The 25th Inter-Island Environment Meeting has been praised as one of the most collaborative and inspiring editions of the congress since it first began in 2000.
The meeting was hosted by Manx Wildlife Trust at the Villa Marina last week.
The theme for IIEM25, ‘Collaboration for Greater Impact’, ran throughout the three days of the programme.
Collaboration
Presentations and discussions highlighted how linking efforts can achieve more for wildlife conservation, reforestation, marine protection, and community wellbeing than any organisation could alone.
The congress aimed to demonstrate that by coming together and working across sectors, environmental and community projects can both safeguard wildlife and create lasting benefits for people.
Graham Makepeace-Warne, CEO of Manx Wildlife Trust, said: “We really wanted to make IIEM25 a success and a fitting celebration of the 25-year history of this important event. Thanks to support from BeachBuddies, Biosphere Youth Representatives, Blue Badge Guides and local businesses, I feel we managed to do just that.
“It was a privilege to host such a diverse gathering of people who are deeply committed to wildlife conservation, community wellbeing, and the prosperity of our islands.The collaborative spirit of IIEM25 this year shows how much can be achieved when sectors come together – and gives real hope for the future.”
Cross-Sector
For the first time, IIEM25 included a third day dedicated to cross-sector collaboration.
This featured a keynote by Jonathan Andrews of Remarkable Partnerships, exploring how environmental NGOs and the business sector can identify synergies and create high-integrity support and improvement.
The day concluded with the Collaboration Challenge, a Dragon’s-den-style competition in which projects from across the British Islands pitched for funding. Winners were:
- Thie Ny Shee (Isle of Man) – 1st place, £1,500 – for transforming school grounds into vibrant outdoor spaces that combine education, therapy, and nature.
- Alderney Wildlife Trust – 2nd place, £500 – for its “Once and Future Woodland Project” to restore native woodland.
- Jersey Marine Conservation – Judges’ Commendation, £125.
- Outdoor Learning Centre, Isle of Man – Judges’ Commendation, £125.
5 Comments