Katmandu Resolution 2026 Sets New Course for Asia-Wide Conservation Leadership
Adopted in Kathmandu, Nepal, the Kathmandu Resolution 2026 calls for stronger regional cooperation, leadership development, and robust support for local and Indigenous communities to safeguard biodiversity across the continent, according to reporting published by Mongabay. The foundational document emerged from the 6th Asian Congress for Conservation Biology, an early June gathering organized by the Asian regional section of the Society for Conservation Biology, its Nepal chapter, and the Burhan Community Regeneration and Conservation Foundation.
The congress drew nearly 500 conservationists from 42 countries under the central theme “Harmonizing Biodiversity and Human Well-being in Asia.” Data cited in the commentary reveals a diverse and grassroots-heavy turnout: 390 participants hailed from Global South nations, 357 were early-career professionals, and 151 were students. Furthermore, 38 attendees identified as representatives of Indigenous or local communities, while 43% of the participants identified as women or members of gender minorities.
Challenging Exploitative Economic Paradigms and Top-Down Conservation
The text of the Kathmandu Resolution targets systemic economic structures that treat the natural world solely as raw capital destined for exploitation. To counter these paradigms, the resolution advocates for building the capacity of Asia’s conservation sector through peaceful regional interaction, knowledge and resource sharing, and the strengthening of national chapters within the Society for Conservation Biology.
Crucially, the document urges a decisive shift away from traditional, top-down conservation models. Instead, it champions frameworks that explicitly recognize community rights, independent local decision-making, and the intrinsic link between environmental stewardship and public well-being. This includes creating deliberate pathways for leadership among students, women, gender minorities, Indigenous peoples, and local communities.
The logistical framework of the congress reflected an intentional effort to broaden access. Organizers provided nearly 160 participants with travel cost reimbursements, registration fee waivers, or discounts. Even so, the event also sparked financial debates; some student attendees noted that the $229 registration fee for low- and middle-income country members of the Society for Conservation Biology remained an uphill financial hurdle.
A Diverse Scientific Agenda Spanning Species and Policy
The academic and practical program of the congress was vast, featuring 11 plenary speeches, 300 oral presentations distributed across 24 sessions, 19 symposia, 59 poster presentations, and 12 distinct workshops spanning afternoon and full-day formats. Discussions ranged from the plight of the Asiatic cheetah, Arabian and snow leopards, elephants, primates, birds, amphibians, and reptiles to complex human-wildlife interactions and macro-level conservation policy.
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