Walking the Talk: Our Commitment to Sustainability & Inclusion
At Conservation Asia Congress Nepal 2026 (CACNepal2026), we believe that every gathering for biodiversity should embody the very principles it champions. Hosting this congress at the Yak and Yeti Hotel in Kathmandu, Nepal demands operational integrity.
The Conservation Asia 2026 Sustainability Manifesto
Meeting with Purpose, Acting for the Planet
We are committed to designing and delivering a low-impact, inclusive, and locally empowering conference aligned with the Society for Conservation Biology’s Sustainable Event Policy, Nepal's Nationally Determined Contribution, ISO 20121 standards, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We approach our environmental accountability through five core commitments:
- Reduce Our Footprint: Minimizing single-use materials, avoiding single-use flex prints entirely, defaulting to digital program materials (<10% print footprint), tracking carbon metrics, and enforcing waste segregation to achieve a ≥60% landfill diversion rate.
- Rethink Event Practices: Transitioning to a ≥75% vegetarian/plant-based menu, entirely eliminating single-use plastic bottled water, and sourcing ≥80% of ingredients locally.
- Regenerate & Give Back: Partnering closely with Nepalese community-based conservation initiatives and local artisans. Our visual identity is culturally rooted and handcrafted—featuring authentic Nepali Dhaka fabric lanyards and traditional hand-carved wooden blocks for stamping biodegradable event materials. We are ensuring a minimum 90% local procurement share to directly support the host economy, and partnering exclusively with 2-3 community-based tourism operators for excursions.
- Respect People & Place: Embedding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles directly into our programming, speaker selection, and venue environments while celebrating Nepal's cultural heritage.
- Report & Inspire: Committing to a transparent, public-facing Post-Event Sustainability Impact Report to be published in August 2026 following the conclusion of the Congress.
What We Ask of You
Help us make this a living example of conservation values. Please travel mindfully, utilize water refill stations, and prioritize digital materials over print throughout the week.
Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Policy
Everyone is welcome. Your voice matters here.
Conservation outcomes thrive when diverse perspectives are actively represented. We celebrate cultural, linguistic, and identity differences, striving for equity and ensuring a respectful, professional space for all—regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, religion, or socioeconomic background.
Action-Driven Inclusion
- Speaker & Panel Diversity: We strive for a 50:50 gender balance in plenary sessions and require robust Asian regional representation (≥60%) among speakers.
- Equitable Access: We support regional and early-career participation through accessible sliding-scale registration structures and >100 scholarships.
- Language Accessibility: The Congress will operate primarily in English. While formal translation is not provided, presenters are encouraged to prioritize clarity and visual aids, and participants are welcome to support one another through informal peer-to-peer language assistance.
Venue Accessibility & On-Site Support
We are committed to making the congress fully accessible, providing wheelchair-accessible venues and digital materials.
Participants requiring specialized accommodations (visual, hearing, mobility, or sensory) are urged to contact conservationasia@conbio.org immediately so we can evaluate and implement feasible arrangements based on remaining venue capacity.
Accountability & Safety
All participants, sponsors, and organizers must adhere to our Code of Conduct. Discrimination, harassment, or exclusionary behavior will not be tolerated.
We provide accessible, confidential opportunities for reporting violations to ensure a safe environment for all. Please report concerns confidentially by emailing conservationasia@conbio.org