The history of interaction of humans with the environment goes back to the times of their earliest ancestors and the benefits that the people obtain from ecosystems are encapsulated as “ecosystem services”. Biodiversity is considered as the foundation of ecosystem services representing all biotic components which intimately links with human wellbeing. Over the past 50 years, humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any other comparable period of time in the human history resulting in an irreversible loss to the diversity of life on earth. This growing pressure on ecosystems is causing a permanent loss to the productivity, threatening both biodiversity and human well-being. Humans did not pay much attention on the impact until its adverse consequences reached the permissible levels of the ecosystem. Planners and decision makers require information on how biodiversity could strengthen ecosystem services, the demand and the capacity to fulfill such demand, and the pressures and impacts impairing the biodiversity. Under this topic researcher are invited to share the findings of research under this sub topic to fill the gaps between the available information on above issues and achieve an efficient bio diversity and ecosystem service.

The sub-theme on climate change, mitigation and adaptation brings together for a wide range of research areas, including, socioeconomic and environmental impacts and vulnerability of climate change, development and climate change,  climate  change  risk assessment and  management, modelling of climate change,  policy-related analyses of climate change issues, traditional knowledge of and local strategies for managing natural resources and coping with climate change, and climate-resilient pathways that combine adaptation and mitigation to realize the goal of sustainable development.

Disasters caused either by natural or manmade hazards have become one of the burning issues in the world. Climate change resulted from rapid industrialization and its continuation has also coined with the global disasters causing the human sphere more and more vulnerable. The threat of disasters is essentially in need of identifying, understanding, projecting, predicting, managing and mitigating considering each and every aspect of it. Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in parallel with the sustainable development are twin terms mutually engaged to reduce the potential risk and growing vulnerability of disasters by which the human sphere is affected in time. Innovative concepts of social, cultural, technical and economical, advanced scientific approaches and well established traditions are required to interact conjointly in diluting the emerging disaster in the world for the sake of sustainable future of the mankind.

Though the earth is full of resources, unplanned measures of resource extraction and improper management practices have led them to decay threatening some of the best practices we had so far in sustainable development. The current development sector planners are concerned about the Earth resources and the sustainable use of them. Conservation, preservation and protection of Earth resources have become one of the key concerns when it comes to planning. Natural resources like air, water, biomasses (forest), soils, rocks and minerals, oil and coal are some of the Earth’s resources which are under threat due to anthropogenic activities. Improper management of these Earth resources has also led to an environmental imbalance which creates new problems under the sustainable development process. Therefore, it is essential to care for these resources to achieve sustainability where all living things can be benefited from them, for now and in the future.  

Economic growth has accelerated the globalization process. Globalization, on the other hand, has opened up millions of new opportunities for economic development in every part of the globe. It is undeniable that economics and globalization are interdependent and interconnected. Economic globalization is the term used to describe this phenomenon. Though, economic activities and the trend of globalization alter throughout time and space, it contributes significantly to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, either directly or indirectly. It is becoming one of the emerging topics among academic and other stakeholders in the era of sustainable development. To achieve sustainable development at the regional and international scale in all aspects of development, it is critical to research and encourages new intellectual of economic geography, globalization, and linkage between both in the lens of the local and global perspective.

Geographies of health focuses on understanding spatial patterns of health and disease related to the natural and social environment.  Especially, it deals with  the interaction between people and the environment. The global pandemic has profound geographical consequences, and as the current crisis continues to unfold, there is a pressing need for geographers and other scholars to critically examine its effects. Pandemic vigilance should be seen as an integral part of preparedness for threats to human health caused by any emergency. It is a continuous process of planning, exercising, revising and translating into action, the national and sub-national pandemic preparedness and response plans.

Tourism is a multifaceted perception and it is a complex industry blended with geographical, social, cultural, economic and environmental aspects. Travelling and tourism have become exciting sub disciplines in the field of geography, since the geographers are keenly interested in the central notions of locations, space and the environment. Tourism being the largest industry in the world, provides recreational, leisure and educational experiences to both local and international tourists providing economic advantages to the countries in return. From the geographical perspective, recreational, leisure, and educational experiences have been utilizing the space. Utilization of space for tourism has generated multifaceted geographies of tourism such as ecotourism, medical tourism, music tourism, slum tourism, heritage tourism, cultural tourism, geo tourism. Truthfulness of every behavior is much important in the field of tourism since it creates opportunities and benefits for both mankind and the environment. Hence, authenticity in tourism has become an urgent necessity all over the world, in order to achieve sustainability in the geographies of tourism in the near future.

Spatial dimension being one of the fundamental concepts of Geography, technological advancement in geospatial sciences have become the greatest advantage for geographers to conduct state of the art research using spatial applications. Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS), and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) have become the popular technical trio in geospatial sciences and their applications when it comes to decision making. The application areas spread across a broader spectrum where agriculture, ecosystems resilience, disaster management, health, transportation, built environment planning, construction, are some of the key examples. It has aggregated many research areas from natural sciences to social sciences under the umbrella term of geography which supports global suitability with cutting edge solutions.

Landscape agroecology offers the potential for productivity, and focuses on sustainability and environmental friendliness. The ecological, economic, wildlife, and visual functions of landscapes within a modern society are determined by processes that operate over a range of scales in space and time. Integrating knowledge of these processes into tools that can be used by people who have stewardship over the land, such as farmers and regulators, requires an interdisciplinary approach.

Agroecology is an approach that takes into account natural ecosystems and uses local knowledge to plant a diversity of crops that boost the sustainability of the farming system as a whole (Moore, 2016). According to FAO (2018), there are 10 guiding principles of agroecology: diversity, synergies, efficiency, resilience, recycling, concretion and sharing of knowledge, human and social values, culture and food traditions, responsible governance, circular and solidarity economy. Landscape agroecology is a very important concept in the sustainable development process and achieving sustainable development goals.

Cultural Geography is one of the sub-disciplines in Human Geography. Certain geographical phenomena such as landforms, climates, and natural vegetation impact human culture. Therefore, this discipline has more profound details linked with natural physical features. Cultural Geography basically consists of anthropological and social aspects. The field of Cultural Geography has become more focused on renewed interest over the past decades by producing crops of new directions. The contemporary human geography branches are being developed with new directions while the landscape theme continues to dominate cultural geography. Cultural Geography examines the cultural values, practices, discursive and material expressions, and artifacts of people. Moreover, the diversity and plurality of the society also considered

In this sub-theme, contributions may focus on (but not limited to) Population and Sustainable Development. We also welcome delegates from a wide range of fields including diverse views on population trends and distribution, challenges in population dynamics, population issues, population and gender equality, Covid-19 impact on the population, poverty alleviation, education and human resource development, good health and well-being, sustainable cities and communities, and stewardship of the natural environment. Demographic factors are closely linked to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and positive, empowering population solutions are key to meeting the SDGs.

Regional planning is an urban planning strategy, focusing on the social, economic and physical development of specific areas. The sub-theme of the conference, “Regional planning and space management”, poses to gather the latest concepts, framework and empirical practices to bridge the understanding theory/concepts in regional development practices. The call for papers is very broad and invites contributions from all areas of expertise dealing with land use practices, cities, regional transformation, industrial space and settlement growth, infrastructure and spatial development and sustainable growth to gain a holistic and multi-faceted view on challenges and future scenarios in regional planning and space management. 

The epistemology of the discipline of Geography has dramatically been evolved over decades. More importantly, the scholarship of Geographical Research seeks novel theories and applications in order to conquer the variegated impediments of human society. On the other hand, these novelties bridge the gaps of the existing body of empirical works (e.g. literature) which related to both Physical and Human Geographical epistemologies. These have been added more rigorous as well as sophisticated contributions and implications to the discipline of Geography. Therefore, this theme warrants innovative research applications mainly covering socio-cultural, political, and economical geographic aspects through space and over time.

Transportation is a main lifeline of all the economies that connects people and places locally and globally. Therefore, transportation is one of the key contributing factors under the globalization process which connects through a complicated yet efficient network based on different modes as in railways, roadways, airways, waterways and pipelines. Transport Geography is more concerned about the spatial organization of these transport networks and the attributing factors of origin and destination, along with the nature, purpose, and extent of the movement patterns. Transportation being a fundamental component in economic exchange and development, transport geographers directly contribute to transport, urban and regional planning for sustainable development. Some of the key research areas under this theme have focused on effects  be transportation of land use and land cover, connectivity and spatial organisation of networks and sustainable transportation.

More than half of the world’s population is living in cities. The people move towards cities aiming at prosperity and modernity, causing adverse impact on the natural environment, and changing the built environment. Urban environmental pollution and urban socio-economic issues are emerging issues in developing countries. Innovative concepts such as green cities and smart cities show the path to sustainable communities. This may be the best time to explore economics, social change, politics, culture and environment in urban centres, new trends and modern technologies to make the cities liveable places.

This track focuses on the evolving role of geography education in addressing 21st-century challenges of sustainable development and environmental change. It explores innovative teaching methods, digital tools, and interdisciplinary approaches that enhance geographical literacy and critical thinking. This track examines how geography education fosters understanding of global issues such as climate change, urbanization, and socio-economic inequalities. By highlighting best practices and emerging trends, it aims to equip educators and students with the skills needed to navigate and address complex spatial and environmental issues in a rapidly changing world.

This track explores how AI technologies and data analytics are transforming geographical research and practice. It examines the use of AI in analyzing spatial data, modeling complex geographical phenomena, and addressing critical issues like urban planning, environmental monitoring, and disaster management. By showcasing innovative applications of machine learning, big data, and geospatial analytics, this track highlights the potential of AI to enhance our understanding of spatial patterns and processes, offering new insights and solutions for contemporary geographical challenges.

More than half of the world’s population is living in cities. The people move towards cities aiming at prosperity and modernity, causing adverse impact on the natural environment, and changing the built environment. Urban environmental pollution and urban socio-economic issues are emerging issues in developing countries. Innovative concepts such as green cities and smart cities show the path to sustainable communities. This may be the best time to explore economics, social change, politics, culture and environment in urban centres, new trends and modern technologies to make the cities liveable places.

This track explores how spatial aspects intersect with gender to shape identities, roles, and inequalities. It examines the impact of gendered perspectives on urban planning, rural development, and resource distribution. By highlighting the spatial dimensions of power relations, this track challenges traditional geographical concepts and promotes inclusivity. Discussions will address gendered mobility, migration, and environmental impacts, offering a platform for advancing gender equity in geographical research and practice. Through diverse theoretical and practical insights, it aims to foster a nuanced understanding of the interplay between gender and space.