16/01/2025
South Asia's Oldest Environmental Symposium Returns with Global Vision for 2025
The Twenty-Ninth International Forestry and Environment Symposium, South Asia's longest-running environmental conference, will continue its historic legacy on January 17th and 18th, 2025, at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. The symposium on "A Multi-Sectoral Approach to a Sustainable Future" marks nearly three decades of pioneering environmental discourse in the region.
Professor M. M. Pathmalal, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, will preside as Chief Guest. The inaugural session will feature a special video presentation by Professor Hemanthi Ranasinghe, one of the symposium's founding members, highlighting the event's enduring commitment to environmental scholarship since its inception.
Distinguished speakers include Professor Naohiro Goto from Toyo University's Faculty of Information Networking for Innovation and Design, who will deliver the keynote address, and Mr K. R. Uduwawala, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Sri Lanka, who will be the Guest of Honor.
The historic symposium draws significant international interest, with 205 research abstracts submitted this year. Eight are international submissions, including two from Japan and additional participation from India, Malaysia, and Slovakia. While one Japanese researcher will attend in person, other international participants will join through virtual platforms.
The symposium's comprehensive program spans twelve specialized sessions, reflecting its evolution with contemporary environmental challenges. These range from traditional focuses like Forest and Natural Resource Management and Biodiversity Conservation to emerging areas such as Sustainable Tourism and Environmental Engineering. The inclusion of a Citizen Science Forum, branded as the Young Environment Symposium, demonstrates the conference's commitment to nurturing future environmental leaders.
Key sessions include:
- Climate Change and Disaster Management
- Environmental Economics and Resource Management
- Biomass and Sustainable Energy
- Sustainable Land Use and Urban Development
- Wood Science and Industry
- Green Technology
- Geology, Soil and Water Resource Management
Organized by the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science (DFES), this venerable symposium continues to serve as South Asia's premier platform for environmental dialogue, fostering international collaboration and innovative solutions for global environmental challenges. Its longevity and growing international participation underscore its crucial role in shaping environmental policy and research in the region.
