Are environmental conferences becoming a business?

Are environmental and wildlife conferences still serving science and conservation, or are they becoming a profitable business? In this episode, we examine the sharp rise in registration fees, costly cancellation policies, workshops that can still be withdrawn after acceptance, limited follow-up after networking sessions, and the growing number of extras participants must pay for separately. Conferences should help researchers, conservationists, students, small organisations and independent professionals share knowledge and build lasting partnerships. But when participation becomes unaffordable and accepted contributors carry most of the financial risk, who is being excluded? This episode asks whether environmental conferences are still creating real conservation value, or whether the business of organising conferences is beginning to take priority over science, access and collaboration.