11th ESP World Conference

From global to local ecosystem services: pathways to Nature-based Solutions inspired from Down Under

23-27 June 2025 | Darwin, Australia

As we confront the critical challenges of climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, land degradation and sustainability, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) offer a powerful approach to address these interconnected crises. The 11th ESP World Conference in Darwin will explore pathways to NbS, with a special focus on the insights that local and Indigenous peoples and their value systems can offer.

Australia, known for its vast and diverse ecosystems—from the Great Barrier Reef to its deserts and tropical forests—presents a rich tapestry of ecological knowledge and indigenous wisdom, but also of significant land changes in the last two centuries.

At this international conference, we will bridge global and local scales, learning from managing Australia’s and the wider Asia-Pacific ecosystems to inspire solutions worldwide, linking science with policy. How do we draw on local communities and Indigenous ecological knowledge and values to shape pathways that are sustainable, inclusive, and effective? What lessons from the Down Under land can we apply to other regions seeking to live in harmony with nature?

We invite the global ecosystem services community to join us in Darwin for this inspiring and motivating conversation.

Key topics include:

Local and Indigenous values and ecosystem services: Understanding the role of Indigenous and local community knowledge and value systems in shaping sustainable pathways.
Pathways to Nature-based Solutions (NbS): Exploring successful models from local to global scales, and how they can be applied elsewhere and/or adapted.
From research to practice: Connecting ecosystem services science with policymakers, practitioners, and diverse sectors to accelerate NbS implementation.
Nature-positive Solutions for a global future: How local insights can contribute to global environmental goals, such as the SDGs and biodiversity targets.

The 11th ESP World Conference will feature keynote speeches, panel and interactive sessions, and workshops, allowing participants to explore these themes in-depth while fostering collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. With a strong emphasis on solutions, this event will offer a unique platform for translating cutting-edge research into real-world impact.

To foster connections among participants, several side events will be organized, including a conference dinner and field trips. These activities will offer opportunities for attendees to engage with one another while also experiencing and learning from the beautiful and unique surroundings of Darwin.

Join us in Darwin to forge pathways to NbS that build on the wisdom of local ecosystems, leading us toward a sustainable, nature-positive future.

Announcements

Program

A detailed conference program and sessions schedule are available on the program overview page. Please check the day-by-day program to see the full program in detail. You can also download the program booklet if you prefer all the information in one file.

Conference Design Guidelines

To the attention of all presenters and session hosts: We have a conference presentation template and guidelines which you are welcome to use when creating your presentation or poster. You are also welcome to use the conference style and design elements to promote the event in your network. Find the conference design guidelines here.

Registration

We're excited to announce that registration is officially open! The registration form will remain accessible until 15 June 2025.

From 16 June until the end of the event, late registration is possible. Administrative surcharge of 10% applies to the late registrations.

For more information and to register, visit the Registration page. Don’t miss the opportunity to join us for an inspiring event.

CO2 Compensation Project

This year we want to spotlight the Keystone Foundation and we are collecting donations for their cause. You can make a donation through the registration form, or donate onsite. During the event confernce merchandise will be sold - you can buy a t-shirt or bag with our beutiful ESP 11 designs, and a portion of the proceedings will go to the Keystone Foundation. Read more here.