Yale Chapter of the International Society of Tropical Foresters

?? Thank You for an Incredible 31st Yale ISTF Annual Conference! ?? What an inspiring weekend at the 31st Annual Conference of the Yale Chapter of the International Society of Tropical Foresters! We were honored to bring together scientists, policymakers, Indigenous leaders, conservationists, and students from around the world to discuss how we can govern resilient tropical forest systems. A huge thank you to our incredible keynote speakers:? - Carlos Manuel Rodriguez (Global Environment Facility)? - Rhett Ayers Butler (Mongabay)? - Santiago Gowland (Rainforest Alliance)? - Emma Torres (SDSN & Science Panel for the Amazon & the Congo Basin) And to our brilliant panelists:? ?? Nature-Based Solutions: Forest for the Future & Holistic Pathways to Thriving Ecosystems? Elsa Ordway (she/her), David J. Ganz, Mauricio Diazgranados, PhD, Manuel Pulgar-Vidal? Moderated by Sara Kuebbing ??? Ground Up Forest Governance in a Changing Climate: Perspectives from Indigenous & Local Communities? José Domingo García, Diego Pons, Bola Madzoke, Dominique Bikaba? Moderated by Kalyanakrishnan (Shivi) Sivaramakrishnan ?? Tropical Forest Finance: Innovative Financing Mechanisms for Conservation & Restoration? Syahrina Anggraini, Francisco Souza, Garo Batmanian? Moderated by J. Nicolas Hernandez-Aguilera ? None of this would have been possible without our incredible organizing team—25 outstanding Yale students—and our dedicated volunteers who made this event a success! The conversations don’t stop here. Let’s continue working toward a future where tropical forests thrive, and the communities who steward them lead the way. #ISTF2025 #TropicalForests #ForestGovernance #Sustainability #GlobalConservation Yale School of the Environment | The Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment | Yale Environmental Leadership & Training Initiative

Congratulations to the Winners of the 31st Yale ISTF Annual Conference Innovation Prize! ???? We are thrilled to celebrate the outstanding achievements of this year’s Innovation Prize winners at the 31st Yale ISTF Annual Conference, whose visionary projects are driving sustainable change in forest conservation and community resilience. ?? 1st Place: Navigating Entrepreneurial Education in the Amazon – IPê - Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas? Led by IPE, this initiative strengthens sustainable entrepreneurship in the Puranga Conquista Sustainable Development Reserve (SDR) in Manaus, Brazil. By equipping local communities in the Rio Negro Basin with the tools to develop conservation-driven businesses, the project fosters economic resilience while protecting the Amazon rainforest. Using the Maira I boat to reach remote riverside communities, IPE provides training and support, ensuring that conservation efforts go hand in hand with sustainable income generation.? ?? 2nd Place: Recapture Regenerative Forestry - Recapture?? Operating in Salta, Argentina, Recapture is pioneering a regenerative forestry model that restores degraded farmland, improves livelihoods, and reduces deforestation. By transitioning smallholder farmers from environmentally harmful crops to high-value sustainable forestry, the project aligns ecological restoration with economic opportunity. Through participatory governance and long-term land access, Recapture is proving that forest conservation can be both socially equitable and economically viable. These initiatives exemplify how innovative, community-driven solutions can transform conservation efforts. Congratulations to both teams for their dedication to sustainability and environmental stewardship! ???? #YaleISTF #InnovationPrize #SustainableForestry #CommunityConservation?

?? Introducing our Panel III: Tropical Forest Finance: Innovative Financing Mechanisms for Tropical Forest Conservation and Restoration ??? This panel brings together global leaders and experts to discuss cutting-edge strategies for financing tropical forest conservation and restoration. Syahrina Anggraini: Country Lead for Indonesia at the Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force. Francisco Souza: A member of the Pup?kary Indigenous People from the Brazilian Amazon, Dr. Souza has over 30 years of expertise in environmental conservation, sustainable finance, and Indigenous rights. He has worked extensively with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, managing programs in over 45 countries to support their self-determined solutions. Dr. Souza holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and serves on the governing board of the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (IC-VCM). Garo Batmanian: Dr. Batmanian leads initiatives on sustainable forest management, restoration, and forest value chains in Brazil. With a career that spans roles at the World Bank, WWF, and the Amazon Rainforest Protected Areas Initiative (ARPA), he has led large-scale conservation efforts and advanced integrated green agendas. Dr. Batmanian holds a Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Georgia. This panel will be moderated by J. Nicolas Hernandez-Aguilera, Associate Research Scientist at the Yale School of the Environment. ??? Join us to explore innovative solutions and strategies for tropical forest conservation financing! ?? When: February 1st ?? Where: Hybrid Format – New Haven, CT, USA ?? Register now at istf.yale.edu #ISTF2025 #TropicalForests #ForestGovernance #Sustainability #GlobalConservation The Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment | Yale Environmental Leadership & Training Initiative

International Society of Tropical Foresters - Yale Chapter Conference 2025 starts this Friday! Find the full schedule here: https://lnkd.in/dSUS9Shw Registration for online participation: https://lnkd.in/eMwZEJwb We look forward to an engaging and inspiring event with all of you!

?? Join the conversation with leaders shaping the governance of resilient tropical forest systems ??? Introducing our Panel II: Ground Up Forest Governance in a Changing Climate: Perspectives from Indigenous and Local Communities ?? Our second panel brings together a distinguished group of experts discussing community-driven conservation and sustainable development in the context of climate change and land use: José Domingo García is a Mam Mayan elder from Tuj Tnam in San Juan Atitán, Guatemala, with decades of experience as a farmer cultivating a wide range of crops. He has held various leadership roles in his community, including kwench k’ul (forest guard), overseeing land management, and currently serves as concejal quinto in San Juan Atitán’s municipal government. Diego Pons, an applied climatologist at the University of Denver. His research, which integrates traditional ecological knowledge with modern climate science, explores human-environment interactions using tree-ring data, satellite monitoring, and climate forecasts to inform policy and development. Bola Madzonke, a Bomitaba native of the Lac Tele Community Reserve, has served as the lead ecologist for the Wildlife Conservation Society Congo for over 20 years. His work integrates traditional ecological knowledge with scientific research, focusing on wildlife conservation, revitalizing local farming and fishing techniques, and conducting environmental studies in the Congo Basin. Dominique Bikaba, from the Bashi Tribe in eastern Congo, is the founding member and Executive Director of Strong Roots Congo, focusing on human rights, conservation, and sustainable development. With over 25 years of experience, he works to integrate local and Indigenous knowledge into conservation strategies, including managing great ape habitats and landscape restoration projects in the DRC. This panel will be moderated by Kalyanakrishnan Sivaramakrishnan, Professor and Researcher in Environmental History and Political Anthropology at the Yale School of the Environment.? We are honored to have these experts share their invaluable insights on the role of local and Indigenous communities in shaping sustainable, resilient forest ecosystems ??. ?? Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with renowned speakers, connect with global experts ??, and explore innovative solutions for resilient and sustainable tropical forests ???? ?? When: January 31st ?? Where: Hybrid Format – New Haven, CT, USA ?? Register now at istf.yale.edu #ISTF2025 #TropicalForests #ForestGovernance #Sustainability #GlobalConservation Yale School of the Environment | The Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment | Yale Environmental Leadership & Training Initiative?

?? Join the conversation with leaders shaping the governance of resilient tropical forest systems ??? Introducing our Panel I: Nature-Based Solutions: Forest for the Future & Holistic Pathways to Thriving Ecosystems?? Our first panel features Elsa Ordway, Assistant Professor UCLA. Dr. Ordway research examines terrestrial social-ecological systems in the context of climate change and increasing demands for land to accommodate food, fuel, and fiber production for ten billion people.? David J. Ganz, Executive Director of RECOFTC, brings his experience in community forestry advocacy and leading path-breaking private sector models that respect local rights and deliver lasting and tangible benefits from millions of hectares of community forests in the Asia-Pacific region.? Mauricio Diazgranados, PhD strategic planning and positioning for Science at New York Botanical Garden. His research focuses on developing plant-based solutions to address environmental problems and support communities in regions where nutritional, income, and biodiversity challenges are critical.? Manuel Pulgar-Vidal leads global Climate & Energy initiatives at WWF, focusing on solutions to climate challenges and sustainable development. With 35 years in environmental law and policy, he served as Peru’s Minister of the Environment (2011–2016) and President of COP20 in 2014. A law professor at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, he has held leadership roles with the Peruvian Society for Environmental Law and serves on the boards of Forest Trends, the Amazon Conservation Association, and WWF-Colombia’s Assembly. This panel will be moderated by Sara Kuebbing, Lecturer; Research Scientist; Research Director, Yale Applied Science Synthesis Program at the Yale School of the Environment.?? We're honored to have them join us to share their invaluable insights on the role of nature-based solutions for shaping the future of tropical forestry and sustainability. ???? ?? Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with renowned speakers, connect with global experts ??, and explore innovative solutions for resilient and sustainable tropical forests ?? ?? When: January 31st ?? Where: Hybrid Format – New Haven, CT, USA ?? Register now at istf.yale.edu #ISTF2025 #TropicalForests #ForestGovernance #Sustainability #GlobalConservation Yale School of the Environment | The Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment | Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture | Yale Environmental Leadership & Training Initiative

A huge thank you to our incredible sponsors who have made the 31st Yale ISTF Conference possible! ???? Your generosity and support help us bring together diverse voices and innovative ideas on tropical forests and climate action. We are so grateful for the continued collaboration with:? ?? Cullman Fund at the Tropical Resource Institute (TRI)? ?? Three Cairns Climate Program for the Global South? ?? Yale School of the Environment & The Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment? ?? YSE Academic Learning Communities: People, Equity & Environment; Climate Change; Forestry? ?? YSE Office of Career and Professional Development? ?? Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture (YCNCC)? ?? Yale MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies (Council on Latin American & Iberian Studies and Council on African Studies)? ?? Yale Environmental Leadership & Training Initiative (ELTI)? ?? Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies (YIBS)? ? Yale Center for the Study of Race, Indigeneity, and Transnational Migration (RITM)? ?? Yale Center for Business and the Environment (CBEY)? Thank you all for your continued support in advancing sustainable solutions for tropical forests and the global environment! ??? ?? For more details, follow @yaleistf and visit istf.yale.edu. #ISTF2025 #TropicalForests #ForestGovernance #Sponsors?

?? Join the conversation with leaders shaping the governance of resilient tropical forest systems ??? Introducing our Panel I: Nature-Based Solutions: Forest for the Future & Holistic Pathways to Thriving Ecosystems?? Our first panel features Elsa Ordway, Assistant Professor UCLA. Dr. Ordway research examines terrestrial social-ecological systems in the context of climate change and increasing demands for land to accommodate food, fuel, and fiber production for ten billion people.? David J. Ganz, Executive Director of RECOFTC, brings his experience in community forestry advocacy and leading path-breaking private sector models that respect local rights and deliver lasting and tangible benefits from millions of hectares of community forests in the Asia-Pacific region.? Mauricio Diazgranados, PhD diazleads strategic planning and positioning for Science at NYBG. His research focuses on developing plant-based solutions to address environmental problems and support communities in regions where nutritional, income, and biodiversity challenges are critical.? This panel will be moderated by Sara Kuebbing, Lecturer; Research Scientist; Research Director, Yale Applied Science Synthesis Program at the Yale School of the Environment.? We're honored to have them join us to share their invaluable insights on the role of nature-based solutions for shaping the future of tropical forestry and sustainability. ???? ?? Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with renowned speakers, connect with global experts ??, and explore innovative solutions for resilient and sustainable tropical forests ?? ?? When: January 31st ?? Where: Hybrid Format – New Haven, CT, USA ?? Register now at istf.yale.edu #ISTF2025 #TropicalForests #ForestGovernance #Sustainability #GlobalConservation Yale Environmental Leadership & Training Initiative | The Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment ?

?? Shaping the future of tropical forests requires visionary leadership ??? Meet Keynote Speaker: Emma Torres ?? Emma Torres is SDSN Vice-President for the Americas and Strategic Coordinator of both the Science Panel for the Amazon and the Science Panel for the Congo Basin. She enjoys a long experience in the United Nations, with responsibilities involving management, strategic program development, and negotiations to promote sustainable development initiatives globally and regionally. She coordinated the strategic initiative A Biodiversity SuperPower, which makes the case for biodiversity’s importance to the development, equity, and long-term competitiveness of the Latin America and Caribbean region. As UNDP coordinator for the Commission on Development and Environment for Latin America and the Caribbean, she produced the Our Own Agenda and Amazonia without Myths reports. Both remain a point of reference in the field. Emma holds an MA in Economics from Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain; a Diploma in Language and French Civilization from Sorbonne, Paris; and certificates in Environmental Economics and Climate Change, IIED, at Harvard University. We’re excited to learn from Emma’s vast experience and strategic vision for linking biodiversity, equity, and resilience! ?? ?? Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with renowned speakers, connect with global experts ??, and explore innovative solutions for resilient and sustainable tropical forests ?? ?? When: February 1st ?? Where: Hybrid Format – New Haven, CT, USA ?? Register now at istf.yale.edu #ISTF2025 #TropicalForest #ForestGovernance Yale School of the Environment Yale Environmental Leadership & Training Initiative The Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment

?? Join the conversation with leaders shaping the governance of resilient tropical forest systems ??? Introducing our Keynote Speaker: Carlos Manuel Rodriguez?? Rodríguez was selected as CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility in June 2020. Rodríguez, a Costa Rican national, was a pioneer in the development of Payment for Ecosystem Services and strategies for forest restoration, ocean conservation, and decarbonization. During his three terms as Environment and Energy Minister, Costa Rica doubled the size of its forests, made its electric sector fully renewable, and consolidated a national park system that has made the Central American country a prime ecotourism destination. Rodríguez has also founded and served on the board of several environmental NGOs and tropical research institutes. After his second tenure as minister, he was Vice President for Global Policy at Conservation International for 12 years. We're thrilled to have him share his invaluable perspectives on how to build resilient, sustainable tropical forest systems in a rapidly changing world. ???? ?? Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with renowned speakers, connect with global experts ??, and explore innovative solutions for resilient and sustainable tropical forests ?? ?? When: January 31st ?? Where: Hybrid Format – New Haven, CT, USA ?? Register now at istf.yale.edu #ISTF2025 #TropicalForests #ForestGovernance #Sustainability #GlobalConservation Yale School of the Environment | Yale Environmental Leadership & Training Initiative | The Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment | Global Environment Facility ?