Workshop 

Fostering Cross-border Collaborations: Lessons from ASEAN for Strengthening Regional Partnerships

Organizer(s):

Effective cross-border collaboration is essential for advancing tropical conservation, yet it remains one of the most challenging aspects of regional research and practice. Differences in institutional structures, funding arrangements, cultural contexts, and power dynamics often complicate collaboration, particularly in multi-country settings. The ASEAN region provides a compelling case study for examining these challenges, as shared ecological systems intersect with diverse social, political, and institutional landscapes.

This interactive hybrid workshop, convened by Carbon Integrity Singapore (CISG) together with its Southeast Asian collaborators, is designed as a peer-learning forum with a clearly defined and achievable focus. The primary objective is to collaboratively develop an ASEAN–Global Collaboration Map that captures how cross-border conservation collaborations currently function and where opportunities for strengthening partnerships exist.

By the end of the workshop, participants will have:

1. Shared on-the-ground experiences of cross-border collaboration across regions and sectors.

2. Contributed to a collaboratively developed ASEAN–Global Collaboration Map identifying and visualising existing linkages, gaps, and opportunities.

3. Identified common enabling conditions and challenges that can inform future regional collaborations beyond the workshop.

The session will begin with brief experience snapshots drawn from ASEAN-based collaborations to ground discussions in real-world practice. Participants — including researchers, conservation practitioners, and policymakers from multiple countries — will then engage in facilitated small-group discussions to share on-the-ground experiences of cross-border collaboration. These discussions will feed directly into a live, participatory mapping exercise in which participants document existing collaboration networks, identify recurring challenges, and highlight enabling conditions and gaps.

A structured plenary synthesis will allow participants to compare experiences across regions and sectors, encouraging reflection and mutual learning rather than prescriptive solutions. The resulting collaboration map will serve both as a diagnostic tool and as a foundation for continued dialogue and connection beyond the workshop.

By prioritising depth of interaction and a single, shared output, the workshop emphasises practical exchange and realistic outcomes within the allotted time. The session aligns with the ATBC 2026 theme, “Achieving a Shared Ecological Civilization for Long-Term Resilience,” by fostering inclusive, experience-driven learning that strengthens the foundations for durable and equitable conservation partnerships across the tropics.