgh
- 1954 Copenhagen
- 1952 Caracas
- 1950 Brussels
- 1948 Fontainebleau
