2026 meeting of the Sahel & Sahara Interest Group – Deadline extended
On the road to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP 17, the 2026 SSIG conference will promote the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. Covering about half the world’s land, rangelands are home to unique biodiversity and pastoral communities whose livelihoods depend on them.
The 2026 meeting of the Sahel & Sahara Interest Group (SSIG) will be held for the very first time in Cairo, Egypt!
This year’s meeting is made possible thanks to the collaboration of the Arab Network for Environment and Development (RAED), who will co-organize the event with Sahara Conservation, ensuring an exceptional gathering in this landmark location.
The meeting will be structured around the following cross-cutting themes, focused on the Sahara and the Sahel:
- Restoring species: biology, management and recovery of threatened species.
- Sustaining ecosystems: sustainable management, restoration and conservation of protected areas, with a focus on desert and rangelands.
- Human/wildlife interactions & ecosystems health: complementary approaches for communities, wildlife and livestock in a desertification context.
Registration
Please complete your registration form by March 27th.
Registration fees
- Regular rate: 180 EUR / 215 USD
- Range states residents and students rate: 90 EUR / 108 USD / 5,000 EGP
The payment link is in the registration form – or you can access it from here directly.
For a wire transfer, or other payment methods, please contact Julie Martin.
Call for abstracts
If you would like to present during the meeting, please submit your abstract before March 27th using the online form.
Logistics
Venue
Conference venue: Jewel Zamalek Hotel, Cairo, Egypt
Accommodation: A very limited number of rooms are available for SSIG participants at the Jewel Zamalek Hotel.
Please do not contact the hotel directly. To request a booking, please fill this form, we will get back to you shortly to confirm room availability.
A wide range of other hotel and accommodation options is also available in the surrounding area.
Invitation letters for Visas
Please check immediately if you need a visa to enter Egypt and mention it in the registration form. We’ll be happy to assist with invitation letters if needed.
Note on Travel & Safety
We are closely monitoring regional developments in the Middle East. Our teams in Europe and in Cairo remain in regular contact to ensure a seamless and secure experience for all attendees.
At this stage, we are confident that the SSIG 2026 meeting can be safely hosted in Cairo as planned. Please be assured that we will immediately inform all participants of any significant changes in the situation that could affect the event.
Program overview
- Monday 4 May: Arrival of participants
- Tuesday 5 May: Day 1 of the meeting
- Wednesday 6 May: Day 2 of the meeting
- Thursday 7 May: Day 3 of the meeting
Step-by-step guide
- Click on the link to complete the registration form online by March 27th.
- Pay the registration fee. The payment link is in the registration form – or open it from here directly: pay the registration fees.
- If you would like to give an oral presentation, plan a side event, or exhibit a poster, please submit an abstract no later than March 27th.
A schedule of talks will be circulated to registered delegates in advance of the meeting.
Sponsoring
Over the years, the event has been generously sponsored by many organizations, contributing to support the logistics on site, and helping cover the participation of key individuals from the Sahara and the Sahel range states.
Organising and supporting entities
In case you encounter any technical issue at any stage of your registration process or need more information, please write to: comms@saharaconservation.org