Yale International Society of Tropical Foresters - Yale ISTF

12/09/2025

Two weeks to go....

Do you have an outstanding initiative or idea related to tropical forest use and conservation? Submit to the ISTF Innovation Prize! See details and information on the ISTF website or at the QR code above.

11/18/2025

Do you have an outstanding initiative or idea related to tropical forest use and conservation? Submit to the ISTF Innovation Prize! See details and information on the ISTF website or at the QR code above.

11/12/2025

🌿 ISTF Conference 2026 | Coming Soon! 🌿

🌳 We are excited to announce the 32nd annual Conference of the Yale University Chapter of the International Society of Tropical Foresters (ISTF).

Theme: “LEADERSHIP IN CONSERVATION, FINANCIAL INNOVATION, AND POLICY”

Join us as we share innovative research, field experiences, and solutions for sustaining tropical forests and the people who depend on them.

More details coming soon—stay tuned!

Feel free to DM us or 📧 at [email protected] if you have questions.
For more information, visit: https://istf.yale.edu/

Yale University Yale Forests Yale Program on Climate Change Communication Yale School of the Environment Yale Center for Business and the Environment Environmental Leadership & Training Initiative

03/03/2025

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 –
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
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! 🌍🌿

01/22/2025

🌿 Join the conversation with leaders shaping the governance of resilient tropical forest systems 🌍✨ Introducing our Keynote Speaker: Carlos Manuel Rodríguez 🌿

Carlos Manuel 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

01/22/2025

🌿 Join the conversation with leaders shaping the governance of resilient tropical forest systems 🌍✨ Introducing our Keynote Speaker: Rhett Butler 🌿

Rhett founded Mongabay in 1999 with the mission of raising awareness about tropical forests. Today Rhett serves as editor-in-chief and CEO of Mongabay, a non-profit media organization with 110 staff across five bureaus and a network of around 1,000 correspondents in 80 countries.   

Beyond Mongabay, Rhett has advised a broad range of organizations, from philanthropists to media outlets.    Rhett's writing has been published widely, while his photos have appeared in hundreds of publications.   

In 2014, Rhett became the first journalist to win the Parker/Gentry Award from the Field Museum in Chicago. In 2022, he was honored with the Heinz Award.    Based in California, Rhett has traveled extensively to tropical forests around the world.

We're honored to have him join us to share his invaluable insights on the critical role of media and public engagement in 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

01/22/2025

🌿 Join the conversation with leaders shaping the governance of resilient tropical forest systems 🌍✨ Introducing our Keynote Speaker: Santiago Gowland 🌿

With a career rooted in sustainability, innovation, and impactful leadership, Santiago has dedicated his life to protecting nature and empowering communities. As the leader of the Rainforest Alliance, he drives global action toward building a more sustainable future for people and the planet.

We're incredibly excited to have him join us to share his insights on sustainability and the future of tropical forestry! 🌎🌱

🌳 Don’t miss the opportunity to engage with renowned speakers🌟, connect with experts 🤝, and explore innovative approaches to governing resilient tropical forests 🌱

📅 When: February 1
📍 Where: Hybrid Format – New Haven, CT, USA

👉 Register now at istf.yale.edu

12/10/2024

📸 Photo Competition 🌱

University students, showcase your photos that encapsulate the essence of tropical forest! 🌳🌍Don’t miss the opportunity to exhibit your talent in our photo exhibition at Yale University Campus🏫
Categories include:

1. Wildlife
2. Tropical Forest Landscapes
3. Conservation and Human Impact
4. Urban forests
5. Creative Perspectives

📅 Application Deadline: December 15, 2024
💰 Cash award
✨ Submit your photos here: https://istf.yale.edu/

11/24/2024

The Innovation Prize acknowledges the work of practitioners in tropical forests with cash prizes ($1000-$3000)

This year can be your turn!

Extended deadline: Monday, November 25th

Apply now: https://yalesurvey.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1TfvB5Te4HwoGsC

11/22/2024

‼️ Registration Extended! ‼️

Don’t miss your last chance to apply for the Innovation Prize and Posters & Speed Talks presentations!

📅 Deadline: Monday, November 25, 2024

Submit your application now and showcase your brilliance!

11/22/2024

📸🌿 Photo Competition - First Call! 🌿📸

Calling all university student photographers and nature lovers! 🌍

Ready to showcase the breathtaking beauty and vital importance of our planet’s forests through your lens? Capture the role of tropical forests in preserving biodiversity and sustaining local communities. 🌱🌿

📅 Application Deadline: December 15, 2024
💰 Cash award
✨ Submit your photos here: https://istf.yale.edu/