The Nature Drone Forum (NDF) 2026 is a founder-funded, non-profit initiative bringing together a week of conservation technology and data events to advance the ethical and impactful use of drones, sensors, data management, AI, and emerging technologies for biodiversity protection.
The Forum includes several connected events:
- East African Drone Forum (2 March): African leadership, BVLOS policy, and cross-sector applications of drone technology.
- Global Drones in Nature Conservation Symposium & Expo (G-DiNC 2026, 3–5 March launching on World Wildlife Day): The flagship symposium of NDF, featuring technical panels, poster sessions, exhibitions, and nine thematic breakout tracks on data management, wildlife monitoring, AI, and ethics. Highlights include:
- Live drone demonstrations and operational workflows at the Konza Drone Corridor
- Launch of the Global Drone Conservation Map
- Voices from the Sky youth storytelling eBook, authored by African students
- African Women for the Environment session (co-developed with SCB Africa Section)
- Innovation and STEM competitions, poster sessions, and exhibitions
- Research presentations by the WildDrone.eu PhD cohort
- Women in Conservation Forum (6 March): Celebrating women leaders in conservation technology, welcoming in International Women's Day.
- Conservation Data Management Forum (6 March, parallel events): Showcasing open geospatial platforms and governance models with partners including RCMRD, KWS, and Digital Earth Africa.
- Drone Flight Demonstrations (7 March): Hands-on field training and certification pathways at the Konza Drone Corridor.
- Piloting Drones in Conservation – Field Operations & Data Skills Course (9–12 March) — a practical training program at Konza, focused on safe operations, conservation-sensitive protocols, and data workflows.
Get Involved:
- Submit your project to the Global Drone Conservation Map: Project Form G-DiNC 2026: Global Drones in Nature Conservation Symposium & Expo
Nairobi & Konza, Kenya | March 2–6, 2026
Website: https://naturedroneforum.org
I’m excited to share an initiative I’ve founded and am personally funding: G-DiNC 2026, the first non-profit, global symposium and field expo dedicated to drones, sensors, and emerging tools for conservation. This will be an annual, rotating regional event, with the inaugural edition launching in Kenya on World Wildlife Day (March 3rd). This is in partnership with the https://www.africandroneforum.org/ and https://rcmrd.org/en/ (among others).
What to expect:
- Live drone demonstrations and operational data workflows (Konza Drone Corridor)
- Technical panels covering drone ethics, AI, integration, and field operations—featuring the WildDrone.eu PhD research team - allowing the 13 PhDs dissemination and outreach opportunites
- Launch of the Global Drone Conservation Map showcasing real-world projects across ecosystems
- Publication of Voices from the Sky, a youth storytelling eBook authored by African students on drone use in conservation
- A special “Women for the Environment” session, co-developed with the Society for Conservation Biology Africa Section and partners
- Innovation and STEM competitions, poster sessions, and optional side events and workshops led by partners
We’re inviting WILDLABS members to:
- Submit projects for the map and program
- Apply to present, co-lead sessions, or host field demos
- Support youth mentorship, outreach, and mentorship through initiatives like Voices from the Sky, STEM competitions, and inclusive conservation tech outreach
The registration platform, speaker application portal, and sponsor hub is available at
Empowering Conservation with Nature Drones
Explore how nature drones are revolutionizing conservation efforts, protecting ecosystems and wildlife with innovative technology.
To submit your drone conservation project for inclusion:
Project form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdTm3U87g4WV5L2GllGi8zjg-syJniLZA37sv0IWHUapj4e-w/viewform
To get in touch or explore collaboration:
Email: david@naturedrones.org
Email: macayle@naturedrones.org