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Timor-Leste is at a critical juncture where environmental degradation intersects with pressing social and economic needs. The country’s fragile ecosystems are under increasing stress due to deforestation, unsustainable land use, sedimentation of rivers, and loss of biodiversity. These challenges exacerbate water insecurity, soil erosion, and flooding risks threatening agriculture, livelihoods, and community health.

Food system vulnerability remains high, with recurrent malnutrition, stunting in children, and limited dietary diversity. Climate change compounds these pressures, manifesting in unpredictable rainfall patterns, prolonged dry spells, and extreme weather events. Current development approaches often focus on infrastructure and service delivery but underutilize the potential of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) interventions that work with nature to address societal challenges while providing environmental, social, and economic benefits.

Despite promising local practices such as traditional watershed management, community reforestation, and integrated farming systems, these efforts remain fragmented, small-scale, and insufficiently embedded in national strategies. There is a need to bridge policy, science, and community practice to make NbS a core pillar of Timor-Leste’s sustainable development, climate resilience, and public health agenda. 

is providing a forum for researchers, policymakers, practitioners and community leaders to co-create pathways for scaling NbS and aligning them with Timor-Leste’s national priorities. Symposium participants will leave with actionable insights to promote environmental stewardship and community wellbeing through nature-based development.

Objectives of the symposium

Expected outcomes

Alignment with national and global agendas

This symposium supports Timor-Leste’s commitments under:

1. National Adaptation Plan (NAP)
2. National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP)
3. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
4. UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030

Submit your abstracts

We invite researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to submit their abstracts for presentation during the symposium. If you have research findings, projects or ideas that demonstrate success and/or are relevant Timor-Leste, our audience would love to hear from you.

Abstract submission closes on Sunday 5 October 2025.

Hosts and organisers