74th Annual Conference
The Power of Connections: Harvesting Lessons and Strengthening Coalitions for Amazonian Conservation
UF CENTER FOR LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES
From February 22–27, 2026, researchers, practitioners, Indigenous leaders and youth, funders, government, NGO, and private sector representatives gathered at the University of Florida to exchange knowledge and strengthen collaboration for Amazonian conservation. The week featured four interconnected events: the 74th Annual Conference of the Center for Latin American Studies (LAS), an Amazon Conservation Summit, Training Clinics, and a Tropical Conservation and Development (TCD) alumni visioning session. Organized in collaboration with the TCD Program, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and LAS, these events built on five previous workshops across the Amazon basin through the Power of Connections initiative.
TCD Visioning
TCD alumni explored how the program should evolve over the next 10 years to strengthen research and training. The discussion focused on the key skills future TCD students need, how conservation may change in the coming decade, the program’s added value (field-based, problem-oriented, and communication-focused training), and the importance of networking and community building.
Discussion Forums
A series of forums explored key issues shaping conservation, including insights from the Science Panel for the Amazon (SPA), lessons from decades of conservation practice, the impacts of environmental crime, and the role of funding and partnerships in supporting effective, long-term conservation outcomes.
Conference main day
The conference featured keynote talks from leading voices in Amazonian conservation, addressing socio-ecological tipping points, Indigenous perspectives, coalition-building, and on-the-ground impact. The program also included interactive sessions, presentations of insights from the five POC regional workshops, the project overview, a special musical performance, and a poster session.
Training Clinics
Hands-on training clinics provided participants with practical skills for conservation, including collaborative systems design, data management, policy communication, storytelling, and community engagement. Sessions also created space to address key professional challenges, such as gender equity and navigating difficult conversations, while strengthening tools for effective and inclusive conservation work.
