Launched by The WILD Foundation in 1977, the World Wilderness Congress (WWC) is now the longest-running, public, international environmental forum. With over 30 years of conservation achievements, the WWC has become a high-profile platform for acting on complex wilderness and wildlands issues.

WWCs include senior-level representation from governments, the private sector, native peoples, non-governmental organizations, academia and the arts in a structure carefully designed to bring together the full spectrum of wilderness-related views. Broad-based participation, combined with the spirit of open and balanced debate, creates a constructive, objective oriented environment, and generates practical conservation outcomes.

The Congress convenes every three to four years around the world. Past WWCs have been held in South Africa (1977, 2001), Australia (1980), Scotland (1983), USA (1987, 2005), Norway (1993), and India (1998).

Since its origins, the World Wilderness Congress has been a result-oriented conservation project that begins long before the actual convention of delegates takes place, and WILD 9 will be no different. In the months leading up to Merida, several committees, groups, agencies and organizations are working on models, objectives and targets that address a global agenda and aim to achieve practical conservation results through a diverse and interesting program –with a Latin rhythm!