Keynote Speakers
主旨演讲嘉宾
Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz
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Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz is a tropical conservation ecologist whose work focuses on the ecology, behavior, and conservation of Asian megafauna, especially elephants. His research explores both the ecological roles of megafauna in shaping ecosystems and the evidence needed to promote human–wildlife coexistence in rapidly changing landscapes. He is Professor and Principal Investigator at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) and the Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute (SEABRI), Chinese Academy of Sciences.
He received his PhD from the University of Tokyo in 2009, followed by postdoctoral work at the National University of Singapore, and later served as faculty at the University of Nottingham Malaysia before joining XTBG. Ahimsa has published more than 100 scientific papers, with over 6,300 citations. He is the founding co-Editor-in-Chief of Integrative Conservation and has served as President of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC) and of the Asian Section of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB-Asia). He is also a member of several IUCN SSC Specialist Groups, including those on Elephants and on Human–Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence.
Discussion Panel:
Ecological Civilization: Concept, Practice, and Relevance for Global Conservation
Moderator
Ecological Civilization is one of the most influential environmental governance concepts in contemporary China. Rooted partly in Chinese philosophical traditions, it refers to a broad vision for reshaping the relationship between people and nature, placing ecological integrity, environmental quality, and human well-being at the center of development.
The concept is important not only for China but also for global biodiversity conservation. It offers an example of how a major country is attempting to integrate environmental priorities into national planning, governance, science, and public life. It also raises important questions: What has this framework achieved in practice? How has it changed conservation policy and implementation? What tensions or limitations remain? And which lessons may be relevant beyond China’s own cultural and political context?
We have chosen Ecological Civilization as the opening panel of ATBC 2026 because the conference brings together a global community of tropical biologists, conservation scientists, practitioners, and policy thinkers. This gathering provides an appropriate setting to examine how Chinese environmental thinking and conservation practice can contribute to broader international debates on biodiversity, sustainability, and human–nature coexistence
The panel will be moderated by Prof Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz, PI of the Wildlife Interactions and Conservation team at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. It will bring together three leading voices in Chinese ecology and conservation, including two Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Academician Fu Bojie will provide a perspective on Ecological Civilization as a governance framework linking landscapes, ecosystem services, and sustainable development. Academician Ma Keping will discuss its relevance for biodiversity science, conservation planning, protected areas, and China’s contribution to global biodiversity goals. Dr Hua Fangyuan will bring a complementary perspective on conservation practice, public engagement, communication, and emerging directions in ecological and conservation thinking in China. Together, they will examine how Ecological Civilization has shaped conservation thinking and practice in China, and what insights it may offer for human–nature coexistence more broadly.