The Association of Bainbridge Communities has postponed the annual Environmental Conference that was planned for IslandWood on Sunday, March 15.

The theme for the 17th Bainbridge Island Environmental Conference is “Our Forests: Bainbridge Island and the Climate Crisis.”

But a different crisis — the outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Washington state — prompted the postponement of the event.

Organizers for the conference said it was being delayed “out of an abundance of caution.”

“Recent King County recommendations aimed at reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 have suggested avoiding bringing large groups together. Your safety, and the safety of our staff and community at large, are of the utmost importance to us,” organizers of the conference said in their announcement Monday.

“While it saddens us to have to postpone a weekend of bringing people together over a topic of the utmost importance — something we are extremely passionate about doing — we know this is the right decision for all,” the announcement said.

The planning team from the Association of Bainbridge Communities that is putting together the conference is working with its speakers and session leaders to reschedule the conference for the fall.

A new date for the conference will be announced later. Refunds will be available for those who cannot attend the postponed event.