The 31st Annual Conference of the Yale Chapter of the International Society of Tropical Foresters (ISTF), titled Governing Resilient Tropical Forest Systems, will explore critical issues surrounding the governance of tropical forests, which play a vital role in global climate regulation, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of millions.
The conference will delve into key topics such as the integration of scientific research and traditional ecological knowledge, the impact of land tenure and Indigenous management, the effectiveness of economic incentives, and successful models of stakeholder collaboration across different geographic scales.
The conference will take place in person and have some hybrid format options.
We are thrilled to welcome an amazing set of speakers from different disciplines spanning academia, government, and civil society, some of whom are listed below.
Keynote speakers:
•Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF)
•Santiago Gowland, CEO of the Rainforest Alliance
•Rhett Butler, Founder of Mongabay
Panel 1 - Nature-Based Solutions: Forests for the Future & Holistic Pathways to Thriving Ecosystems
•Elsa Ordway, Assistant Professor, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
•David Ganz, Yale School of Environment Class of ’96, Executive Director, NGO Regional Community Forestry Training Center for Asia and the Pacific (RECOFTC)
Panel 2 - Ground Up Forest Governance in a Changing Climate: Perspectives from Indigenous and Local Communities
•Jose Domingo, Mam Mayan Indigenous leader, Guatemalan municipal government
•Diego Pons, PhD in Physical Geography, Research Associate Scientist, University of Denver
•Bola Madzoke, World Conservation Society (WCS) Congo
•Dominique Bikaba, Founder of Strong Roots Congo
Panel 3 - Tropical Forest Finance: Innovative Financing Mechanisms for Tropical Forest Conservation and Restoration
•Syahrina Anggraini, Country Lead, Indonesia, Governors Climate & Forests Task Force
•Francisco Souza, Senior Vice President Global Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Center, Conservation International
More details on our other speakers will be shared soon!
Visit ISTF website (istf.yale.edu) and learn more about our calls for the Innovation Prize (award from $1,000-$3,000), posters, speed talks, and photo contests. Applications are due 22nd, 2024.
Follow ISTF on Facebook @yalefesistf, Twitter @YaleISTF, LinkedIn @yale-istf, and Instagram @YaleISTF for updates as more conference details unfold!
If you have any questions, please write to istf@yale.edu. We look forward to seeing you there!