2026 FLARE Annual Meeting


The 12th FLARE Annual Meeting will be held from October 21-24, 2026 in Bilbao, Spain in partnership with the University of Deusto.

Abstract submissions are due by April 12th. Find the link to submit below!

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2026 Annual Meeting Theme

Forests as Spaces of Hope and Solidarity

Forests worldwide are symbols of hope. Hope, not as passive optimism or blind faith, but rather as a courageous commitment to possibility amidst uncertainty. Forests are also literal spaces of hope for hundreds of millions of people around the world who rely on them for their livelihoods and well-being. Hope can inspire collective action and mutual support. Hope and solidarity are needed to conserve, restore, and sustainably manage forests. But contemporary challenges—wanton disregard of social norms, stubborn violence, yawning inequality, technology-fueled alienation, climate breakdown, and more—conspire to undermine hope and solidarity.


Yet hope persists, manifesting in new forms of solidarity and collective action toward better futures. 


We invite speakers to integrate this theme— forests as spaces of hope and solidarity— into their proposals for the 12th Annual FLARE Meeting. 

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Secondary Annual Meeting Themes

  • Forest livelihoods amidst (geo)political change
  • Forest governance from local to global
  • Forests, trees and human well-being: New methods and collaborative approaches
  • Green energy transitions
  • Forests, equality, and justice
  • Forest livelihoods in a changing climate
  • Tree-based (socio)bioeconomies
  • Beyond the forest: trees and human well-being from farm to city
  • Biodiversity conservation and forest lifeways

Abstract Guidelines

Please review the guidelines before submitting your abstract.

Abstract Guidelines
Guía de Resumen

Submit your Abstract for the Annual Meeting

*Please note: If you do not have an account with Oxford Abstracts, you will have to create a free account to submit your abstract.

 2026 Abstract Submission Portal

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a question regarding the 2026 Annual Meeting? Please review the section below to find your answer. If you cannot find your answer, please reach out to us at flare@nd.edu.

When is the deadline for abstract submission?

The deadline to submit a proposal is April 20th. Please see the abstract submission guidelines above for further information.

When will I be notified of my acceptance to present at the Annual Meeting?

All decisions for submissions for the 2026 Annual Meeting will be announced on May 18th via email. 

Can someone else present for me if I am unable to attend?

Yes. The Organizing Committee will allow for new presenters if the originally stated presenter cannot attend the Annual Meeting. However, there will be a strict limit of two presentations for any one presenter. If the proposed substitute is already presenting twice, please choose another presenter.

Should I submit my abstract as a pre-organized panel session?

The pre-organized panel session option on Oxford Abstracts is reserved for those who have coordinated with an organizer to create an entire session around a certain topic relating to the themes of the 2026 Annual Meeting. If you plan to submit your abstract as part of a pre-organized session, please refer to the Abstract Guidelines for the proper procedures.

Will FLARE offer financial assistance for presenters?

FLARE will offer a limited number of scholarships to provide funding for travel and accommodations. During the abstract submission process, please complete the form linked in the submission portal. Presenters from low and middle income countries will be prioritized.

Do I need a Visa to travel to Bilbao for the Annual Meeting?

Many nationalities will need a Schengen visa when travelling to Spain. Please check with your nearest consulate to verify if you need to apply for a Visa.

If I need an invitation letter, can FLARE provide one for my visa application?

If you need a letter of acceptance from the FLARE Secretariat for visa purposes, please email the Secretariat at flare@nd.edu as soon as possible. FLARE can only provide an official letter of acceptance to you to apply for a tourist visa. FLARE is unable to write to consulates to support your Visa application.

Can I present via livestream if I cannot attend my session?

The 12th Annual Meeting will be an in-person event only for the parallel sessions. The Secretariat reserves the right to remove a presentation if the presenter cannot attend.

2026 FLARE Annual Meeting Commitees

Coordination Committee

  • Edurne Iñigo Alday, University of Deusto
  • Karen Bailey, University of Colorado at Boulder
  • Sony Baral, Tribhuwan University
  • Rachel Carmenta, University of East Anglia
  • Sarah Castle, University of Wisconsin, Madison
  • Natalia Cisneros, CIFOR-ICRAF
  • Deborah Delgado Pugley, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru
  • Katie Devenish, University of Manchester
  • Apurva Duddu, Yale University
  • Forrest Fleischman, University of Minnesota
  • Yayan Hiyadat, Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN)
  • Santiago Izquierdo-Tort, University of British Columbia
  • Jude Kimengsi, Dresden University of Technology
  • Fernanda Liberali, Pontifical University of Sao Paulo
  • Rattiya Lippe, Thuenen Institute of Forestry
  • Wenman Liu, University of Michigan
  • Adriana Molina-Garzon, Indiana University Indianapolis
  • Doris Mutta, African Forest Forum
  • Pablo Peña, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru
  • Laura Sauls, George Mason University
  • Terry Sunderland, University of British Columbia
  • Armando Valdés Velásquez, Wyss Academy

    • Local Host

    • Francisco Javier Arellano Yanguas, University of Deusto
    • Edurne Iñigo Alday, University of Deusto
    • Ainhoa Jorquera Cascón, University of Deusto