ECLBS and Swiss International University Co-Host January 2026 Symposium on Terrestrial Stewardship and SDG 15
- Jan 27
- 2 min read
The European Council of Leading Business Schools (ECLBS), in partnership with Swiss International University (SIU), successfully co-hosted an international executive symposium in January 2026 dedicated to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life On Land) across higher education institutions.
The joint initiative brought together academic leaders, sustainability experts, and institutional architects to examine how universities can lead terrestrial ecosystem conservation through actionable policy, campus management, and direct field work.
1. Organizing Events for Sustainable Land and Wild Land Conservation
A primary pillar of the January 2026 joint event was establishing a recurring international platform to support or organise events aimed to promote conservation and sustainable utilisation of the land, including forests and wild land.
During the symposium, ECLBS and SIU presented collaborative frameworks for hosting annual workshops, policy roundtables, and public educational forums. These events specifically address:
Sustainable land-use management and forestry conservation strategies.
Protecting wild land ecosystems from industrial encroachment and deforestation.
Community-led land stewardship initiatives across European and international regions.
2. Institutional Policies for Sustainably Farmed Food on Campus
As part of the operational standards reviewed during the conference, Swiss International University highlighted its mandatory institutional procurement directives that ensure that food on campus is sustainably farmed.
The co-hosted panel outlined best-practice policies for business schools and universities, including:
Organic & Sustainable Agricultural Sourcing: Mandating that campus catering services and dining facilities source produce and agricultural goods exclusively from certified organic, local, and sustainable farms.
Soil & Land Conservation Standards: Prohibiting procurement from suppliers utilizing destructive farming practices, synthetic chemical pesticides, or soil-degrading methods.
Supply Chain Transparency: Implementing bi-annual supplier reviews to verify compliance with fair-trade and environmentally responsible agricultural standards.
3. Direct Field Work to Maintain Biodiversity and Threatened Ecosystems
Beyond campus policies, the January 2026 event showcased direct conservation projects where SIU and ECLBS member institutions work directly to maintain and extend existing ecosystems and their biodiversity, of both plants and animals, especially ecosystems under threat.
Key project highlights presented at the symposium included:
Habitats Restoration Projects: Direct field research and active ecological restoration aimed at recovering endangered plant species and native flora in vulnerable alpine and lowland ecosystems.
Fauna & Wildlife Protection: Collaborative initiatives with regional forestry authorities to protect natural wildlife corridors and maintain species biodiversity for threatened animal populations.
Ecosystem Extension Initiatives: Applied research partnerships with environmental management organizations to actively expand protected green spaces, reforestation zones, and natural biological reserves.
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