The IPSI Steering Committee recently confirmed nine new member organizations, bringing IPSI’s total membership to 267 organizations. The new members are:

• Advocates for Biodiversity Conservation (ABC-Ghana) (Non-governmental or civil society organization, Ghana)

• Austrian Academy of Sciences, Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research (Academic, educational, or research organization, Austria)

• The Council of Promoting Biodiversity in Rice Paddies Connected to Lake Biwa (Other – collaboration between local government and related residents, Japan)

• Nirmanie Development Foundation (NDF) (Indigenous or local community organization, Sri Lanka)

• People Empowering & Development Alternatives (PEDA) International (Industry or private sector organization, Pakistan)

• Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute (SDMRI) (Non-governmental or civil society organization, India)

• Taiwan Landscape Environment Association (TLEA) (Non-governmental or civil society organization, Chinese Taipei)

• Vellore Institute of Technology (Academic, educational and/or research institute, India)

• VICAM: Vicuñas, Camélidos y Ambiente (Non-governmental or civil society organization, Argentina)

The new members, in addition to being involved in valuable projects in their own right, also help to increase IPSI’s strength by expanding our representation in under-represented areas. The partnership looks forward to working with them in promoting the concept of the Satoyama Initiative in the future.