Across the globe, indigenous knowledge and grassroots involvement have proven to be vital in protecting ecosystems and biodiversity; and the need to unite conservation efforts with the significant role that local communities play in protecting biodiversity has been a topical issue. It is also recognized that the success of conservation initiatives hinges on the expertise, traditions, and proactive involvement of local stakeholders. Consequently, we emphasize the need for biodiversity researchers to remain dedicated to empowering communities to lead in the realm of environmental stewardship. By integrating traditional ecological knowledge with modern conservation science, community engagement will foster collaborative strategies for the protection of critical habitats and species across regions. In recent times, special emphasis has been placed on education and capacity building through workshops, training sessions, and awareness campaigns, ensuring communities are equipped with the tools to manage their natural resources effectively. The ATBC Africa chapter, thus, seek to synergize efforts and explore opinions from experts on ways to foster active engagement with local communities in biodiversity preservation. We anticipate that the event will identify initiatives that seek to strengthen governance structures, ensuring that local voices are included in decision-making processes related to conservation policies.Goals: Identify sustainable methods of encouraging local communities for effective biodiversity conservation in Africa. Support conservation leaders in overcoming challenges in biodiversity research. Objectives: 1)  Obtain information to empower local communities to take active roles in conservation governance and ensure  their voices are heard in decision-making processes. 2) Equip communities with initiatives to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change through conservation practices and resilience-building activities. 3) Identify replicable methods/systems for tracking the ecological, social, and economic outcomes of community-based conservation initiatives. Importance and potential interest to ATBC attendees: The event seeks to engage researchers across conservation science and synergize opinions to foster community-led biodiversity preservation activities. It is especially critical to support the diverse community of researchers, especially those whose studies are community dependent. Through active participation in this session, we hope that ATBC 2025 attendees will get the chance to improve their knowledge on community-driven conservation strategies. More importantly, this session/symposium holds significant relevance as it aligns with worldwide conservation priorities, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It focuses on fostering sustainable ecosystems and inclusive governance. By facilitating this event, stakeholders will gain essential insights and actionable strategies to reinforce community-led conservation, ensuring future biodiversity preservation.