Overview of SCB
Policy Approval Process
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| An overview of SCB's Policy Approval Process is available here.
After reviewing the policy page and resources, one of the most effective ways you can bring science to policymakers is to establish relationships with your government officials wherever you are.
In the U.S., for example, citizens can get to know their Senators, Members of Congress and agency officials working on issues they care about most. Under "Policy Tools and Guidelines for SCB Members" on the navigation bar to the left, we have web sites for offices and research reports to help guide you through the international and U.S. federal policy ecosystems. U.S. SCB members may also want to call the Capitol Operator at 202-225-3121, and ask to be connected to the offices of your House Members and Senators and Committees of interest. |
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Guidance for Chapters, Sections, and Working Groups
On SCB’s Policy Approval Process.
No SCB group may issue a new policy statement (as opposed to new presentations of existing policies) without approval from SCB’s Policy Committee. Due to our tax status, neither SCB nor any SCB group may endorse a candidate for elective office. If your chapter or other group wishes to issue a policy statement, or if you would like your Regional Section or the global Society to issue a given statement, you must follow SCB’s policy approval process.
Review of your statement is most likely to be expedited, and your statement is most likely to be accepted, if the statement is
- Based on science published in Conservation Biology, other peer-reviewed journals, or white papers approved by SCB or its Regional Sections
- Consistent with the strategic policy priorities of SCB or your Regional Section. A description of SCB’s policy priorities is at www.conbio.org/activities/policy/Priorities.cfm. Several Sections have posted their policy priorities on their Web sites.
(It also helps if it is written in clear, objective language that is appropriate for conservation researchers, managers, and policy makers.)
To request approval of a policy statement submit the draft statement to the President and Policy Chair of your Section and to SCB’s Policy Director (currently John Fitzgerald, jfitzgerald@conbio.org -- 202-234-4133 x 107) and the chair of SCB’s Policy Committee (currently Jeff McNeely , JAM@iucn.org). These four officers are known as the Rapid Policy Review Group or RPRG). Email addresses for Section leaders are on the Web sites for the Sections.
If the two criteria for expedited review listed above are met,
...then the RPRG shall forward the proposal and their recommendation for acceptance, acceptance with revision, or rejection to the full Policy Committee of the SCB within two business days of submission. A proposal that has the support of all these four persons shall be considered approved by SCB within three business days of its submission to the Policy Committee unless it is rejected by a majority of the Committee sooner.
If the two criteria for expedited review are not met,
...then the Policy Committee Chair shall identify two or more experts (who may include members of the Policy Committee of SCB or the Section) to review the proposal. These reviews shall be completed within four business days. The Policy Committee Chair may waive the requirement for external review when necessary to meet external deadlines on matters important to SCB.
A decision shall be made by the RPRG to recommend acceptance, acceptance with revision, or rejection of the proposal within two business days following receipt of reviews. The RPRG shall forward the original proposal, any external reviews, and their recommendation to the Policy Committee.
The period from initial submission of the proposal to final decision shall be no more than a total of 11 business days unless that limit is waived by consensus of the RPRG. For all policy proposals:
The RPRG and proponent shall incorporate revisions suggested by members of the Policy Committee provided that the revisions do not materially alter the content of the proposal.
The formal policy approval process as adopted by the Board of Governors is at www.conbio.org/Activities/Policy/PolicyProcessBoG.cfm. SCB’s Board of Directors has revised its current policy approval process twice since it was adopted in February of 2007 in order to incorporate suggestions from board members and section and chapter leaders as we work to ensure a responsive and professional approach.
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