On 3–5 March 2026, an international conference in Riobamba, Ecuador will share approaches to tackle biodiversity loss and climate change by building resilient landscapes and seascapes. Including an online public forum, the Tenth Global Conference of the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI-10) will bring together policymakers, researchers, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) and civil society to advance the sustainable management of socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes (SEPLS). The events are organized by UNU-IAS, ESPOCH and the University of Georgia.
The three-day conference will feature plenary sessions, project presentations and a public forum addressing biodiversity conservation, sustainable development and community-led approaches to build resilient landscapes and seascapes in harmony with nature.
The conference is co-organized with the University of Georgia (UGA), Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH) and the Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan (MOEJ).
Date & Time
3–5 March 2026
Location
Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Riobamba, Ecuador
Online participation is also available for the Public Forum on 4 March.
Language
English and Spanish*
*The Public Forum will be conducted mostly in Spanish, while the main language for the rest of the conference will be English.
Programme
Sessions below are open to the media. Programme subject to change.
All times are in Ecuador time (ECT).
3 March — Opening Plenary
14:00 – 14:30 Welcome Remarks
- Byron Ernesto Vaca Barahoma (Rector, ESPOCH)
- Fumiko Nakao (Principal Coordination Officer, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity)
- Fausto Sarmiento (Professor, UGA)
4 March — Public Forum
The event will explore experiences and perspectives across three thematic areas: protection and conservation of mountain landscapes; awareness-raising and stakeholder engagement through diverse approaches, including arts and media; and sustainable ecotourism as a driver of conservation and community development.
For a complete programme, please visit the event page.
5 March — Presentation Session & Closing Plenary
13:20–15:00 Presentations Session by IPSI Members showcasing their work globally.
13:20–15:00 Closing Plenary Remarks
- Yutaka Matsuawa (Senior Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of the Environment of Japan)
- Alfred Oteng-Yeboah (Chair, IPSI Steering Committee)
- Washington Luna (Rector-elect, ESPOCH)
- Tsunao Watanabe (Visiting Research Fellow, UNU-IAS / Director, IPSI Secretariat)
3–5 March — Exhibition Space
An exhibition area will showcase IPSI member activities through posters and SEPLS-based products.
Media Coverage
UNU-IAS experts and IPSI members can provide information and comments on the following topics:
- Indigenous knowledge and community-led solutions for biodiversity conservation
- Mountain landscape conservation and sustainable tourism
- Implementation of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
- SEPLS, biodiversity loss, climate change and land degradation
Business, biodiversity and nature-positive approaches
Media Contacts
Journalists who wish to cover the event and/or arrange interviews with UNU-IAS experts can email the following media contact by 25 February. Please indicate whether you are interested in attending any of the conference sessions and/or conducting interviews.
For media inquiries in English:
Anne Lecroq, Media & Engagement Associate (anne.lecroq@unu.edu)
For media inquiries in Spanish or English:
Alexandra Franco Guajardo, Communications Associate (ipsicomms@unu.edu)
About IPSI
The International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI) is a global partnership comprising more than 300 member organizations dedicated to promoting the sustainable use and management of socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes to conserve biodiversity, enhance ecosystem resilience and improve human well-being. The IPSI Secretariat is hosted by UNU-IAS.
