The Healthy Landscape initiative of the Ministry of Environment and Rajarata University of Sri Lanka collaborated to conduct the International Conference on Eco-Health Nexus (ICEN 2023) with the aim of fostering multidisciplinary discussions and solutions related to cascading ecology and human well-being. From December 19 to December 21, 2023, it was successfully hosted in Golden Mango Village, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Experts and practitioners from a variety of fields, including water management, climate science, agriculture, archeology, governance, and more, were gathered under the subject “To Bridge Cascade Ecology and Human Well-Being for a Sustainable Future”. For the benefit of future generations, the conference enabled a collaborative synthesis of new and current knowledge that integrates environmental and human health.

The three-day conference agenda included multiple tracks covering a wide range of subjects, including indigenous knowledge, ecological relationships, and biodiversity conservation. 105 of the 215 abstracts that were submitted were accepted, and they were presented at the conference.  Water-centered solutions, technological, monitoring, and management innovations, and connections between food, nutrition, development, disasters, and other aspects were all available for participants to investigate. The application of this age-old wisdom to create future sustainability was another topic of discussion during the sessions on Sri Lankan tank cascade systems. A lively interchange of ideas was ensured by ICEN 2023 by creating a synergistic link between cascade ecology, sustainability, and policy. This integrated road forward emphasizes the mutual reinforcement of ecological and community welfare.

Parallel to this event, a field excursion that expanded the Eco-Health Nexus was held, along with an art competition, photography competition, practitioners’ forum, panel discussion, and exchange of ICEN 2023 research insights with policy makers.