MMM7
7th Mangrove Macrobenthos and Management Conference
– Towards Nature Positive Mangroves –
1 - 5 July, 2026. Ishigaki Civic Hall,
Ishigaki City, Okinawa, JAPAN

Announcement

Notice: Poster numbers have been updated to a new format. Please see the Poster Program.
The timetable and list of oral presentations, flash talks, and poster presentations are available on the Program page. For Oral and Fash Talk speakers, please check your presentation day. (You can also check through the ONLINE FORM . (Please note that some presentations were upgraded).
Participant registration has been temporarily closed as of March 17, as the number of registrations has exceeded the planned capacity. We appreciate your understanding. Participants who have already completed their registration may still proceed with pending payments and update or revise their registration information through the registration system.

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Invitation to the 7th Mangrove, Macrobenthos and Management Conference　(MMM7)
– Towards Nature Positive Mangroves –

It is our great pleasure to invite you to the 7th Mangrove, Macrobenthos and Management Conference (MMM7), to be held in Ishigaki City, Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan, from 1–5 July 2026.

Since its inception in 2000 in Kenya, the MMM conference series has successfully brought together scientists, practitioners, and policymakers dedicated to the study and management of mangrove ecosystems. Subsequent meetings have been held in Australia (2006), Sri Lanka (2012), the USA (2016), Singapore (2019), and Colombia (2023).

The MMM7 conference is organized by the MMM7 Organization Committee, primarily supported by the University of the Ryukyus and the International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME), headquartered in Okinawa, Japan.

Mangrove ecosystems are among the most productive and valuable on Earth. They are home to a vast diversity of life—from fish, plants, and benthic organisms to reptiles and mammals—and provide vital ecosystem services to millions of people. These include protection from storms and coastal erosion, as well as mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration and storage.

We hope that MMM7 will serve as a global platform for sharing knowledge, exchanging ideas, and fostering collaboration toward the conservation and restoration of mangrove ecosystems.

We look forward to welcoming you to Okinawa, Japan, in 2026.

Prof. Shigeyuki Baba
Conference Chair, MMM7
Professor emeritus, University of the Ryukyus.
Executive Director, International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME)

MMM7 will be held under the subtheme “Towards Nature Positive Outcomes for Mangrove Ecosystems”. This subtheme reflects our shared ambition to use mangrove science not only to understand biodiversity and ecosystem change, but also to support recovery, conservation, sustainable management, and benefits for coastal communities. Through this subtheme, MMM7 will provide a platform for discussing how research on mangroves, macrobenthos, restoration, governance, and community engagement can contribute to Nature Positive outcomes worldwide.

Keynote Speakers of MMM7

Toyohiko MIYAGI

Anusha Rajkaran

Thomas Worthington

Virni Budi Arifanti

Farid Dahdouh-Guebas

News Update

A pre-conference excursion to the Nagura Amparu mangrove wetland will be organized independently by local community-based conservation groups. Further details will be announced here. Participants interested in Nagura Amparu and local mangrove conservation are warmly invited to join. Please note that the number of participants will be limited. If the number of applications exceeds the available capacity, participants will be selected by lottery.
MMM7 timetable and program released on 31 May 2026. (updated on 2nd June)
On 1st May 2026, Registrations with unpaid fees have been removed from the participant list and official program, regardless of abstract submission or acceptance status. (See more details on the FAQ page.)
Deadline for Cancellation, Refund, and Payment: 24th April 2026 (23:59 JST). Cancellation policy is now shown on the FAQ page.
Abstract acceptance status updated on 9 April 2026. Please visit ONLINE FORM
Registration for new participants temporarily closed as of 17 March 2026. Registered participants may still proceed with payment.
Abstract submission has officially closed on 2 February 2026 at 10:00 JST (UTC+9).
Jan 28: The deadline for Abstract Submission and Early Registration has been updated to February 2 (Monday), 10:00 JST (UTC +9) due to administrative scheduling constraints.
Jan, 2026: The FAQ page has been prepared.
October 2025: We updated the following pages:
Conference Registration started..
Abstract submission started:
Lunch, Conference Dinner, and Accommodation Information updated.
July 2025: Official website opened.

Notice

- All conference activities must be between July 1st and 5th, 2026, including setup and clean-up.
- Opening of the Conference, 12:00 on 1st July (Registration desk opens at 11:00)
- Closing of the Conference, 18:00 on 5th July
- Single venue session.
- No official excursions are planned. (Some provided by third parties)
- Please note that registration may be closed without prior notice once the maximum number of participants (approximately 400) is reached.
- Consuming food and beverages in the conference hall is strictly prohibited.
July marks the beginning of the summer tourist season in Japan, so we recommend securing accommodation as early as possible.