Congress on global reflection on the integration of culture and nature for a sustainable future

The Cultural Ecosystem Services and Biocultural Heritage: Connecting Nature and Culture for a Sustainable Futureinitiative will hold the Cultural Ecosystem Services and Biocultural Heritage: Connecting Nature and Culture for a Sustainable Futureat the University of Coimbra on May 20 and 21.

This is the second key moment of the Cultural initiative, following a webinar dedicated to exploring fundamental concepts, open questions, and interdisciplinary perspectives on the links between ecosystems, culture, and sustainability, which took place on March 10. A narrative summary of this webinar is available for consultation.

This Congress, focused on practical applications, methodologies, and case studies that link cultural and ecological dimensions, is co-organized by the JPI Climate, JPI Cultural Heritage initiatives, and theCenter for Functional Ecology at the University of Coimbra, and is supported by UNESCO'sMaB Program.

Against the backdrop of the 20th anniversary of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and the recent UN Pact for the Future, the congress aims to promote interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary dialogue between the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and policymakers.

The event will bring together leading speakers, researchers, professionals, and community representatives to discuss innovative approaches to integrating cultural heritage, biodiversity conservation, and sustainability. It will also feature presentations by internationally recognized experts, including representatives from UNESCO and leading research institutions, as well as thematic panels and roundtables addressing methodologies, policy integration, and practical applications.

There will also be space for the presentation of case studies highlighting the role of local communities, traditional knowledge, and nature-based solutions in sustainability, as well as workshops and interactive sessions exploring citizen science, digital humanities, georeferencing tools, and AI in ecosystem services research.

Ultimately, the contributions will form part of a strategicwhite paper, bringing together information on policies, research agendas, and global strategies for sustainability, reinforcing the integration of cultural heritage, environmental conservation, and sustainability strategies into global research and the political agenda.

Participation in this Congress requires prior registration. For more information, please contact: bioculturalheritage2025@gmail.com