From 15–19 June 2025, the 32nd International Congress for Conservation Biology (ICCB 2025) gathered more than 1,200 participants from over 90 countries in Brisbane/Meanjin, Australia. Hosted by the Oceania Region of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB), the congress brought together a diverse community of conservation and social science researchers, students, policy experts, practitioners, NGOs, and Indigenous leaders. The event placed a strong emphasis on the role of Indigenous knowledge systems in conservation efforts, spotlighting themes such as cultural heritage, sustainability, and community-driven approaches. Key discussions also focused on biocultural diversity, the wildlife trade, and safeguarding threatened ecosystems.

The programme offered a mix of plenary sessions, parallel presentations, hands-on workshops, business meetings, and daily poster displays, all aimed at encouraging meaningful dialogue and interdisciplinary collaboration. In addition to the formal sessions, attendees participated in a variety of social and cultural activities, including a nature film screening, a science-themed comedy evening, and a closing celebration at the Queensland Museum Kurilpa.

REST-COAST was represented at ICCB 2025 alongside the SELINA project at the exhibition stand of Pensoft Publishers, the project's Communication and Dissemination partner. The event provided a valuable platform to present REST-COAST’s mission, highlight recent progress, and engage with the international conservation community about the project's contribution to large-scale ecological restoration.