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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Publications from SCB's Review of Recovery Plans

From September 1998 through June 2002, under the leadership of P. Dee Boersma, SCB conducted a national review of recovery plans for species listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act [see SCB Newsletter 6(1):12]. The June 2002 issue of Ecological Applications (Volume 12, Issue 3) contains a special section, "Applying ecological science to recovery planning," which includes 13 papers coauthored by graduate students and agency personnel. A final overview paper is in press in Conservation Biology.

SCB's characterization and review of existing recovery plans was conducted with the full cooperation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The goal of the review, which was carried out by graduate student seminars at 18 universities, was to compile a database and conduct exploratory analysis of the information in recovery plans in a manner that (a) facilitated communication among students, faculty, and USFWS and (b) contributed toward development of training programs and guidance to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of producing recovery plans based on sound science. Data from nearly 200 recovery plans included in the review served as the basis for a broad characterization and analysis of recovery plans that was conducted at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis in Santa Barbara, California.

These publications will be a lasting contribution not only to understanding constraints on federal resource agencies, but to fostering more academic interest in the needs of land managers and decision-makers. Special thanks to Debby Crouse, Peter Karieva, Gordon Orians, William Fagan, Jonathan Hoekstra, and the many students, faculty, and USFWS staff who contributed to this effort.

Funding

The Dennis Raveling Scholarship for Waterfowl Research is awarded annually to students with a desire to pursue a career in waterfowl or wetlands ecology. Awards are based on the candidate's resolve, high academic achievement, and project merit. Candidates must be pursuing an advanced university degree in wildlife, zoology, botany, ecology, or a related biological science. The scholarship helps provide field experience and training in the tools, methods, and concepts of waterfowl and wetlands research and management. Two awards (US$2000 and $1000) will be given in 2002. The deadline for receipt of applications is 31 October 2002. For details contact Nicole Berset, California Waterfowl Association, 4630 Northgate Blvd., #150, Sacramento, CA 95834, (916) 648-1406, FAX (916) 648-1665, nicole_berset@calwaterfowl.org.

Educational Opportunities

The School of the Chicago Botanic Garden's Institute for Plant Biology and Loyola University Chicago announce an agreement to develop and offer a joint academic program in plant conservation biology. This is the only higher-education program of its kind in Chicago. The partnership targets the needs of the School's own students and Loyola University Chicago undergraduates and postgraduates interested in careers in plant conservation. Courses are taught by plant conservation scientists at the Chicago Botanic Garden and Loyola University faculty. Loyola will provide accreditation in merit certificate programs in plant conservation biology and ornamental plant materials, and for several of the School's courses. For more information contact the Chicago Botanic Garden, (847) 835-8261, www.chicagobotanic.org/certificate/pcb.html.

The Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology will offer a course on DNA-based wildlife studies from 18-21 November 2002 in Nelson, British Columbia, Canada. The course consists of three consecutive sessions: study design and field methods for DNA-based, mark-recapture inventories, genetic analysis of individual identity in DNA-based inventories, and advanced mark-recapture analysis of genetic data. Cost is CAN$175 per session. For more information, contact the Institute at (250) 837-9311 or www.cmiae.org.

EcoLife Expeditions will conduct a field course in wildlife management from 28 December 2002 - 12 January 2003 in South Africa. The course is geared to students interested in African wildlife conservation. The syllabus includes lectures, classes, and hands-on projects taught by instructors from the University of Pretoria's Centre for Wildlife Management. The cost of the course is US$1300. For more information contact Ecolife Expeditions, 976 Duncan Street, Brooklyn, Pretoria 0181, South Africa, +27 12 460 5430, FAX +27 12 460 9707, Education@ecolife.co.za, www.ecolife.co.za.

New Publication

Free copies of The Conservation Handbook, by William Sutherland, are available to practicing conservationists and institutions outside North America, western Europe, Japan, New Zealand and Australia who otherwise would find it difficult to obtain a copy. In lieu of paying royalties to the author, the book's publisher, Blackwell Scientific, provides a free copy for each copy sold. The Christensen Fund kindly has provided a grant for the postage and the nhbs.com bookstore generously agreed to administer and distribute the copies. To request a copy, or suggest a copy for someone else, please complete the form on the web at www.nhbs.com/xchange/grat_reg.html. Please quote the reference number(s) given on the application form in any correspondence. So far over 1700 copies have been given away to 134 countries. The number of copies donated can be followed at www.nhbs.com/info/sutherland/Gratis_Copies_Summary.html. This scheme was easy to set up and easily could be copied for other conservation books and field guides.

Meetings

The Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology will host the conference Mountain Caribou in 21st Century Ecosystems from 16-18 October 2002 in Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada. Mountain caribou are an ecotype of woodland caribou living in the snowy mountains of southeastern British Columbia, and a red-listed species. For more information contact the Institute at (250) 837-9311 or www.cmiae.org.

The Ecological Society of Australia and the New Zealand Ecological Society will hold a joint meeting from 2-6 December 2002 in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Details are available at www.tesag.jcu.edu.au/ecology2002/ or from Jill Landsberg, P.O. Box 6811, James Cook University / School of Tropical Biology, Cairns, Queensland 4870 Australia, (07) 4042-1443, Jill.Landsberg@jcu.edu.au.

The Ninth North American Crane Workshop and North American Crane Working Group will be held 21-25 January 2003 in Sacramento, California. Contact Scott Hereford, (228) 497-6322 x 28, scott_hereford@fws.gov, or Tom Hoffmann, thoffmann@hoffmanns.com, www.portup.com/~nacwg.

SCB is a co-sponsor of the symposium Innovations in Species Conservation: Integrative Approaches to Address Rarity and Risk, which will be held between February and April 2003 (dates to be announced) in Portland, Oregon. Speakers will discuss innovative management strategies directed at conserving rare or poorly known species, including the ecological, social, and legal context of these strategies and the risks and uncertainties associated with their implementation. For more information, see http://outreach.cof.orst.edu/species/ or contact Ruth Jacobs, (541) 750-7304, ruth_jacobs@usgs.gov.

The fifth annual San Francisco Bay Area Conservation Biology Symposium will be held 1 February 2003 in Berkeley, California. The symposium will be hosted by the Berkeley Chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology. The symposium will serve as a forum for graduate students and faculty to share and discuss recent findings and policy issues in conservation science and to encourage collaboration among scientists, practitioners, and policy makers. For more information see www.cnr.berkeley.edu/consbio/symposium.html or contact Sarah Reed, sreed@nature.berkeley.edu, or Allison Bidlack, abidlack@nature.berkeley.edu.

Partners In Flight--Joint Meeting of the Northeast and Southeast Working Groups will be held 12-15 March 2003 in Blacksburg, Virginia. The workshop will highlight ongoing planning, delivery, and evaluation efforts contributing to landbird and all-bird conservation goals of Partners in Flight and the North American Bird Conservation Initiative. A portion of the program will focus on efforts in the Appalachian Bird Conservation Region. Abstracts for oral or poster presentations should be submitted by email to Jeffrey Walters, jrwalt@vt.edu, by 15 January 2003 or 31 January 2003, respectively. For complete information see http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/www/military/PIF_Blacksburg.htm.

The 3rd International Wildlife Management Congress will be held in Christchurch, New Zealand on 1-5 December 2003. This will be the first time a wildlife management meeting of this magnitude has been held in the southern hemisphere. The Congress will have a strong Pacific and southern hemisphere flavor, but the main focus will be on contrasting perspectives on wildlife management in the northern and southern hemispheres. Deadline for receipt of abstracts for papers is February 2003. For full details see www.conference.canterbury.ac.nz/wildlife2003/.

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