ELA 2026 Annual Conference Call for Presentations

February 4-5, 2026 | Providence, RI

The Ecological Landscape Alliance (ELA) is excited to announce the 2026 Annual Conference to be held on February 4-5, 2026 in Providence, Rhode Island. We invite researchers, practitioners, and experts in ecological horticulture, resilient land management, and sustainable land planning to submit proposals for presentations, workshops, and panel discussions that align with the theme of Navigating Uncertainty.

 

The ELA Annual Conference brings together leaders in ecological landscape practices with multi-disciplinary professionals involved in landcare: landscape architects, designers, growers, horticulturists, land stewards, arborists, and installation/maintenance technicians. We also welcome students, educators, native plant enthusiasts, community activists, and home gardeners. The event will feature a two-day, multi-track program with opportunities to network, learn, and share new insights and strategies that contribute to sustainable and regenerative landscape management.

 

Selected speakers will receive complimentary registration to the ELA Annual Conference on the day of their presentation and may be eligible to receive a one year ELA Professional Membership.

 

We welcome submissions on topics related to ecological landcare in the following tracks:

  • Landscape Design
  • Advocacy & Activism
  • Managing Evolving Landscapes
  • Ecological Business Practices

Important Dates:

  • Submission Deadline: September 19, 2025
  • Notification of Acceptance: October 9, 2025
  • Conference Dates: February 4-5, 2026

Submission Guidelines:
Presentation Formats: We will accept proposals for various session formats, including individual presentations, panel discussions, and interactive workshops.
Duration: Presentations will be 60 minutes, including time for Q&A. Panel discussions and workshops may be up to 90 minutes including time for Q&A.
Target Audience: We seek presentations that will engage and inspire landcare professionals, professional horticulturists, landscape contractors, landscape architects, designers, planners, environmental scientists, home gardeners, enthusiasts, and advocates working to integrate ecological principles and practices into their work. Presentations should be geared towards an audience that already has a foundational knowledge of these topics; our conference participants are well-informed and looking for intermediate and advanced level presentations.

Submission Requirements:

  • Title of the presentation or workshop
  • Vision statement/learning outcome
  • Abstract (200-300 words) describing the content, objectives, and relevance to the theme
  • Speaker(s) bios (200 words each)

 

2026 ELA Annual Conference Call for Presentations

Please use this form to submit a proposal for consideration as a session at the 2026 ELA Annual Conference. You may submit multiple applications using the same form and you will receive confirmation to the email address indicated below once your proposal is submitted.

Important Dates

  • Submission Deadline: September 19, 2025
  • Notification of Acceptance: October 9, 2025
  • Conference Dates: February 4-5, 2026

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Title of Session*

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Learning Outcomes: in no more than 200 words, describe the learning objectives and key takeaways audiences should expect*

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Abstract (200-300 words) describing the content, objectives, and relevance to the theme*

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Speaker(s) bios (200 words each)*
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