Our History

From the 1980s, environmental history grew rapidly and regional societies for the discipline flourished. Leading scholars, in particular Verena Winiwarter, began to envisage an international community of environmental historians regularly in touch with each other. With this as a vision, the First World Congress of 2009 was born. During the congress, a steering committee worked out the function and form of an international consortium of member organizations, and a small group drew up a draft constitution and set of administrative guidelines under the direction of Steven Anderson of the Forest History Society. In 2011 the constitution was approved and the first president elected. Since the organization was formally established, ICEHO has expanded to become a powerful network.

ICEHO Presidents

Jane Carruthers, South Africa, 2011–2014

Libby Robin, Australia, 2014–2016. 

Verena Winiwarter, Germany, 2016–2019

Graeme Wynn, Canada, 2019–2024

Claudia Leal, Colombia, 2024-