Society for Conservation Biology

Society for Conservation Biology
Name	Society for Conservation Biology
Type	Nonprofit organization
Founded	1985
Area served	Global
Focus	Biodiversity conservation, conservation science, policy, education

Contents

Society for Conservation Biology is an international professional organization devoted to the science and practice of biodiversity conservation. Founded in 1985, the Society brings together researchers, practitioners, policy-makers, and students from institutions such as Smithsonian Institution, World Wildlife Fund, International Union for Conservation of Nature, United Nations Environment Programme, and universities including University of California, Davis, Oxford University, and University of Cambridge. Members engage across regions including Amazon rainforest, Great Barrier Reef, Congo Basin, Himalayas, and Arctic landscapes to address species declines, habitat loss, and conservation policy.

History

The Society emerged during the 1980s conservation movement alongside milestones like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and the rise of interdisciplinary centers such as the Center for Conservation Biology (CCB) and the Biodiversity Research Institute. Early gatherings involved leaders affiliated with institutions like Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, National Geographic Society, and academics from Yale University, Harvard University, and Colorado State University. Its formation paralleled influential works including Silent Spring, debates at the World Conservation Strategy meetings, and court decisions invoking laws such as the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the National Environmental Policy Act. Over subsequent decades the Society expanded through regional chapters in areas like Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Europe, responding to crises exemplified by events such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, coral bleaching episodes at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.

The Society's mission emphasizes rigorous conservation science to inform policy and practice, aligning with global frameworks such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Goals include advancing research at institutions like Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, training professionals through alliances with Royal Society–affiliated programs, and influencing policy processes at bodies such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. The Society prioritizes threatened taxa addressed in lists like the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, including work on charismatic groups referenced in literature such as studies of Panthera tigris, Gorilla beringei, Chelonia mydas, and Salmo salar.

Governance follows a volunteer-led model with an elected Board of Governors, advisory committees linking to organizations like the National Science Foundation and the European Commission, and staff at headquarters coordinating with regional offices in capitals such as Washington, D.C., Brussels, and Canberra. The Society maintains bylaws, financial oversight, and ethics policies influenced by standards used by entities including the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Membership categories mirror professional societies at Society for Neuroscience and American Geophysical Union, spanning student chapters, early-career networks connected to universities like Cornell University and University of Michigan, and institutional partners such as Zoological Society of London.

Signature programs encompass capacity-building fellowships, policy fellowships that interface with bodies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and European Environment Agency, and conservation networks addressing priorities set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Initiatives include regional conserving efforts in the Mekong River Commission catchment, species recovery projects tied to legislation such as the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and community-based programs drawing on models from WWF Indonesia and Conservación Internacional. Education and outreach are delivered through collaborations with museums like the American Museum of Natural History and botanical institutions such as the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

The Society publishes peer-reviewed journals and periodicals similar in stature to outlets like Science, Nature, and disciplinary venues at Ecology Letters. Flagship publications disseminate research comparable to studies in Conservation Biology, policy briefs for stakeholders such as the European Parliament, and educational materials used in courses at University of British Columbia and Stanford University. Communications include multimedia content shared through partnerships with media organizations like BBC Natural History Unit and advocacy collaborations with NGOs including BirdLife International and Greenpeace International.

Annual meetings convene delegates from organizations such as IUCN, UNEP-WCMC, BirdLife International, and national agencies like Environment Canada and host symposia reflecting topics addressed at gatherings like the World Conservation Congress and the Conference of the Parties (CBD). Regional and thematic conferences have been held in cities including Cape Town, Beijing, Manaus, Montreal, and Madrid, bringing together speakers from institutions like Princeton University, University of Oxford, University of São Paulo, and Australian National University.

Partnerships span intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, and academic centers including UNESCO, Ramsar Convention, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Society, Smithsonian Institution, Kew Gardens, Zoological Society of London, and universities like University of California, Berkeley and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Society's influence is evident in policy uptake by agencies such as the European Commission and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, contributions to assessments by IPBES, and conservation outcomes in landscapes like the Serengeti and Amazon rainforest through applied science, capacity building, and advocacy.

Category:Conservation organizations Category:Environmental organizations established in 1985