As part of the implementation of the project entitled “Evaluation de la valeur des Services Ecosystémiques de la Réserve de Biosphère de Luki (EVASE_RBL)”, ERAIFT was invited to present an oral communication at the 2026 European Conference on Tropical Ecology on the topic: "Community Perceptions of Ecosystem Services of the Luki Biosphere Reserve, Democratic Republic of the Congo." This high-level conference was held from February 23 to 27, 2026, at the University of Passau in Germany.

Under the theme "Species – Ecosystems – People", this international conference provided a forum to examine the interactions between biodiversity, ecosystems, and societies in tropical and subtropical regions. ECTE 2026 brought together researchers from Europe and the Global South to exchange knowledge, combine their perspectives, and strengthen long-term cooperation to promote biodiversity and social well-being. The conference included plenary sessions, thematic sessions, and interactive exchange formats, and particularly fostered networking between established and early-career researchers. Special attention was paid to digital innovations such as remote sensing, modeling, and open data platforms, which enable a better understanding of tropical ecosystems and nature conservation.

ERAIFT thanks its partners for their collaboration, in particular the University of Liège through the Faculty of Gembloux AgroBioTech, and INERA.

This participation in the Conference was possible thanks to the RESSAC program, implemented by CIFOR-ICRAF and funded by the European Union.