Back to BUILDING BRIDGES WORLDWIDE

Up to Table of Contents

Ahead to 2006 ANNUAL MEETING t 24-28 JUNE, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, USA: CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR SYMPOSIA, WORKSHOPS, AND ORGANIZED DISCUSSIONS

ENHANCING THE IMPACT OF CONSERVATION SCIENCE: SCB'S STRATEGIC PLAN 2006-2010

In the 20 years since SCB was incorporated, our organization has grown and flourished. We are now a global community of more than 9000 conservation professionals working to better understand and conserve biological diversity around the world. Conservation Biology is the leading journal in our field, and Conservation In Practice is developing a committed readership. Our annual meetings bring together scientists and practitioners from around the world to share research results and case studies in conservation. In 2005, more than 1600 individuals from 68 countries attended our annual meeting in Brasilia. Our members are active participants in seven Regional Sections and a small, dedicated staff effectively runs the Executive Office.

In 2004, SCB's Board of Governors chartered a committee to look ahead and define key strategic goals for SCB over the next five years. The planning effort was launched at the 2004 annual meeting, informed by a survey of the members in late 2004 and by an organizational assessment completed by an outside consultant in late 2004 - early 2005. The draft strategic plan was completed in February 2005, and reviewed by the Board during its March 2005 retreat. Member comments were solicited by email and incorporated into the final document approved by the Board and presented in Brasilia at the annual members' meeting.

Past strategic planning by SCB resulted in the globalization of the Society, creation of Conservation In Practice, and establishment of the Executive Office. The new strategic plan recognizes the need to expand the scope of SCB's programmatic work while simultaneously building the institutional infrastructure needed to support this rapid growth in membership and program.

The plan emphasizes the need to increase the impact of conservation science on conserving Earth's biodiversity. Four programmatic goals are identified that collectively advance the development and dissemination of the research, knowledge, practices, and policies necessary to advance conservation: Conservation Science, Conservation Management, Conservation Policy, and Conservation Education. In addition, two organizational goals were articulated to insure SCB's effectiveness, financial strength, and impact. The plan recognizes that because the efforts are mutually reinforcing, the greatest impact will be made through progress toward all goals.

We also have rearticulated our mission statement to make it more compelling and concise. The high-level summary of the plan--mission, visions, values and goals--is listed below. The full plan was not complete as this newsletter went to press, but will be available in September 2005.

Mission. To advance the science and practice of conserving the Earth's biological diversity.

Vision. Our vision for the future takes a global perspective on our ideals for the world and for SCB. We envision

• A world where people understand, value, and conserve the diversity of life on Earth
• SCB as an effective, internationally respected organization of conservation professionals that is the leading voice for the study and conservation of Earth's biodiversity

Organizational Values

• The natural diversity of organisms, ecological complexity, and evolutionary processes have value and are necessary to support all species including our own
• Human-caused extinctions and the degradation, destruction, or loss of functionality of natural ecosystems are undesirable
• Maintaining and restoring biodiversity is the responsibility of all people and governments
• The sciences, especially conservation sciences, perform a critical role in understanding how the natural world operates and how human societies and actions can both positively and negatively affect the natural world
• Science should inform policy and management decisions affecting biodiversity

Goals

Conservation Science. The scientific research and knowledge needed to understand and conserve biodiversity is identified, funded, completed, disseminated, and applied to research, management, and policy.

Conservation Management. Conservation practitioners and managers are provided the scientific information and recommendations needed to conserve biological diversity at
all scales.

Conservation Policy. Policy decisions of major international conventions, governments, organizations, and foundations are effectively informed and improved by the highest quality scientific counsel, analysis, and recommendations to advance the conservation of biological diversity.

Conservation Education. Education, training, and capacity-building programs are identified, strengthened, and developed to inform the public, educate leaders, and support current and future generations of conservation scientists and practitioners.

Impact and Reputation. SCB is recognized as the world's leading authority in conservation science and its membership, publications, and conferences deliver high quality, integrated, and effective products.

A Strong Organization. SCB builds and maintains the organizational capacity necessary to operate our programs, provide products and services, and run an effective organization.

Next Steps

Each goal has a number of objectives and several illustrative activities. The goals are milestones for the success of this plan and the long-term success of SCB. SCB committees and each Regional Section will be developing plans for implementation of these goals and objectives for SCB as a whole or for their Section. As specific implementation plans are completed, they will be reported in this newsletter.

Clear goals help any organization or individual succeed. SCB succeeded during its first 20 years in part because many volunteers worked together to focus on a few key goals critical to moving the organization forward. We again have looked into the future for SCB. During the next five years we will build a strong portfolio of publications, improve the knowledge and practice needed to manage biodiversity, and effectively inform policy decisions relevant to conservation and strengthen education, training, and capacity building programs. We also will grow SCB's strength and reputation. Collectively these efforts will help us in our mission of advancing the science and practice of conserving the Earth's biological diversity.

The strategic plan was the collaborative work of many individuals with input from members via the electronic survey in November 2004 and the comment period in June 2006. Special thanks to Strategic Planning Committee Chair Loyal Mehrhoff for extraordinary service and to committee members Luigi Boitani, Autumn-Lynn Harrison, David Johns, Devra Kleiman, Reed Noss, John Robinson, Jon Paul Rodríguez, Kathryn Saterson, and Alan Thornhill.

We also thank Ann Dederer of Innovative Solutions and the Wilberforce Foundation, which provided financial support for the organizational assessment that informed the strategic plan.

Deborah Jensen, Past President, SCB

Back to BUILDING BRIDGES WORLDWIDE

Up to Table of Contents

Ahead to 2006 ANNUAL MEETING t 24-28 JUNE, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, USA: CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR SYMPOSIA, WORKSHOPS, AND ORGANIZED DISCUSSIONS