Exploring the Science, Practice and Value of Nature Conservation

The Conservation Symposium, previously the Symposium of Contemporary Conservation Practice, facilitates the development and exchange of ideas and lessons pertaining to contemporary conservation issues in southern Africa.

The Conservation Symposium serves as a bridge between conservation practitioners, scientists and policymakers in a conducive environment to solve real-world problems. It integrates a broad range of disciplines in a meaningful way and creates or strengthens connections both within and between disciplines. It provides an effective platform for researchers to demonstrate the relevance of their work in addressing real-world conservation problems, and to identify new applied research opportunities and direction. It also provides a platform for training on methods for conservation and monitoring.

Emerging or ongoing issues identified by the conservation sector will be tackled through careful construction of the programme, including providing a selection of leading international keynote speakers, presentation of synthesis papers, and facilitated discussions. It also provides a platform for horizon scanning and exploration of the implications of new policy directions.

The Conservation Symposium is specifically held in KwaZulu-Natal which has a long history of successful conservation interventions, and which serves as a microcosm of conservation issues being faced throughout the subcontinent. The setting maximises the opportunity to showcase conservation interventions in both the marine and a wide range of terrestrial ecological and land tenure contexts.