Concept Note
Tropical forests, often called the lungs of the earth and a core pillar of climatic stability, have now reached their lowest extent of forest cover in recorded human history. Deforestation, extractive industries, governance failures, and climatic instability are confounding factors that threaten the existence of these once seemingly infinite forests. Thus, the need for intersectional leadership within tropical [1] forests has never been greater. Moreover, as the world approaches the critical juncture of post-COP30 implementation and the midpoint of the Global Biodiversity Framework new solutions must be realized to meet these current objectives. For that reason, the 2026 Tropical Forest Leadership Summit invites stakeholders from across the globe to gather at Yale University to explore what it means to lead resilient, inclusive, and innovative responses to tropical forest challenges.
For over three decades, the Yale Chapter of the International Society of Tropical Foresters (ISTF) has hosted one of the world’s most respected student-led conferences on tropical forests. In 2026, we [2] will host the Tropical Forest Leadership Summit. While proudly maintaining our heritage as the 32nd Annual ISTF Conference, this evolution reflects our ambition to elevate the summit as a multidisciplinary platform for co-creating solutions at the nexus of ecology, finance, and policy.
Conference Pillars
Our 2026 gathering will be structured around three thematic pillars that reflect the critical fronts where leadership is shaping the future of tropical forests:
- Ecology and Conservation Science
This pillar will explore the ecological dynamics of tropical forest systems, including biodiversity loss, species recovery, landscape restoration, and climate resilience. Sessions will address how field-based research, technological tools (e.g., remote sensing, AI), and traditional ecological knowledge can inform more adaptive and inclusive conservation strategies.
- Innovative Finance for Forests
This pillar will delve into emerging mechanisms for financing tropical forest conservation and restoration, from biodiversity and carbon credit markets to public-private partnerships, Payments for Ecosystem Services schemes, and sustainable value chains. Sessions will explore how financial innovation can be made equitable, effective, and grounded in community realities.
- Policy, Governance, and Leadership
Effective tropical forest governance depends on strong institutions, legal recognition of Indigenous rights, and multilevel collaboration. This pillar will focus on jurisdictional approaches, forest policy alignment with climate and biodiversity goals, and the role of local to global leadership in driving systemic change. Special attention will be given to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities voices, youth leaders, and cross-sector partnerships.
Key Questions We Will Explore
- What does meaningful leadership look like across science, finance, and governance in tropical forest regions?
- How can data and technology democratize access to forest management tools?
- What safeguards are needed to ensure carbon and biodiversity markets deliver real impact and social justice?
- How can we foster new models of co-governance that elevate local and Indigenous leadership?
- What tools, networks, and mindsets must be cultivated among next-generation forest leaders?
Format and Participation
The Tropical Forest Leadership Summit will be hosted in a hybrid format at the Yale School of the Environment, with both in-person and virtual participation. Programming will include keynote addresses, panel discussions, technical sessions, innovation pitch presentations, workshops, poster sessions, and informal networking events. We aim to foster inclusive, multilingual, and cross-disciplinary exchanges throughout the conference.
We welcome participation from ecologists, students, community leaders, financiers, technologists, legal scholars, Indigenous knowledge holders, journalists, artists, and policy-makers—particularly those from the Global South and historically underrepresented groups.
Join Us
At a time when global targets depend on local action, and where ambition must be matched by integrity, the 2026 Tropical Forest Leadership Summit offers a unique space to forge the relationships, strategies, and ideas necessary for transformative forest leadership. We invite you to help define what that leadership looks like—and to be part of the movement shaping the future of tropical forests.
