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Post-MMM7 Writing Workshop
Iriomote Station, TBRC, U Ryukyus
Iriomote Station, TBRC, U Ryukyus
Post-MMM7 Writing Workshop
Post-MMM7 Writing Workshop
Join us for an energising 5-day writing workshop, bringing together mangrove scientists from around the world to develop one or more synthesis papers aligned with the theme of “Nature Positive in mangroves”. The topic of the workshop will be determined prior to the workshop based on a short expression-of-interest survey among the participants that is completed during registration.
Due to capacity limitations at the workshop venue, 10 slots are open to all conference participants, with priority given to: (1) post-graduate students or early career scientists, and (2) participants from Asia, Africa and Central/South America. The workshop will also include 15 other participants from the IUCN Mangrove Specialist Group (IUCN-MSG).
ABOUT IRIOMOTE
ABOUT IRIOMOTE
Welcome to Iriomote Island, a regionally significant stronghold for mangrove research and one of the world’s most biologically rich subtropical wilderness areas. As a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site since 2021 in recognition of its outstanding universal value in terms of biological diversity. Iriomote spans 208 km² and forms roughly half of a larger 427 km² heritage region recognized for exceptionally high biodiversity (mangrove–river–reef systems) and endemic species (e.g. the critically endangered Iriomote cat). Over 90% of the island is covered in jungle and mangrove forests, and it contains 70% of all mangroves in Japan, including the country’s largest mangrove stand along the Nakama River. Though home to just about 2,400 residents, the island welcomes large numbers of visitors annually, historically seeing peaks of over 400,000 tourists per year before new conservation-based management measures were introduced.
Click here for a documentary on Iriomote.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
WORKSHOP DETAILS
Date: 7 – 11 Jul 2026
Venue: Iriomote Station of the Tropical Biosphere Research Center (TBRC),University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan (Google map location)
Workshop fee: JPY 30000 (~USD 200)
Cost includes,
return ferry tickets (on 7th and 11 July)
five lunch (7th - 11 July)
refreshments during the workshop
a welcome dinner on 7th July
a farewell dinner on 10th July
a mangrove river cruise at Urauchi River on 8th July.
It does not include
accommodation (please read how to book your accommodation below)
meals (some accommodations may offer meal included plans)
drinks
activities during the free time. (some accommodations provides activity service)
Courtesy of the Iriomote Station, TBRC
a lecture room and a seminar room
kayak tour in Funaura bay mangrove
car transportation on the island
Tentative schedule
Tuesday 7th July
07:30 Meet at Ishigaki Ferry Terminal (Google map)
AM– Arrive in Iriomote; Intro to workshop
PM– Workshop
Evening – Welcome dinner
Wednesday 8th July
AM– Urauchi mangrove visit and river cruise
PM– Workshop
Thursday 9th July
AM– Workshop
PM– Workshop
Friday 10th July
AM– Workshop
PM– Funaura Bay mangrove kayak tour
Evening – Farewell dinner
Saturday 11th July
AM– Workshop conclusion
PM – Departure from Iriomote (to Ishigaki) at 14:30
REGISTRATION
REGISTRATION
Please click HERE to register for the workshop.
IMPORTANT NOTES
IMPORTANT NOTES
This workshop is coordinated by a small core team, and we are committed to keeping participation costs as low as possible to ensure accessibility—particularly for colleagues from developing countries. To support this goal, we provide a range of accommodation options to suit different budgets. We kindly request participants’ cooperation in arranging their own accommodation, as well as managing their own breakfast and dinner plans. These measures allow us to minimize the workshop fee while directing our limited resources toward delivering the scientific program.
Only MMM7 conference participants are eligible to participate.
By registering for this workshop, you acknowledge that your participation entails a substantial amount of work both prior to and following the on‑site program. Timely completion of these tasks is essential to ensure that the commitments established during the workshop are delivered as planned. Please take this into consideration before confirming your participation.
Confirmation of participation is subject to receipt of payment. There will be no refund for cancellations or withdrawals by registrants.
Accommodation. Please book your accommodation latest by March. You don’t have to book dinner for the nights of 7th and 10th July because we have welcome and farewell dinners.
OPTIONS for Accommodation:Guest House Mariudo (Japanese-style room) [only 7 rooms left – as of 30 Jan 2026]
500 m from the TBRC Iriomote field station
The rates below are shared use (2 - 4 people/room)
Single use is much higher (need to ask at the time of booking)Please toggle the translation button at the top-left corner for English
Breakfast & dinner included : 7,500 JPY/person/night
Dinner included : 7,000 JPY/person/night
Breakfast included : 5,500 JPY/person/night
Room only : 4,500 JPY/person/night
Tours and activities are available for booking. Recommended if participants are accompanied by family.
Guest House Mariudo Annex (Western-style room) [only 7 rooms left – as of 30 Jan 2026]
500 m from the TBRC Iriomote field station
The rates below are for shared use (2 - 4 people/room)
Single use is much higher (need to ask at the time of booking)Please toggle the translation button at the top-right corner for English
Three room types available
Breakfast & dinner included: 10,000-13,000 JPY/person/night
Dinner included : 9,500-12,500 JPY/person/night
Breakfast included : 8,000-11,000 JPY/person/night
Room only : 7,000-10,000 JPY/person/night
Tours and activities are available for booking. Recommended if participants are accompanied by family.
Villa Hirugi (Western-style room) [only 3 rooms left – as of 30 Jan 2026]
350 m from the TBRC Iriomote field station
Please use the translation function in Google chrome
Breakfast is included (but very simple one)
Room cost : 6,750-8,750 JPY/person/night
If you encounter difficulties navigating the website or making the reservation, please contact the organizers at mmm7@mangroves.info with a suffix [Workshop] in the subject.
TBRC Dormitory (Western-style room)
Only for academic staff and students (not for family)
Student room only : 4,800 JPY/person for 4 nights
Researcher room only : 8,800 JPY/person for 4 nights
A kitchen is available, so participants can prepare their own meals
Meal service to be confirmed, depending on the availability of the dinner lady. Breakfast costs 350 JPY/meal (total 1750 JPY/person); dinner costs 1000 JPY/meal (total 3000 JPY/person, as two dinners are covered by the workshop). Please note that even if meals are provided, we can not accommodate any special dietary requirements or food restrictions.
Getting to Iriomote. This workshop will be held in Iriomote, not Ishigaki (MMM7 conference venue).
Participants will have to travel to and from Iriomote via a public ferry service (Yaeyama kankou or Aneikankou), between the Ishigaki Ferry Terminal and the Iriomote Uehara Port.
Ferry tickets will be arranged by the workshop organizers.
Ferry service may be subjected to change based on the weather.
Pick-up and drop-off at the Uehara Port can be arranged with the hotel or workshop organizers (for those staying in the dorm).
Meals. Five lunches, two dinners (on 7th and 10th) and refreshments will be provided by the workshop.
Lunch will come in the form of Japanese bento boxes and will be ordered based on your dietary preference.
Breakfasts and dinners may be provided by the hotel/accommodation. Participants are encouraged to arrange/book independently with their respective accommodation.
The nearest restaurant accessible by foot (700 m) is Pocket House (6pm - midnight).
Other restaurants near Uehara port (2 km from the field station) are listed here. The nearest supermarket is about 3km from the station.
Transportation. Iriomote is one of Japan’s last true wilderness islands in Japan, and transport options are limited.
The organizers will not be able to provide transportation beyond planned workshop activities.
Bus service is very limited, mainly following the single coastal road.
Rental bicycles (from the hotel) and rent-a-car are available.
Total Costs. We are committed to keeping participation costs lower, and the total ranges according to their accommodation with meal plan (all in JPY). Please note that if you book the Mariudo room for single use, the accommodation fee will be much higher.
TBRC dormitory (meal service is yot to be confirmed at TBRC)
Workshop fee JPY 30,000
Accomodation with meals JPY 8,200(student)/12,200(researchers)
Total cost JPY 38,200 / 42,200
Mariudo (based on the shared use of a room by two persons)
Workshop fee JPY 30,000
Accomodation with meals JPY 26,000
Total cost JPY 56,000
Mariudo Annex (based on the shared use of a room by two persons)
Workshop fee JPY 30,000
Accomodation with meals JPY 48,000
Total cost JPY 78,000
Typhoon. July falls within the typhoon season in Okinawa. As a result, ferry schedules may be subject to sudden changes or cancellations, which could in turn affect accommodation arrangements and flight itineraries. Participants are advised to consider this possibility when planning their travel and to maintain flexibility in the event of unexpected disruptions.
Travel insurance. Travel insurance is strongly recommended. All participants are responsible for obtaining their own travel insurance.
Inquiries. Please reach out to us at workshop.mmm7@mangroves.info if you have further questions. When you send an inquiry to the workshop, please add [Workshop] at the beginning of the subject.
Organizing team:
Chair: Dr. Alison Wee (University of Nottingham Malaysia)
Co-Chair: Prof. Tadashi Kajita (University of the Ryukyus)
Administration: Dr. Iori Mizukami (University of the Ryukyus)
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