Conservationists pass Kathmandu Resolution 2026 at Asia Congress in Nepal
- Nearly 500 conservationists from 42 countries converged on Kathmandu, Nepal, in early June for the 6th Conservation Asia Congress and to pass the Kathmandu Resolution 2026.
- The congress was organized by the Asia region of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB), in partnership with the SCB's Nepal chapter and the Burhan Community Regeneration and...
- The region's conservation space has been strictly dominated by researchers and practitioners, donors and funders, policymakers and other intellectuals based in Western knowledge production systems.
Nearly 500 conservationists from 42 countries converged on Kathmandu, Nepal, in early June for the 6th Conservation Asia Congress and to pass the Kathmandu Resolution 2026. This resolution “called for building capacity of the Asian conservation sector through peaceful regional co-operation and trans-Asian collaboration, free movement of knowledge and expertise, mobilizing resources to foster leadership,” and more.
Breaking the Grip of Western Knowledge
The congress was organized by the Asia region of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB), in partnership with the SCB’s Nepal chapter and the Burhan Community Regeneration and Conservation Foundation (BCRCF). The goal: confront a biodiversity crisis fueled by uneven development, capital-intensive infrastructure, and the friction between high-density human populations and endangered wildlife habitats.
The region’s conservation space has been strictly dominated by researchers and practitioners, donors and funders, policymakers and other intellectuals based in Western knowledge production systems. The Kathmandu Resolution 2026 is a direct attempt to shift that dynamic. By fostering trans-Asian collaboration and removing barriers to the movement of expertise, the initiative seeks to empower the professionals working on the front lines of the continent’s specific ecological and cultural challenges.
A Surge of Global South and Youth Leadership
The demographics of the event signaled a changing of the guard. Of the participants, 390 represented countries in the Global South. The focus was squarely on the next generation: 357 participants were early-career conservationists with a median age less than 45 years, a group that included 151 students.
Representation extended beyond academia. The gathering included 38 participants from Indigenous or local communities, while 43% of all attendees identified as women or minority genders.
300 Hours of Scientific Exchange
The scientific program was exhaustive. Over 300 hours of knowledge sharing featured 11 plenary talks, 19 symposiums, and 300 oral presentations spread across 24 sessions.
While the agenda covered avian, amphibian, and reptilian species across diverse ecosystems, much of the focus remained on mammals. Research presentations highlighted the Asiatic cheetah, the Arabian leopard, the snow leopard, elephants, and tropical primates.
Addressing the Human Dimension and Future Gaps
Beyond the biology, the congress tackled the human side of the crisis—community stewardship, political ecology, and the behavioral drivers of conservation attitudes. Attendees specifically noted the value of getting to know about conservation work from nations such as China, Mongolia, and Iran.
The event was not without its critiques. Participants called for a stronger focus on Asia’s marine ecosystems and the conservation of smaller species in future meetings. There was also a push for a deeper integration of the humanities and conservation social sciences. As the event closed, the priority remained clear: maintain the momentum of the resolution to fight the overlapping biodiversity, climate, and cultural crises facing the continent.