The United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development’s Agenda 2030 and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) call for actions to preserve and enhance the human environment. This includes protecting forests and the environment through collaboration across boundaries, attaining sustainable development, responsible utilization of resources, and environmental protection. The urgency to act in a spirit of global partnership to conserve, protect and restore the integrity of the Earth’s ecosystem, placing environmental issues within the framework of sustainable development is essential. The UN’s SDGs have a connection to the environment, hence the need to accelerate climate action. This includes promoting sustainable resource management and innovative technologies, from renewable energy to food security, jobs, and safe water.

Climate change and unsustainable forest and environmental management increase pressure on ecosystems, posing a reason for concern. Forest covers are irreplaceable biodiversity reservoirs and carbon sinks, prevent soil erosion, and play a central role in risk reduction measures vis-á-vis natural disasters such as flood and drought. Forest and environmental conservation encompass climate actions, sustainable soil and water management, and sustainable natural resource management.

To promote multidisciplinary critical discussion, knowledge sharing, and collaborations, Mindanao State University-Maguindanao is organizing the 4th International Conference on Environment and Forest Conservation (ICEFC) to be held in Davao City on November 15-17, 2023. With the theme “Forging Partnerships for Climate Actions”, the ICEFC will offer a platform for academicians, scientists, scholars, innovators, policy specialists, and environmental enthusiasts worldwide to share research outputs, knowledge products, technology, and innovations in forestry, environmental sciences, agricultural sciences, and other related fields. This international conference aims to broaden insights on research and innovation in environment and forestry through interdisciplinary practices for sustainable global development that benefits human and other living beings.

The Third International Conference on Environment and Forest Conservation (ICEFC), held in Kastamonu University, Turkey last February 2022, featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding among Mindanao State University System, Kastamonu University (KU), Turkey, Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB University), Indonesia, and Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Tropical Biology (SEAMEO BIOTROP) on mutual cooperation on academic exchange and research collaborations. MSU-Maguindanao was one of the three MSU campuses that signified their commitment, with Chancellor Dr. Bai Hejira Nefertiti M. Limbona signing the MOU.

With around 104 paper presentations from nine (9) different countries via hybrid presentation, the conference gathered academicians, scientists, scholars, researchers, students, and environmental enthusiasts in a multidisciplinary critical discussion around a broad range of climatic issues, sustainable resource management, forestry, and other environmental issues at the global, national, regional, and local levels to promote a sustainable world, particularly in the post-COVID-19 pandemic period. Participants also had the opportunity for networking dinner, cultural exchange, and environmental tour during the three-day conference.

The ICEFC will:

– Serve as a platform for critical discussions on a broad range of environmental issues at regional, national, and global levels.

– Become an avenue for academe, industry partners, policy makers, planners and government leaders to share best practices in addressing issues and challenges of environmental conservation.

– Share new paradigms on and innovations on interdisciplinary practices and environmental researches, that will promote a sustainable world for humanity.

– To highlight the policy recommendation as output.

Researchers, innovators, industry partners, and policy makers
with papers on:
(1) Forest Conservation and Management
(2) Environmental Management and Policies
(3) Forests and Environmental Innovative Technology
(4) Climate Change and Disaster Risk Mitigation

Environmental Conservation Policies and Eco-Governance
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

• Ecotourism 
• Forest Economic Valuation 
• Forest Laws and Policies 
• International Forest Policies 
• Payment of Ecosystem Services

• Biodiversity Conservation and Management 
• Ethnobiology 
• Forest Health 
• Land Use Management 
• Marine and Coastal Management 
• Restoration and Rehabilitation
• Water Resource Management 
• Wetland Forest Ecosystem

• Environmental Computing | Forest Product Innovative Technology 
• Information and Communication Technology
•  Non-Wood and other Forest Product 
• Post Mining Rehabilitation 
• Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis 
• Wood Science and Wood-Based Industries

• Carbon Sequestration 
• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption 
• Earthquake 
• Flood and Landslides
• Forest and Land Fire
• Forest Fires

Other Topics (Forest and Environmental Education, Gender and Development, Peace)

• Registration and Accreditation
• Travel, Visa, and Airport Information
• Venue
• Hotel Accommodation
• Transportation
• Health and Safety
• Security
• Tours
• Event Sustainability

• Mindanao State University – Main Campus
• Kastamonu University
• Mindanao State University – Tawi-Tawi
• Institut Pertanian Bogor
• SEAMEO BIOTROP  
• Mindanao State University at Naawan