The Conservation Symposium – Postponed, not cancelled.
The Steering Committee of The Conservation Symposium has resolved to postpone the 2026 Symposium, which was scheduled to take place from 8 to 12 November 2026 at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus.
The decision was taken to ensure that the Symposium continues to deliver the standard of scientific programme and the breadth of participation that the southern African conservation community has come to expect of it.
REVISED DATES
The Steering Committee is working on revised dates and will communicate these as soon as they have been confirmed.
No action is required from you at this stage.
A new call for abstracts and special session proposals will accompany the announcement of the revised dates.
If you have already submitted an abstract or special session proposal, we warmly encourage you to submit again when the call reopens. We would be glad to receive your work a second time around.
Thank you for your continued support of The Conservation Symposium. It exists because of the community that attends it, and we look forward to welcoming you to the rescheduled event.
Addressing today’s conservation challenges requires a collective commitment to learning, innovation, and evidence-informed action. By bringing together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and communities, this theme explores how knowledge and collaboration can be harnessed to drive more effective, equitable, and lasting conservation outcomes.
Some key issues to consider:
- Sustainable Financing & Ecosystem Services
- Legislative & Regulatory Frameworks
- Climate Change & Ecological Connectivity
- OECMS – Emerging Norms & Standards
- Technology & Innovation in Conservation
- Knowledge Management & Decision Support
- Sustainable Use & Conservation Funding Models
- Forestry & Fire Management
- One Health & Environmental Contaminants
- Human–Wildlife Conflict & The Human–Wildlife Interface
- Environmental Management
- Special Session: St Lucia At A Tipping Point – Catchment to Coast
The Value and History of The Conservation Symposium
15+
Years
Building conservation best practice
2500+
Delegates
Connecting global and local experts.
500+
Sessions
Covering crucial conservation topics.
50+
Research Contributions
Sharing groundbreaking studies and results.
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