Be part of the ConServation ConVersation! Celebrate World Wildlife Day

 The Global Conservation Tech Forum (GCTF 2026) will convene in Nairobi and Konza Technopolis, Kenya, from 2–6 March 2026, anchored to World Wildlife Day (3 March).

As an annual, rotating, non-profit platform, the Forum showcases how drones, AI, IoT, robotics, and data systems can support conservation priorities in a nature-first framework.

With more than 500 participants expected — including conservationists, researchers, technologists, regulators, students, and community leaders — GCTF 2026 emphasises biodiversity protection, community benefit, and climate resilience.

The Forum also leads directly into International Women’s Day (8 March), with the Women in Conservation Forum (WiCF) serving as a centrepiece celebration of women’s leadership in conservation technology.

Beyond the sessions themselves, GCTF is designed to leave a legacy: from open datasets and global mapping initiatives to student bursaries and mentorship networks. By linking African conservation priorities with global frameworks such as the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB), The Wildlife Society (TWS), and the World Bank’s Global Wildlife Program (GWP), the Forum ensures outcomes that are globally relevant while regionally grounded.

 Between the opening plenary on 3 March (World Wildlife Day) and the closing plenary on 5 March, the Forum explores three umbrella domains that flow into six detailed tracks.

Domains (for high-level framing):

• Drones in Conservation
• From Data to Decisions
• Sensors & Systems for Land, Water, and Communities
   

Tracks (for programme depth, competitions, and alignment):

1. Drones in Conservation – operational excellence, coexistence tools, integrated bio-logging, and frontier platforms.
2. From Pixels to Patterns – AI, Data, and Decision – object detection, modelling, and multimodal integration.
3. Landscapes in Transition – Restoration, Climate, and Ecosystem Resilience – restoration, fire, drought, and ecosystem change.
4. Wet Worlds – Coastal, Aquatic, and Underwater Technologies – coral, mangroves, plastics, and blue carbon.
5. Threat Detectors – Conservation Security and Rapid Response – anti-poaching, human–wildlife conflict, veterinary response.
6. Community and Co-design – Ethics, Access, and Inclusion – citizen science, gender, STEM, and co-created conservation.
    

 Tracks align with:
(a) WildDrone doctoral research themes
(b) World Bank & UNEP Global Wildlife Program (GWP) thematic areas
(c) United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 

 Alongside plenaries and tracks, GCTF 2026 integrates a set of special features that emphasise inclusion, interaction, and legacy.

Expo Booths & Poster Session
A central showcase at the Trademark Hotel will feature conservation technologies, NGOs, and research groups. The Poster Session will include up to 50 contributions, with African student research to WildDrone PhD projects highlighted. Poster pitches and booth tours will be integrated into networking sessions.

Youth & Outreach
Young people are central to GCTF’s design. Initiatives include the Voices from the Sky anthology, STEM drone workshops, DUCC university challenges, 100 free student tickets, and Global South bursaries.

Women in Conservation Forum (WiCF)
On 5 March, WiCF will convene up to 300 participants for keynotes, mentoring circles, skills workshops, and the Women in Conservation Awards. Inclusivity measures should include childcare support, student bursaries, captioning, and a clear code of conduct.

Field Based Demonstrations
On 6 March, GCTF will host field-based drone and data demonstrations at a leading Kenyan conservancy, equipping rangers, NGOs, and students with safe and ethical operational skills.

Competitions
On 6 March, GCTF will host live drone and data demonstrations at a leading Kenyan conservancy, equipping rangers, NGOs, and students with safe and ethical skills. Briefs include:

• Wire-Snare Detection – AI-driven detection of poaching threats.
• Through-Water Sensing – Monitoring coral reefs, plastics, and aquatic ecosystems.
• Drone-as-Data-Mule – Extending connectivity in remote landscapes.
• Safe Photography & Videography – Establishing wildlife-sensitive imaging standards. 
• Restoration & Ecosystem Change Detection – Mapping invasive spread, vegetation recovery, and fire impacts.

All competition protocols and outputs will be openly published under CC BY 4.0, ensuring solutions are globally accessible and reusable.