2027 Symposium on Conservation Impact

We live in a moment of extraordinary, compounding change. Rapid technological advances, accelerating climate impacts, shifting political norms, and widening wealth inequality are fundamentally reshaping the landscapes and communities where our conservation efforts must succeed. As the window narrows to meet our global commitments—including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’s goal to protect 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030—critical questions confront us all: Can our strategies innovate fast enough to keep pace with this shifting world? And at the same time, how can we build the trust required between governments, communities, funders, conservation practitioners, the private sector, and the peoples whose lands and livelihoods are most at stake, while working at the pace demanded?

To help meet this challenge, the Salazar Center will convene its 7th International Symposium on Conservation Impact in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, February 8-10, 2027. Embedded in one of the northern hemisphere’s most ecologically and culturally significant landscapes, this premier gathering will focus directly on the “how” of conservation. Together, we will explore real-world, actionable strategies to restructure systems that undervalue biodiversity, build powerful coalitions, and integrate nature’s value into decision-making across all sectors, including…

• Adapting finance and fundraising paradigms to secure land, water, and climate resilience
• Rebuilding conservation’s social and political influence through equity, tech, and Indigenous sovereignty
• Sustaining the vital cross-continental relationships that make this work possible
• Shaping the systemic, transformative changes we need to build a nature-positive future in North America

True to our belief that the best ideas ignore hierarchy, the Symposium is designed to bridge divides. Early-career innovators, veteran policymakers, grassroots practitioners, and major funders will engage as true peers to co-create solutions. Over two and a half days of interactive sessions, breakouts, and cross-border networking, we will synthesize diverse perspectives into a collective vision for a nature-positive North America.

For more than five years, the Salazar Center has been bringing together thought leaders and change makers from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to explore ambitious and innovative approaches to the most pressing topics in conservation. We create stimulating and challenging conversations with some of the brightest, most interesting thinkers and doers that impact conservation in North America. Leaders from around the continent, and across many disciplines, engage in deep and inquisitive discussion of the ideas and issues that shape our communities and landscapes.

Learn more about what makes the Salazar Center International Symposia on Conservation Impact unique and exceptional.

As we continue collaborating with partners to curate the upcoming convening, we will share updates with our audience through various channels. Stay informed by following our social accounts and signing up for our e-newsletter!