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UPDATES FROM WORKING GROUPS AND REGIONAL SECTIONS
2009 Working Group Board Elections The Social Science Working Group soon will hold elections for six board positions: representatives of anthropology, geography, psychology, and sociology and two at-large positions. Board members are responsible for chairing a Working Group committee, facilitating participation of their disciplinary colleagues in SCB activities, and supporting the Working Group s mission, vision, and goals. Please vote -- make your voice heard! For more information contact Bill Forbes, Nominations Committee Chair (forbesw@sfasu.edu). Strategic Planning and Leadership Transition The Working Group s strategic planning process, initiated in honor of our recent five-year anniversary, is now complete (see the February 2009 issue of this newsletter). Results of this process, which included a review of the Working Group s progress and contributions as well as a survey of its members to identify future priorities, are available at www.conservationbiology.org/SSWG. The Web site also contains a link to the newly released 2009-2014 Strategic Plan, which outlines the Working Group s vision and goals for the next five years based on feedback obtained through this process. Thanks again to Working Group members for their input and to the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and The Christensen Fund for financial support. With the completion of our strategic planning efforts, Tara Teel (Colorado State University, USA) has become President of the Working Group. Mike Mascia, the outgoing President, will remain an at-large member of the board for the remainder of his term as social science representative to SCB s Board of Governors. Please contact Nejem Raheem (nejemraheem@yahoo.com), Acting Communications Committee Chair, with any questions. Social Science Short Course at SCB s Annual Meeting The Working Group, in collaboration with Colorado State University, will sponsor a short course, The role of the social sciences in conservation planning, at SCB s 2009 annual meeting. The one-day course will be directed at building capacity in social science applications, offering participants a framework for thinking about conservation challenges and the role of the social sciences in helping to address those challenges. The course is intended not only to promote an overall awareness of how social considerations can help solve conservation problems but also to enhance understanding of how specific social science disciplines can contribute. The course will build on recent experiences in South Africa and Tennessee, where the Working Group offered courses in conjunction with the 2007 and 2008 SCB annual meetings. The course will be designed for a diverse audience, including conservation researchers and practitioners as well as graduate students and early-career conservation social scientists. Please direct questions about the course to the organizer, Tara Teel (tteel@lamar.colostate.edu). For more information about short courses at SCB s 2009 annual meeting, see http://scb2009.ioz.ac.cn/ScientificProgram.asp. Canadian Network of Conservation Professionals More than 50 people from universities, government, and nongovernmental organizations attended a workshop on development of a Canadian network of conservation professionals in Ottawa, Ontario in early April. The workshop was hosted by Carleton University, with support from SCB s North America Section and the Working Group. Participants included two members of the Working Group s board, Rich Wallace (Vice-President and Program Committee Chair) and Murray Rudd (Policy Committee Chair); two members of the North America Section s board, Erica Fleishman and Colleen St. Clair; and the chair of SCB s 2010 annual meeting in Edmonton, Mark Boyce. The goal of the workshop was to develop a multidisciplinary, policy-oriented network to build understanding about the specific challenges of conserving biological diversity in Canada and to inform decision makers who grapple with those challenges. The workshop included discussions on what distinguishes Canada from a conservation perspective and how Canadian interests might be represented within SCB. While the meeting largely was attended by researchers and government representatives trained in the natural sciences, there was broad recognition that the social sciences, and in particular social science research on the policy process itself, could play an important role in addressing the current implementation gap in Canada. A series of follow-up activities and outputs are being planned. With the upcoming 2010 meeting in Edmonton, the timing is perfect for further engaging Canadian conservation professionals in new networking activities and highlighting those efforts at the meeting. Thanks to Steve Cooke for his outstanding leadership of this effort. For more information on these activities, please contact Murray Rudd (mrudd@swgc.mun.ca). Policy Chair to Lead Canadian 100 Questions Project A team of social and natural scientists including Murray Rudd was recently awarded CAN$51,000 for their proposal Conservation Social Science in Canada: Assessing and Prioritizing Research Directions for an Emerging Discipline. The award was given in a recent Research and Development Initiative competition, part of a special call on Canadian environmental issues of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Funding will be used to develop a Canadian 100 Questions exercise (see Sutherland et al. 2006. Journal of Applied Ecology 43:617-627) to identify key questions for conservation in Canada. Results from this one-year project will be used to highlight opportunities for developing new conservation social science initiatives in Canada, identifying high-priority conservation projects, and stimulating debate in support of Canadian conservation activities. The project is intended to catalyze future efforts to enhance Canadian capacity in conservation social science. In addition to Murray (Memorial University of Newfoundland), the principal investigator, the project team includes former Working Group President Mike Mascia (World Wildlife Fund), SCB Governors Erica Fleishman (University of California, Santa Barbara) and Gary Tabor (Center for Large Landscape Conservation), Working Group member Robin Roth (York University), Karen Beazley (Dalhousie University), Steve Cooke (Carleton University), and Dan Lane (University of Ottawa and Chair of the Canadian Ocean Management Research Network). For more information on this project, contact Murray Rudd (mrudd@swgc.mun.ca). Nejem Raheem
FRESHWATER WORKING GROUPCommittee Assignments New members of the Working Group s board have been assigned to committees to help organize annual activities. Below, we list the committees, the principal responsibilities of each, and the board members who provide leadership on the committee. Please let us know if you would like to serve on one of the committees. Conservation and Policy
Program, Nominations, and Audit
Education
Communications and Membership
Educational Module The Education Committee completed an educational module of freshwater ecosystems and biological diversity that has been under development over the last year. It is currently being reviewed by colleagues at the American Museum of Natural History and should soon be available for public use. The module will be distributed by the Network of Conservation Educators and Practitioners, http://ncep.amnh.org/. Local Policy Processes We urge Working Group members to become involved in development of local policy, for example by responding to calls for public comment on policy documents. Ken Vance-Borland recently incorporated feedback from the freshwater listserv into his testimony at a public hearing on proposed development of an integrated water resources strategy for the state of Oregon, USA. His input focused largely on ensuring that the best available science is applied to decisions about management of water resources. Joint Symposium A joint symposium of the Working Group and the American Fisheries Society, Enhancing conservation of freshwater fishes through diverse partnerships, will be held at the American Fisheries Society s 2009 annual meeting in Nashville, Tennessee from 30 August-3 September. The symposium reflects our strategy of developing partnerships with organizations whose missions and goals are similar to ours. Ken Vance-Borland will deliver a presentation on social networks and cross-sector policy initiatives. Freshwater Activities at SCB s Annual Meeting As announced in the February 2009 issue of this newsletter, at least two organized events at SCB s annual meeting will focus on freshwater conservation. The workshop Global conservation assessment for freshwater biodiversity will be held on the afternoon of 12 July. The meeting also will feature the symposium Integrated protection and restoration of wetlands, rivers and subterranean aquatic ecosystems. The Working Group will organize several additional business and social activities at the meeting.
Freshwater ListWe encourage you to post information about freshwater conservation issues, publications, job openings, and resources to the freshwater listserv, http://list.conbio.org/mailman/listinfo/freshwater/. If you cannot access the site, please forward your contact information to Aventino Kasangaki, the list moderator (aventinok@yahoo.com). Jeanne Nel
OCEANIAWould you like to be kept informed of important conservation issues and opportunities within the Australasian region? The Oceania (formerly Australasia) Section manages a listserv to facilitate conversation among conservation professionals in the region. The listserv aims to keep people informed on conservation topics, announcements, and events, such as the upcoming regional conference in Tasmania (see below). You need not be a member of SCB to subscribe to the listserv. To post a message to all the list members, send email to aa@list.conbio.org. You can subscribe to the list at http://list.conbio.org/mailman/listinfo/aa.
Regional ConferenceThe Oceania Section will hold a regional conference, Managing Biodiversity in a Time of Global Change, from 30 November through 3 December 2009 at the Stanley Burbury Theatre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania. This will be the second Oceania Section meeting. Since the first Section meeting in Sydney in 2007, the need to reevaluate our management of biological diversity in the light of rapid global change has become even clearer. The meeting theme will be addressed across a full range of Oceanian terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems as well as Antarctic ecosystems, and the meeting is expected to attract 300 or more participants. Abstracts are due on 31 July 2009. Registration is open; early registration closes on 2 October. An online abstract submission system and more information about the meeting is at www.cdesign.com.au/scboceania2009. Additional inquiries can be directed to Meeting Convener Hamish McCallum (University of Tasmania) or the Conference Secretariat, Conference Design Pty Ltd, 228 Liverpool Street, Hobart, Tasmania 7000; meredith@cdesign.com.au, 03 6231 2999.
Distinguished Service AwardMarika Tuiwawa, Curator of the South Pacific Regional Herbarium, Fiji, will receive a 2009 Distinguished Service Award from SCB. The award, which will be presented at SCB s annual meeting in Beijing, honors Marika s extraordinary contributions to promoting conservation of biological diversity in Fiji and the Pacific through research, teaching, and mentoring of students, community groups, and government staff. We all congratulate Marika on this wonderful achievement for himself, the Herbarium, and our region.
Web Forum on Wildlife Management in New ZealandA well designed Web site, www.wildlifemanagement.net.nz, contains information about events, current topics, and taxon-specific items related to wildlife management in New Zealand. The site offers many discussion forums and bulletin boards.
Biodiversity Strategy for AustraliaAustralia s Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council, on behalf of the Commonwealth and all state and territory governments, invites public comments on the draft Australia s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010-2020. The draft strategy is a national policy document that will guide how governments, the community, industry, and scientists manage and protect Australia s plants, animals, and ecosystems over the next ten years. The draft strategy identifies six priorities for change: building ecosystem resilience, mainstreaming biological diversity, knowledge for all, getting results, involving Indigenous peoples, and measuring success. Copies of the strategy and instructions on submitting comments are available at www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/strategy. Nicola Nelson
NORTH AMERICARecent and Upcoming Activities The North America Section was proud to join Carleton University and the Social Science Working Group in hosting a workshop on development of a Canadian network of conservation professionals in Ottawa, Ontario in early April. Thanks to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Carthy Foundation, and the Wilburforce Foundation for their financial support. Elections for the Section s Board of Directors will open in late April. We have a strong slate of candidates from Canada and the United States. Please cast your vote. The Section s Education Committee will host a training workshop at 10th Biennial Conference for Research on the Colorado Plateau. The purpose of the workshop is to prepare and equip representatives of Chapters with materials to deliver educational presentations on three separate but related topics in conservation biology: biological diversity, ecosystem integrity, and conservation strategies for sustainable ecosystems. Workshop participants will receive instruction on delivery of the presentations and a CD containing the three presentations in PowerPoint, plus companion manuals for each of the three topics. Detailed speaking notes for each presentation will be provided to help individuals prepare and deliver the presentation effectively. The companion manuals are intended for attendees at presentations; the manuals serve both as a reference material and as a source of additional information. We envision Chapters offering these presentations as a potential source of revenue to support other Chapter activities. The presentations and materials were developed by Reed Noss and the Section s Education Chair, Martin Main. The workshop will equip representatives of Chapters to deliver presentations to external audiences, and in doing so will promote leadership roles through their Chapters and, where applicable, universities. As such, we are building capacity in educational outreach while contributing to the leadership and presentation skills of representatives of Chapters throughout North America. Erica Fleishman Policy Developments from the Trenches With SCB s policy director, John Fitzgerald, and guidance from the Section s policy advisory group, the North America Section continues to play an active role in the policy process. SCB has placed high priority on scientific integrity in policy decisions, such as those related to the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). Policy decisions concerning the Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina), listed as threatened under the ESA, once again are symbolic of broader policy debates concerning the ESA. A special section in the April 2006 issue of Conservation Biology focused on the Northwest Forest Plan and the owl. On 31 March, the administration of U.S. President Obama announced in federal court that they will not defend the recovery plan and critical habitat determination for the Northern Spotted Owl that were approved by the Bush administration in May 2008. At the request of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, SCB and the American Ornithologists Union conducted independent peer review of both plans. In April 2008, the societies concluded that the science in the plans was flawed. As a former member of the recovery team for the Northern Spotted Owl, I testified before Congress in May 2007 on political interference in the recovery plan. My testimony triggered a request from Congress to the Office of Inspector General, the government s independent investigative arm, to examine these allegations. In December 2008, the Office of Inspector General presented evidence of political interference that led to reductions in protection for the owl s habitat despite declines in abundance of the owl. The Obama administration cited this report in its recent decision to remand the Bush administration s plans. A final settlement with plaintiffs in pending lawsuits, which is expected in May, may initiate revisions to existing plans or development of entirely new plans. SCB has identified climate change as a strategic priority for policy activity at the global level and at the level of the North America Section. Working with John Fitzgerald, I testified before Congress on 3 March on the role of federal lands in combating climate change. Before I submitted my written testimony to Congress, it was reviewed by numerous members of SCB and by SCB s Policy Committee. In my testimony, I made four main points. 1. The United States needs a comprehensive national goal with early and aggressive efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I recommended a mid-term target of an ambient level of 350 parts per million (ppm) equivalent of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and a national implementation plan that addresses all major sources of greenhouse gas emissions. 2. Congress should provide clear direction to the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to adopt new approaches that optimize carbon capture and storage and minimize emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities on public lands, including timber harvesting and energy extraction. I encouraged Congress to develop a complementary system of incentives for state and private lands. 3. Federal agencies should adapt natural resource management to the potential direct and indirect effects of climate change by reducing the number and magnitude of existing stressors to ecosystems and increasing resilience and resistance of species and ecosystems to climate change. 4. Federal agencies need clear direction to prioritize the preservation and restoration of ecological integrity of public lands so that these lands will continue to provide Americans with biological diversity, the ability to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and other ecosystem functions. Each of these points implies fundamental shifts in how federal agencies currently operate. Congressional action is expected on climate change and energy throughout 2009. Dominick DellaSala
EUROPEThe second European Congress of Conservation Biology will be held in Prague from 1 to 5 September 2009. So far more than 1400 people from 80 countries have registered. The Program Committee has accepted about 1150 abstracts: 18 symposia, 8 workshops, more than 350 oral presentations, 130 speed presentations, and 500 posters. Early registration is open until 1 May, and regular registration will be open until 30 June.
AFRICADuring the last week of January, the Africa Section held its first conference, hosted by ECOLAB at the University of Ghana, Legon campus. The event, convened by Patrick Ofori Danson and Delali Dovie, was a great success. The meeting attracted 94 people working in conservation in Africa, with nations across the sub-Saharan region well represented. A substantial amount of the conference costs were covered by a grant from the MacArthur Foundation to the Section. The conference schedule and content is available at www.conbio.org/Sections/Africa/. The opening day plenary speaker, Maritew Diaw (Model Forest Network initiative, Cameroon), spoke eloquently about how the Model Forest program is working with people who live in the systems that conservationists want to protect. His work exemplifies lessons being learned across Africa about the benefits of integrating modern anthropology with conservation biology. Despite Africa s historic reliance on the northern hemisphere for conservation funding, great progress is being made on the continent as programs like the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment move forward. The two other plenary speakers were outstanding figures in West African conservation. Emmanuel Obot s presentation, Niger Delta, oil, and priorities in management, offered lessons for Ghana, where the first offshore oil rigs are now appearing. Vivian Nuhu of the Forestry Division of Ghana spoke to the group about conservation as a career in West Africa. The parallel scientific sessions featured topics of particular relevance to African conservation. The first major session, Conservation issues concerning people, and included papers on ethnobotany, the use of bushmeat, and interactions between conservation and livestock. Other sessions on the first day of the conference were Land use planning for conservation: ecosystem services, Restoration ecology: habitat loss recovery, and Governance, politics, and conservation: what appeals to leaders and the core of power in government. In a session reflecting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service s mentoring program, students from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Sudan presented their work on the challenge of managing the bushmeat industry. One of the great events of the week was the film Milking the Rhino, which addressed ecologically and economically sustainable use of wildlife. On the final day Nobbie Cordeiro led an open panel discussion to pull together ideas for the Section from the week s work. This session produced the conference s consensus statement. Ron Abrams Africa Section Consensus Statement from Ghana 2009 In the year 2002, the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) went global by forming Regional Sections. In 2009, the Africa Section realized its first regional conference, where the question arose: How can we convert northern scripts and forms of intervention into a conservation agenda that is owned by the people and generates wealth and environmentally creative change for Africans? The answer begins with establishing the African conservation identity, whereby Africans will own the responsibility for identifying conservation priorities and designing research programs. The pathway includes improving the African track record in scientific publishing, finding out how to define the ownership of resources and how to proceed when outside funds are not available. In other words, what are the methods that can be used to transform potential energy into actions, thereby building conservation capacity that includes a sense of ownership and makes use of the intrinsic resources of Africans? In the absence of external funding, the Africa Section of SCB yearns to demystify cliches and build Africa s own communication network that displays its track record to demonstrate to its people and to the world the progress being made in Africa, which is on par with that of the Northern Hemisphere. This process will allow the African people to take ownership of the mechanisms of power and environmental justice, both at the grass-roots level and at the levels of their own governments.
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