news & insights

AEF at the Conservation Collective Global Gathering 2026 in the Scottish Highlands

In the first week of May, the Argosaronic Environment Foundation travelled to Scotland and the majestic Highlands to take part in the Conservation Collective Global Gathering 2026.

Hosted by the Highlands & Islands Environment Foundation, this annual gathering brought together colleagues from across the Conservation Collective’s international network: locally focused environmental foundations working with communities, grassroots organisations and partners to protect and restore nature in the places they call home.

For AEF, the gathering was an opportunity to reconnect with our global family, exchange knowledge, share what we are learning on the ground in the Argosaronic, and return home inspired by the many ways local action can contribute to wider environmental change.

Learning from a global network rooted in local action

Being part of the Conservation Collective gives AEF access to something much greater than a network. It connects us to shared knowledge, practical experience, trusted partners, international expertise and a global view of how grassroots environmental action can create real impact.

Across the gathering, we heard stories from different parts of the world: from bird rehabilitation in Malta and native oyster reintroduction in Scotland, to orca protection in St Vincent and the Grenadines and seagrass restoration in Greece. Each story was different, but the common thread was clear: lasting environmental change often starts locally, with people who know, love and care for their place.

This is also at the heart of AEF’s work in the Argosaronic. We believe that resilient ecosystems and resilient communities are deeply connected. Our relationship with nature is not only environmental. It is social, cultural, economic, emotional and deeply human.

Sharing the case of Poros

As part of this year’s Global Gathering, Conservation Collective invited AEF to present the case of Poros and the collective effort that contributed to halting the proposed expansion of industrial fish farming in the area.

Our presentation focused on how scientific work, local mobilisation, strategic partnerships and public advocacy came together around a high-impact environmental issue. In Poros, the proposed plan involved a large-scale expansion of fish farming, with a projected 28-fold increase and coverage of around 25% of the island’s coastline, at a time when limited environmental baseline data and impact assessments were available.

AEF joined an existing local effort, building on broader support already mobilised around the issue and contributed by strengthening the scientific evidence base, visibility and collaboration. We supported research on Posidonia oceanica meadows and aquaculture impacts, worked alongside local partners, and helped communicate the findings through public events and targeted visibility. The goal was not to replace local leadership, but to add value where it was needed: evidence, coordination and catalytic support.

The Poros case reminded us of something essential: science is necessary, but not sufficient on its own. Strong local partners are critical. Alliances multiply impact, especially when resources are limited. Flexible philanthropy can act as a catalyst. And policy change takes time, persistence and momentum.

From science to advocacy and system change

Poros showed how communities can help drive regional change when supported with the right tools, evidence and partnerships.

This is why AEF, like the wider Conservation Collective family, supports grassroots and community-based changemakers. Local communities are often the first to notice environmental pressures, the first to defend threatened places, and the ones who live with the long-term consequences of decisions made about their land and sea.

Our role is to help ensure that their efforts are supported by credible science, strategic communication, strong alliances and practical resources.

Looking ahead, AEF will continue investing in seagrass protection and restoration, connecting science, policy and communities, and supporting other regions of the Argosaronic with the evidence and partnerships needed to protect natural heritage.

Returning home with renewed energy

The Global Gathering was also a powerful reminder that we are not working alone.

Across the Conservation Collective network, foundations are supporting local organisations that are restoring habitats, protecting species, defending ecosystems, building climate resilience and strengthening the relationship between people and nature.

We return from the Highlands with renewed energy, new ideas and deep appreciation for the colleagues and partners who are working with such dedication in their own regions.

We warmly thank Conservation Collective and the Highlands & Islands Environment Foundation for hosting this year’s Global Gathering with such care and generosity. We also send a heartfelt thank you to all our sister foundations for the inspiration, the shared learning and the commitment they bring to their local communities every day.

Together, we are reminded that protecting nature is not only about conservation. It is about protecting the places that sustain us, connect us and shape our future.