PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE Strategic Nature Positive Action: Leveraging IBAT and the IUCN RHINO Approach – IUCN Academy
Finance and economy
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE Strategic Nature Positive Action: Leveraging IBAT and the IUCN RHINO Approach
Become a leader in delivering high-integrity
Nature Positive action, starting 26 May 2026
View Course details
February 17, 2026
Course details
Trainers
Course content
First edition 50% inaugural discount
Organisations are increasingly expected to show how they contribute to halting and reversing nature loss by 2030, in line with the Global Goal for Nature and the transition towards a Nature Positive economy, not only through commitments, but through credible, measurable action.
Yet many organisations struggle with the same practical questions:
Where are our most significant nature risks and impacts?
What action should we prioritise?
How do we turn biodiversity data into concrete decisions?
How do we report this credibly and align with global frameworks?
The
IUCN RHINO (Rapid High-Integrity Nature-positive Outcomes)
approach, developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), provides an
implementation-ready, science-based
pathway to address these challenges.
The IUCN RHINO connects
local action to global accountability
, guiding organisations on
what to do, where to act, and how to measure progress towards Nature Positive
. It supports the design of
evidence-based action plans
that contribute to reducing key threats to biodiversity, while supporting
alignment with global goals and reporting frameworks.
About this course
This Professional Certificate is designed for businesses, financial institutions and public authorities/practitioners seeking to deliver credible, science-based Nature Positive action in response to the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), the international agreement to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, and growing expectations linked to nature-related risks and disclosure.
Delivering this requires more than commitments. It calls for actionable science, trusted data, and a structured decision-making process that links organisational action to global goals such as the KMGBF and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while supporting disclosure under the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).
This Professional Certificate provides an in-depth, applied learning experience that enables participants to:
Work through IUCN RHINO, aligned with the TNFD LEAP approach
(locate, evaluate, assess, prepare)
Use the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT)
to identify biodiversity risk and opportunities
Interpret STAR (Species Threat Abatement and Restoration) metric and STAR
scores
to quantify extinction-risk reduction potential and frame priority actions
Apply these outputs in
realistic organisational contexts
through guided exercises, case-based learning and a carefully designed individual project.
The programme combines self-paced learning with expert-guided sessions, real-world case studies, and both group and individual assignments, ensuring that participants gain practical, transferable workflows that support real-world decision-making.
Who should attend this course?
This Professional Certificate is designed for individuals and organisations looking to embed credible, science-based Nature Positive action into strategy, planning and disclosure. It is particularly relevant for:
Sustainability, biodiversity, ESG and risk professionals
, including advisors and consultants responsible for strategy, metrics, monitoring or nature-related action
Corporate strategists and reporting/disclosure teams
preparing for TNFD-aligned and CSRD/GRI disclosure
Government officials and regulators
working on nature-related policies, risk management frameworks or national biodiversity planning
Conservation practitioners
supporting private-sector engagement or advising companies on biodiversity management
Investors and financial institutions
assessing nature-related risks and opportunities across portfolios
IUCN Members and partners
working at the interface of conservation and business decision-making
This course is suitable both for practitioners beginning structured Nature Positive planning and for those seeking to deepen their technical capacity with IBAT, STAR and the IUCN RHINO approach.
Why should you take this course
Participants in the Professional Certificate will leave equipped with:
A structured method for Nature Positive action
using the IUCN RHINO approach, from locating organisations’ interface with biodiversity to assessing and preparing high-integrity interventions. The final IUCN RHINO steps (implement and report) are introduced to show how analytical insights support organisational action and disclosure.
Hands-on experience with IBAT, STAR and TNFD-aligned processes
, enabling you to screen sites, explore proximity to threatened species and Key Biodiversity Areas, interpret STAR/STAR
outputs, establish baselines, set targets and prepare assessments aligned with TNFD LEAP.
The ability to design and communicate credible organisational interventions
, translating IUCN RHINO findings into practical strategies aligned with the KMGBF, SDGs and emerging disclosure frameworks such as CSRD and GRI.
Confidence in applying the IUCN RHINO workflow
, built through curated case studies, structured exercises and a carefully designed individual project that provides transferable, organisation-ready practice.
Exposure to expert perspectives from IUCN and external speakers
, illustrating how IUCN RHINO, IBAT and STAR support high-integrity decision-making across sectors and geographies.
Course details
Course dates:
26 May – 6 July 2026 (
detailed schedule
Live session timing:
Track 1: from 09:00 to 11:00 CEST / Track 2: from 15:00 to 17:00 CEST
Duration:
6 weeks
Weekly estimated effort:
5 – 7 hours, including live sessions
Course type
: Hybrid – self-paced e-learning + 6 expert live sessions
Includes
: Modules, individual project & group work
🗣️
Language:
Award:
Professional Certificate upon successful course completion
Fees
First edition 50% inaugural discount
As this is the inaugural edition of the Professional Certificate, seats are offered at a
50% introductory discount
on the standard fees listed below
. Where multiple discounts are applicable, the
higher discount will be applied
to the standard course fee.
IUCN Members organisations:
up to 75% discount depending on category of membership as detailed
here
Non-Profit Organisations:
2’400 CHF
For-Profit Organisations:
3’200 CHF
A number of
partial scholarships
are available for nationals from developing countries and LDCs, contact
[email protected]
for more information.
IUCN Staff:
apply via
this link
COLOURS Programme Constituents:
apply via
this link
Admission requirements
Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent qualification)
Proficiency in English
Minimum three years of professional experience
For a successful completion, participants must:
✅ Attend live sessions
✅ Complete the individual and group assignments
✅ Complete the
self-paced modules
Course trainers
Martin Sneary
Director, Business and Nature Team
(IUCN)
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Course Includes
13 Lessons
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