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Asia Region Meetings

Conservation Asia Congress Portfolio

The Society for Conservation Biology Asia Region organizes biennial international conferences, serving as premier academic and professional platforms for biodiversity science within the continent. These meetings assemble researchers, policymakers, resource managers, and students to present empirical findings, evaluate regional policy frameworks, and strengthen transboundary networks.

6th SCB Asia Region Conference (6th Conservation Asia Congress Nepal - CAC Nepal 2026)

Location: Yak & Yeti Hotel, Kathmandu, Nepal
Dates: June 1–6, 2026
Theme: Harmonising Biodiversity & Human Well-being in Asia

Overview: Returning to the venue of the very first SCB regional conference twenty-one years later, the 6th Conservation Asia Congress marked a monumental step forward for regional conservation, inclusivity, and collaboration. Co-hosted by the SCB Asia Region, the SCB Nepal Chapter, and the Burhan Community Regeneration and Conservation Foundation, the event united global experts, early-career researchers, and community leaders. The Congress culminated on World Environment Day with the adoption of The Kathmandu Resolution 2026, a policy framework advocating for capacity building, community-led conservation, and the ethical use of science, technology, and infrastructure.

Impact & Scientific Excellence:

• The congress welcomed 500 total participants from 42 countries, achieving zero cancellations due to visa or travel obstructions.
• Inclusivity was highly prioritized with 160 travel and registration grants awarded, bringing in 390 participants from the Global South and 38 representatives from Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs).
• The scientific program facilitated over 300 hours of knowledge sharing, featuring 11 plenary talks, 260 oral presentations, 40 speed talks, and 59 poster presentations.
• Specialized capacity-building and training were provided through 5 half-day and 7 full-day workshops held alongside the main conference days.

For technical abstracts, program details, and full event documentation, visit the dedicated CAC Nepal 2026 Page.

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5th SCB Asia Region Conference (Conservation Asia 2018)

Location: American University of Central Asia, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
Dates: August 6–10, 2018
Theme: Mainstreaming Conservation in a Changing Asia
Overview: This symposium brought together 250 conservation scientists and practitioners from 44 nations. Co-hosted with the Snow Leopard Trust and the United Nations Development Programme, the conference focused heavily on integrating conservation research across Eurasia, featuring simultaneous translations in Russian and English to maximize regional accessibility. The meeting spurred significant structural growth for the Society, catalyzing the formation of new SCB chapters for Central Asia and Pakistan.

Resources: Conservation Asia 2018 Post-Conference Report | Conservation Asia 2018 Book of Abstracts

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4th SCB Asia Region Conference (Conservation Asia 2016)

Location: National University of Singapore, Singapore
Dates: June 29 – July 2, 2016
Theme: Sustainable Landscapes for People, Business and Biodiversity
Overview: Serving as the inaugural joint meeting between the SCB Asia Section and the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC) Asia-Pacific Chapter, this landmark conference hosted over 600 delegates from 37 countries. The scientific program critically examined the intersections of economic development and environmental stewardship within the region. Key institutional outputs included the formal adoption of a Declaration on Responsible Business in Asia and a comprehensive Resolution on Reducing Illegal Wildlife Trade and Trafficking in Asia.

Resources: Conservation Asia 2016 Post-Conference Report | Conservation Asia 2016 Program | Resolution on Reducing Illegal Wildlife Trade

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3rd SCB Asia Region Conference (SCB Asia 2014)

Location: Equatorial Hotel, Melaka, Malaysia
Dates: August 19–22, 2014
Overview: Hosted in Melaka, this event brought together 377 attendees from 45 nationalities, representing a diverse community of conservation scientists and practitioners. The conference featured a robust scientific program with 7 keynote presentations, 223 oral presentations, and extensive pre- and post-conference workshops. A landmark achievement of this symposium was the drafting and adoption of the Melaka Declaration. This formal resolution advocated for stronger institutional protection of Malaysia's biodiversity, urging the implementation of the Central Forest Spine master plan, the mobilization of cross-sectoral mechanisms to curb illegal ecological encroachment, and a commitment to achieving zero net degradation of Protected Areas.

Resources: SCB Asia 2014 Post-Conference Report | SCB Asia 2014 Abstract Booklet

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2nd SCB Asia Region Conference (Biodiversity Asia 2012)

Location: JN Tata Auditorium, Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bengaluru (Bangalore), India
Dates: August 7–10, 2012
Overview: Convened under the theme "Science, Policy and Governance," Biodiversity Asia 2012 was co-organized with the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). Timed strategically ahead of the 11th Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, the conference successfully gathered over 400 regional researchers to address critical updates in conservation governance, applied conservation biology, and the complex dynamics between biodiversity and human populations.

Resources: 2012 SCB Asia Annual Report | 2012 Book of Abstracts | Biodiversity Asia 2012 Overview

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1st SCB Asia Region Conference (Inaugural Meeting, 2005)

Location: Yak & Yeti Hotel, Kathmandu, Nepal
Dates: November 17–20, 2005
Overview: The foundational meeting that established the regional research and policy agenda for SCB Asia. Titled "Biodiversity Conservation in Asia: Current Status and Future Perspectives," this inaugural event successfully fostered cross-border academic integration, particularly among early-career researchers from diverse Asian nations. Notably, this event marked a historic milestone for the global Society for Conservation Biology, as Asia became the very first SCB Region to host a dedicated regional meeting.