Reflecting on ICTC 2026 and Looking Ahead

In February 2026, the first International Conservation Technology Conference (ICTC) brought together a global group of practitioners, technologists, researchers, and partners in Lima, Peru. It was a powerful moment for our sector, marking the first time so many people working at the intersection of conservation and technology gathered in one place to connect, learn, and shape what comes next. If you want to relive all the highlights and hear from participants, check out our new ICTC 2026 highlight reel on our Youtube!

Following the event, we gathered feedback from participants to better understand what was useful, what could be improved, and how ICTC should evolve. As part of our commitment to transparency with the WILDLABS community, we want to share a snapshot of what we heard and how it’s shaping our thinking as we look ahead.

What We Heard

The overall response was incredibly encouraging. ICTC received a mean satisfaction score of 9.4 out of 10, and 100 percent of respondents said they would recommend the conference to a colleague. But beyond the numbers, what stood out most was the emphasis on connection. Participants consistently highlighted the value of connecting with others working across conservation and technology, particularly across regions, disciplines, and sectors. Many noted that the event created opportunities to move conversations forward, whether by strengthening existing relationships or starting new ones. For most respondents, relationship-building was the primary impact of attending.

“We met loads of new contacts and strengthened ties with others we’ve known for many years. We have a list of conversations to continue that is truly energizing and may be very impactful to our future work.”

There was also strong interest in the practical side of the program. Workshops and interactive sessions were frequently mentioned as highlights, particularly those that helped participants build skills or explore how tools can be applied in real-world settings. Many people told us they discovered technologies or approaches they plan to use in their own work. Hearing this was especially meaningful, given ICTC’s goal of strengthening both connection and knowledge-sharing across the field.

“Many challenges I once thought had no clear solutions now feel more manageable after discovering new tools, alternative approaches and innovative ideas.”

At the same time, feedback pointed to areas where the experience can be improved. In particular, the number of concurrent sessions and limited transition time made it difficult for some participants to engage as deeply as they would have liked. That’s something we’re taking seriously as we think about how to balance the breadth of content with space for reflection, discussion, and informal exchange.

"I think you created something so novel, but so needed, in the conservation sector.”

Looking Ahead

Feedback from participants also provided useful direction for future planning. In particular, there was strong interest in having future ICTC events in other regions of the Global South such as Africa or other parts of Latin America. This highlights the importance of continuing to support geographically diverse and accessible convenings, and aligns with our priorities.  We’re grateful for both the encouragement and the constructive feedback we received from survey respondents!

ICTC is intended to reflect and support the needs of a broader, global community working at the intersection of conservation and technology, including the many people within our community who were not able to attend the conference this year. As we think about future iterations of ICTC or other in-person events, we will be engaging the wider WILDLABS community to help shape priorities, formats, and focus areas. Insights from both participants and the broader community will play an important role in guiding how ICTC continues to evolve. 

This was just the beginning!