The World Biodiversity Forum 2026 is fast approaching, and we are thrilled to announce our session: “The Social–Ecological Digital Frontier: Innovations for Biodiversity Futures”
The World Biodiversity Forum 2026 is fast approaching, and we are thrilled to announce our session: “The Social–Ecological Digital Frontier: Innovations for Biodiversity Futures”.
Conveners: Johannes Langemeyer
Co-conveners: Alba Ortiz Naumann, Christopher Raymond
Societies today are experiencing an extinction of direct nature experiences, deepening our disconnect from biodiversity. At the same time, digital spaces are increasingly shaping how we create meaning, form knowledge, and engage with the natural world. While digital media are often seen as part of the problem, they also hold untapped potential to foster new forms of connection and care for nature.
What we aim to explore
This session focuses on Digital Relational Nature Values and Digital Environmental Stewardship, drawing on insights from the BIG-5 project). We invite contributions from researchers, practitioners, and digital innovators to explore:
- How digital media mediate nature experiences and create environmental value
- Interactions between digital and physical conservation or restoration efforts
- Innovative approaches at the intersection of social–ecological systems and digital technologies
- Opportunities and risks of digital engagement for representing human and non-human needs in biodiversity restoration
Intended outcomes
By sharing diverse perspectives, this session aims to build a community of researchers and practitioners engaging with the amphibious realm of social–ecological digital realities. Our goal is to transform the influence of digital media into tangible benefits for biodiversity.
