The call for abstracts may be downloaded as a pdf file here (latest version 1.1, 11th May 2026)

Abstracts for oral and poster presentations for the Third International Conference on Health and Biodiversity are welcome from a diversity of disciplines, perspectives, topics and approaches at the interface of health and biodiversity, and their nexus with other global challenges including climate, water, food, human rights and humanitarian assistance.

Oral presentations

Oral presentations should align with the main theme of the conference, Partnerships for People and Planet, contributing to discussions on the importance of co-operation between governments, economic sectors, scientific disciplines and communities on issues linking health and biodiversity.

Abstracts should be proposed for a specific parallel session or major theme, from the following list:

• Pandemic Prevention: The role of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem sustainability in reducing pandemic risks, accounting for human, wildlife, livestock, plant and ecosystem health.
• Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition: Exploring the importance of biodiversity for food and nutritional resources, including social well-being and cultural dimensions of food production, preparation, and trade.
• Oceans and Health: Exploring the importance of ocean ecosystems for health and well-being, including relevance to communicable and non-communicable diseases and disaster risk reduction.
• Health Equity for Women and Youth: Understanding the gender dimension in biodiversity-health interlinkages, from differentiated dependencies and risks to unique perspectives and contributions to governance; empowering woman and youth in decision making, and promoting inter-generational learning for planetary health.
• Disaster Risk Reduction, Relief and Recovery: The role of biodiversity and ecosystem services in building resilience: reducing disaster risk, supporting disaster relief, and assisting in disaster recovery efforts.
• Urban Community Health and Well-being: Understanding the urban dimensions of health-biodiversity linkages, including epidemiological issues, the urban sustainability paradox and ecosystem justice, and community engagement.  

Presentations should focus on the core theme of the conference session for which they are proposed, and additionally should aim to fall under one of the three thematic pillars within that session:

• State of Knowledge
• Coherence and Synergies
• Human Rights-Based Approaches

Intending presenters should refer to the Agenda page of the website, and review the outline of parallel session themes which provides an indicative list to guide intending presenters. Perspectives are welcome from all relevant disciplines and perspectives. Consideration of cross-cutting issues is also encouraged.

Please note: Intending presenters are reminded that the conference audience will comprise a diversity of disciplines, backgrounds, subject matter expertise, and interests, and are expected to tailor their presentations accordingly. As such, oral presentations which aim to focus solely on a specific narrow scientific research finding or dataset, or a narrow policy interest, are unlikely to be appropriate for the conference unless the information is accompanied by a substantive interpretation of their relevance to the session themes, or presented within the context of wider application of concepts, principles, research findings, interventions, needs assessment, rights-based approaches, etc. in line with the agenda of the relevant parallel session.  

Please direct any questions on possible oral presentation topics to the organisers at cohab3@cohabinitiative.org.

Organisations and intending participants wishing to offer an oral presentation are requested to state their intention to do so in their letter of nomination (or by email to cohab3@cohabinitiative.org) and to provide the following details:

• The title of the presentation
• A short abstract of up to 300 words
• The conference parallel session(s) for which the presentation is being offered (presentations may be relevant to more than one session)
• The pillar(s) with which the presentation will align (State of Knowledge, Coherence and Synergies, or Human Rights-Based Approaches) (presentations may be relevant to more than one pillar)
• The name of the presenter(s) and their affiliations
• The type of presentation intended and resources required (e.g. PowerPoint, video etc)

Presentations should be prepared for 15 minutes in duration, including time for two to three questions
or discussion.

Up to five abstracts may be submitted per organisation, however please note that the number of presentations accepted from any single person or organisation may be limited, in order to facilitate our goals of promoting equitable participation and engagement (subject to consideration of abstracts submitted, and the thematic and regional spread of presentation content).

Responses to abstract submission will be issued within 21 days of receipt of the abstract(s), at which
time further details may be requested including a more detailed abstract (up to 500 words), or guidance
given to ensure that the presentation will align with the intended aims of the relevant session.

The deadline for abstract submission is Friday 31st July 2026.

Poster presentations

The scope for poster presentations is less restrictive than for oral presentations; intending presenters should ideally align their poster topics with a specific conference session or theme, but more leeway on content is offered.  

Space for poster presentations will be provided in a pre-conference area. Organisations and intending participants wishing to offer poster presentations are requested to state their intention to do so in their letter of nomination (or by email to cohab3@cohabinitiative.org), providing the following details:

• Title of the presentation
• A short abstract of up to 300 words
• The conference parallel session(s) for which the poster presentation is most closely aligned, if applicable
• The name of the presenter(s) and their affiliation

Poster dimensions should be standard A1 paper size (594 x 841 mm), with a tolerance of plus 5% to minus 10% in width and height, and in portrait orientation.

Up to five poster abstracts may be submitted per organisation, however please note that the number of posters accepted from any single person or organisation may be limited, in order to facilitate our goals of promoting equitable participation and engagement (subject to consideration of abstracts submitted, and the thematic and regional spread of presentation content).

Responses to poster abstract submission will be issued within 21 days of receipt of the abstract(s), at which time further details may be requested including a more detailed abstract (up to 500 words), or guidance given to ensure that the poster presentation will align with the intended aims of the conference. Please note that space will be limited, and therefore it may not be possible to accept every presentation offered. However, in such cases virtual space may be offered here on the Cohab Initiative website, and posters may still be included in the conference proceedings, where feasible.

The deadline for abstract submission is Friday 31st July 2026.

All queries regarding oral and poster presentations should be directed to cohab3@cohabinitiative.org

The abstract submission process and associated terms are subject to review and may be amended at any time at the discretion of Cohab.  Please check this page before finalising your abstract for submission.