Current and Archived News

2010 has been a busy year for Chapters, with many changes and additions to the Chapters’ roster of activities.  Perhaps the most significant of the global changes is the recent expansion of the Chapters Committee.  From 2003 to 2009, the Chapters Advisory Committee functioned as an extension of the Executive Office and was comprised of two to four members.  In the summer of 2009, the Committee was officially incorporated into SCB’s bylaws and came under the purview of the Board of Governors.  In May 2010, the renamed Chapters Committee (“Advisory” was dropped from the title) expanded to 12 members, each of whom is focused on specific programmatic or operational functions of Chapters.  The new Committee members are each capable, committed, and energetic supporters of Chapters, and all have previous experience as a leader of one or more Chapters.  SCB couldn’t ask for a better group of people to lead the Chapters into a new era of local activity, subgroup partnerships, and global contributions.  

The Edmonton global meeting saw the most Chapter events ever offered at one conference.  Numerous workshops, planning sessions, gatherings, and outreach activities were undertaken.  Some of the highlights included: the Chapters Capacity-Building Workshop on Friday July 2nd with two guest speakers talking about improving leadership and fundraising for Chapters; an evening dinner retreat at a local park that included a roundtable conversation about Chapter projects and successes; and the annual All Chapters Business Meeting that included representatives of more than 40% of all Chapters, the North America and Europe Sections, and the original founders of the Chapters idea (started 20 years ago).  A total of eight Chapter-specific events were held, and the results are increases in communication among Chapters and other SCB subgroups, capacity-building, and interest in Chapters throughout SCB. 

SCB now has 34 Chapters worldwide, with several more in the works.  The newest additions to the SCB family since last summer include groups in Cuba, Nigeria, and Victoria University at Wellington (New Zealand). 

Read about the first joint NA Chapters/Section conference, held in conjunction with the U.S. Geological Survey in Flagstaff, AZ.

Read the Minutes from the first “SCB North American Chapters/Section Roundtable: A Conversation about Improving Communication and Coordination among North American Chapters and with the North America Section.”

 September 2009 - Reports from Seattle & Beijing

This year’s two meetings for SCB’s Board of Governors were held in Seattle, Washington (spring retreat) and Beijing, China (annual global conference).  These were momentous occasions for Chapters, with various activities and changes underway.  Highlights are summarized below.

Chapters Advisory Committee: Since its inception in 2003 by SCB’s Executive Director, the Chapters Advisory Committee functioned as an operational assistant to the Executive Office.  Under the new Board structure (reported elsewhere), the Committee is now an officially-sanctioned Committee of the Board of Governors.  Functionally, the Committee will continue to assist the EO with Chapter growth and oversight.  However, the new status enables a greater scope and vision for the Committee, Chapters, and their contributions to SCB.  Stay tuned for updates on how this transition affects Chapters and the Committee.  This is a very exciting and important evolution for the Chapters and the Committee!

Chapter Bylaws:  After an 18-month process, all 30 Chapters were re-ratified with new official documents that include revamped bylaws, a new legal agreement, and an updated charter.  In addition, as with all of SCB’s subgroups, Chapters are now required to conform to SCB’s official Chapter Handbook available on the website and through the Executive Office.  The new documentation allows for some much-needed updates, clarity, and uniformity in Chapter operations.  Many thanks to all the Chapters for their assistance and patience in switching to the new documents!

New Chapters:  5 new Chapters have officially joined the ranks of SCB this year: Grand Junction (Colorado, USA), Northwest Ohio (Ohio, USA), Sul Ross State University (Texas, USA), Madrean (a transborder Chapter including northern Mexico, southern Arizona USA and southern New Mexico USA), and Central Mexico (Tlaxcala, Mexico).  Welcome!  New Chapters are being discussed for Canada, Namibia, South Africa, Mongolia, and southeast Asia. 

Chapter Activities in Beijing:  3 events were held for Chapters at the annual conference: the Chapters/BOG mixer, the Chapters Booth Day, and the Chapters Roundtable.  Chapter representation at the mixer was down (as was overall conference attendance due to the economy), but the booth and roundtable were well-attended by folks seriously interested in starting new Chapters in various parts of the world.  Many thanks to all the Chapters who supplied materials for the booth, and to the Chapter leaders who wore their “Chapter Officer” tags and attended the various events.

Joint NA Section/Chapters/USGS Conference (Flagstaff):  The first joint NA Section and Chapters conference is well underway in planning, and it looks to be a very exciting time for everyone who participates.  All Chapters, please put the dates on your calendar (October 5-8) and plan to have your Chapter represented.  A cool Chapters leadership retreat is also being discussed for the weekend prior to the meeting.  Read more about the conference here. 

 May 2009 - "Chapters Corner" from SCB's May 2009 newsletter

 Chapters serve diverse SCB members in many ways. The first Chapters, most of which were established in the early 1990s, primarily focused on graduate and undergraduate students and functioned as clubs and recruiting grounds for conservation biologists. More recently, many Chapters have broadened their scope and activities to address the specific needs and interests of conservation professionals. Here, three Chapters with a high proportion of practitioners describe some of their successes and the challenges they have met.

Washington, D.C.: Not What We Expected

The SCB in D.C. Chapter was formed in 2006 after SCB members attending the 2005 annual meeting in Brasilia realized that the Washington, D.C. area has an unparalleled concentration of conservation resources, institutions, and practitioners, but few opportunities for informal interaction among conservation professionals. Our Chapter now has more than 200 members who are affiliated with academia, government, and nongovernmental organizations in roughly equal proportions. To gauge the interests of such a varied group, in 2008 the Chapter conducted a survey of members backgrounds and interests. The results helped us to gain insight into how we best can serve our members and allowed us to set our goals for the future. Previously, Chapter leaders had assumed we would play a large role in SCB policy activities. However, the survey indicated that most of our members had little interest in policy activities at the Chapter level. This disinterest may seem counterintuitive given our location. However, two-thirds of our members work for a nongovernmental organization or government agency and, because many are professionally involved in policy activities, have little motivation or are legally restricted from pursuing these activities outside the office. We realized that we best serve our many members and SCB by holding regular events such as networking activities, discussion groups, and recreational outings while still working with SCB s Policy Director on selected projects. To learn more about the Washington, D.C. Chapter, please visit https://www.conbio.org/admin/text/www.conbio.org/chapters/DC/index.CFM. - Jennifer Thornhill

Minnesota: Growing Partnerships for Change

The Minnesota Chapter was established in the early 1990s by a group of students in the new Conservation Biology Program at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. After a brief period of activity, the Chapter became dormant until 2001, when a new group of graduate students and professors were inspired to relaunch the Chapter in conjunction with SCB s 2003 annual meeting in Duluth. In our early years, most Chapter members were graduate students. The Chapter now includes a diversity of conservation professionals. Following the example set by chapters of the American Fisheries Society and The Wildlife Society, we have attracted members from agencies such as the Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture; from other nongovernmental organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, Great River Greening, Fresh Energy, and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy; from advocacy coalitions such as the Minnesota Environmental Partnership; and from the public. Our approach? We organize meetings and joint conferences around themes that bring all of these partners together. We also provide a means for conservation professionals to interact with legislators and the public, forming a loose network of people who care about biological diversity and come together on occasion to take action. Interest in our Chapter s work has become so strong among the professional community that we now find our Chapter board top-heavy with Ph.D.s. We currently are focusing on re-engaging the student community by including a greater proportion of graduate students on the slate of candidates for our upcoming election. To learn more about the Minnesota Chapter, please visit https://www.conbio.org/Chapters/Minnesota/index.cfm.    - Julia Nerbonne

Central California Coast: Defining Identity and Place

The Central California Coast Chapter was initiated in 2007 by local conservation professionals and students at Stanford University, in part as a way to facilitate hosting of the Bay Area Conservation Biology Symposium (a successful meeting that has rotated for 11 years among the Berkeley and Davis Chapters and Stanford University). In an effort to serve the specific needs of our local SCB members, we broadened our vision to provide a forum for exchange of ideas among conservation professionals, students, and advocates from Silicon Valley to Monterey Bay. We continue to develop ways to best implement this vision so that it is relevant for our members -- some 50 individuals from academia, independent consultancies, government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the public. We feel it is critical to recognize the strong relationship between researchers and practitioners that defines our Chapter. Therefore, our board is led by co-presidents, a student and a professional. Our initial activities included field trips, dinner meetings, and participation in the Bay Area Conservation Biology Symposium. In 2009, Stanford University and the Chapter co-hosted the Symposium under the theme Bridging Gaps between Academics and Professionals. Our bimonthly restaurant dinner meetings are also popular, with guest speakers (practitioners and students) providing continuing education for Chapter members. Field trips, however, have become less popular, suggesting that we are still finding our niche and value for local SCB members. As the Chapter evolves during its second year, we are evaluating whether we are meeting our goals and expectations. Are we the Chapter that we want to be, and how do we continue to get there? To learn more about our Chapter, please visit http://consbio.blogspot.com/.   - Don Arnold

February 2009 - "Chapters Corner" from SCB's February 2009 newsletter

Many of SCB's Chapters have become adept at hosting area meetings of one to five days' duration. These meetings bring together students, professionals, and academics to explore regional and disciplinary topics. The longest running annual meeting is the San Francisco Bay Area Conservation Biology Symposium. This symposium began in 1998, with hosts rotating among the Davis Chapter, Berkeley Chapter, other area universities, and now the new Central California Coast Chapter. The Montana Chapter launched the most recent symposium series. The following are highlights from these meetings.

Tenth Annual Bay Area Conservation Biology Symposium

The tenth annual Bay Area Conservation Biology Symposium, organized by the Davis Chapter, was held at University of California, Davis on 2 February 2008. The meeting drew more than 150 students, academics, and professionals from industry and nongovernmental organizations. The meeting featured 45 contributed talks and posters, two plenary presentations, and a participatory panel discussion. A plenary by Holly Doremus, Professor of Law at University of California, Davis, offered insight into the intersection between politics and the environment. The keynote speaker, Robert Robichaux from the University of Arizona, discussed his work on reintroduction of endangered plants and ecosystem restoration in Hawaii. The panel discussion by Jay Chamberlin, Susan Jones, Peter Moyle, Rob Robichaux, Mark Schwartz, and Nat Seavy, "Bridging the gap between science and management: how to prioritize conservation actions," was a highlight of the meeting. The meeting achieved its goals of connecting students and professionals and continuing the discussion about how to improve science and policy related to conservation.    - Michael Branstetter

Preview: 11th annual Bay Area Conservation Biology Symposium

The 11th annual Bay Area Conservation Biology Symposium, co-hosted by the Central California Coast Chapter and the Ecology and Evolution Group within Stanford University's Department of Biology, was held on 31 January 2009 at Stanford University. The theme of the 2009 symposium, Bridging Gaps Between Academics and Professionals, is reflected in the membership of the new Central California Coast Chapter. Plenary speakers were Terry Root (Stanford University) and Peggy Olofson (San Francisco Estuary Invasive Spartina Project). Talks were well attended, and many collaborative projects were seeded.    - Sadie Ryan

First Research Symposium of the Montana Chapter

The Montana Chapter hosted its first regional symposium, Applying Conservation Science to Action, on 9-10 October 2008 in Missoula, Montana. The meeting was organized around the theme of applying science to real world conservation problems, policy decisions, and educational outreach. The symposium was a excellent opportunity to share research and learn about cutting edge conservation science in in Montana and the Northern Rockies / Transboundary region. About 75 researchers, academics, and conservationists from Calgary, Edmonton, Moscow (Idaho), Bozeman (Montana), and Missoula attended.  The symposium featured three invited plenary talks from professors at the University of Montana, approximately 20 oral presentations, and a poster session. Joel Berger, John J. Craighead Chair of Wildlife Conservation, presented the opening plenary, "Ecological Symbolism and Conservation -- Can America Protect Migration Corridors? Martin Nie, Associate Professor of Natural Resource Policy, presented "National Forest Policy Assessment -- report to Senator Jon Tester." Scott Mills, Professor of Wildlife Population Ecology, presented "Keeping Conservation Biology Thriving for the Next 22 Years." The plenaries were filmed, shown on local television, and are available to stream on our Web site. For a full list of abstracts and upcoming events, visit https://www.conbio.org/admin/text/www.conbio.org/Chapters/Montana.    - Adam Switalski

Georgia Chapter Offers Seminar Series

The Georgia Chapter hosted Stuart Pimm, Doris Duke Professor of Conservation Ecology at Duke University, on 5 February as part of its spring 2009 conservation seminar series. The talk was held at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens. The series began on 20 January with a presentation by G. Randall Tate, Director of Science and Stewardship for the Georgia Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. Speakers for March and April will be determined, and the Chapter welcomes all interested parties to attend.

EXPANSION AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF SCB'S CHAPTERS

During the past few years, SCB's chapters have grown in terms of membership, resources, and activities. Five years ago, there were perhaps a dozen active chapters, most based at universities scattered across North America, with one chapter in South America. In 2003, Executive Director Alan Thornhill created an advisory group, loosely referenced as the Chapters Advisory Committee, to help SCB chapters establish and grow, to enable chapters to exchange ideas and information and to network worldwide, and to create a more visible presence for chapters within SCB. This advisory group has worked closely with the Executive Office and the chapters during a period in which chapters have thrived.

-- There are now approximately 30 active chapters around the world, representing 150% growth in five years, with substantial increases in member retention and chapter viability.

-- There are about five to ten chapters in formation at any one time, with additional monthly inquiries on how to establish a chapter (for details see www.conbio.org/chapters/ChapterCreationGuide08-2006.pdf).

-- The number of active chapters outside North America has grown from one to four, with interest from at least ten more countries.

-- The chapters advisory group drafted a five-year (2006-2010) strategic plan, which has helped to guide the growth and feasibility of chapters (www.conbio.org/chapters/info/SCBChaptersStrategicPlan%202-07short.pdf).

-- Chapters convene well-attended events at SCB's annual meetings, including workshops, business roundtables, and mixers with the Board of Governors.

-- Several chapters hold large, successful regional meetings of one to four days in duration.

-- Chapters in the United States took the lead in developing SCB policy statements on the U.S. Farm Bill and gray wolves in the Rocky Mountain region.

-- Several chapters in coastal zones have undertaken wetland restoration projects with their own funding.

-- Chapters have created curricula for students in primary school and secondary school, and one chapter is writing a book.

-- At least half of SCB's chapters include professional members from multiple sectors, including government, nonprofit organizations, and private organizations. Some chapters also include members of the general public. Many chapters are based outside academia or are housed across multiple institutions. The scope of individual Chapters ranges from cities or counties to regions, countries, and multiple countries.

TRANSITIONS AND NEWS

Tom Sisk's term as chapters representative on SCB's Board of Governors ended in July 2008. The position is now held by Fiona Nagle.

Aletris Neils, a graduate student at the University of Arizona in Tucson, is the new chair of the chapters advisory group. Aletris has eight years of experience with chapters, and was a member of the advisory group for two years.

Laura Walko, SCB's Membership Coordinator, is the chapters liaison in SCB's Executive Office

The new bylaws for chapters have been completed. The four documents are available at www.conbio.org/chapters/info/NewChapters.cfm. All active chapters must revise their bylaws by 31 January 2009. Contact Fiona Nagle with questions.

As of 7 October 2008, a conference call will be held on the first Tuesday of the month at 5:00 P.M. Pacific Time (GMT -8) for chapter leaders. Participation of one or more officers of Chapters that are active or in formation is encouraged. Contact Aletris Neils for additional information.

The Chapters Web site (https://www.conbio.org/Chapters) has been redesigned. If you would like to post an announcement or update Web links, please contact Kelly Pennington.

CHAPTER EVENTS

The Georgia Chapter participated in the Goldenrod Challenge for the DiscoverLife Project, www.discoverlife.org. The goal of the Challenge, which took place from 4 October to 4 November, was to photograph the maximum number of species of invertebrates that use or inhabit goldenrod communities. The Challenge documented the distribution, abundance, and interactions of pollinators and other insects to evaluate ecological changes in response to climate change and invasive species. The Georgia Chapter also organized a wildlife monitoring project, helping the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to document relative abundance, distribution, and threats to the rare Gopher Tortoise in a natural area in middle Georgia. Their first count of tortoise burrows was completed in October.

The Montana Chapter held its first research symposium, Applying Conservation Science to Action, 9-10 October in Missoula. Plenary tropics included the protection of migration corridors, an assessment of policy related to National Forests, and the future of conservation biology.

The 11th annual San Francisco Bay Area Conservation Biology Symposium, co-hosted by the Central California Chapter and the Population and Evolutionary Biology and Ecology group within Stanford University's Department of Biological Sciences, will be held 31 January 2009. The deadline to submit abstracts is 9 January, and the deadline for early registration is 23 January. Further information is available at www.bacbs.com.

The first joint conference of chapters in North America, supported by the North America Section, will be held 5-8 October 2009, in Flagstaff, Arizona. This conference, Collaborative Conservation in Rapidly Changing Landscapes, will be an expansion of the tenth Biennial Conference of Research on the Colorado Plateau. The Colorado Plateau Chapter and U.S. Geological Survey are leading organization of the meeting, with assistance from the Central Arizona, Colorado State University, Orange County, and Sul Ross chapters. Northern Arizona University also is a partner in the meeting.    - Fiona Nagle

 SCB Chapters and Public Policy Activities
Report from the North America Section 1st Bi-annual Meeting
Little Rock, Arkansas
24 May 2007 (updated 27 June 2007)
by Fiona Nagle, Chair, Chapters Advisory Committee

SCB has a new approach to environmental public policy and has hired a policy director, John Fitzgerald.  The North America Section has been key to designing and implementing this new approach, and the chapters will be an important part of this new direction for SCB.  On May 24
2007, the Chapters Advisory Committee Chair (Fiona Nagle) met with John and the North America Section Board at the 1st annual North America Section meeting in Arkansas.  The potential relationship between the section, chapters, the Executive Office, and policy activities was discussed.  Four chapter representatives (Florida, Minnesota, Montana, D.C.) also reported on their chapters' policy activities at the Section members meeting that same day.  These chapters represented a range of activities, from nascent ideas to position statements and formal meetings with legislators.  The chapters' ability to undertake activities as they see fit will not be impeded, but SCB wants to be more coordinated so we all speak with a stronger voice.  The results of May 24 are as follows:

• SCB is focusing on 5 main areas: Climate Change, Scientific Integrity, Treaties, Biological Security, and Green Investing.  Activities undertaken in these 5 areas should be coordinated with the Executive Office (John Fitzgerald) and the Section Policy Chair (Dominick DellaSala).  For example, an email should be sent with plans and materials for feedback from these 2 people before being implemented/ distributed.
• Activities in other areas should be coordinated with Dominick (eg a heads-up email sent to Dom).  If a chapter feels their activity requires the input of someone at the national or international level, then they should also feel free to contact John.
• The question of how this change affects the policy disclaimer in chapter bylaws (ie chapter activities do not necessarily reflect SCB-global) needs to be addressed.
• Other Executive Office/Capitol Hill activities will likely present opportunities for chapters as well, such as hosting a congressperson on a local issues field trip or conducting educational meetings/workshops for local/regional politicians.
• In 2008, a policy workshop for chapters will be given.

New Orleans Chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology

SCB would like to acknowledge the temporary loss of the New Orleans SCB Chapter (NOSCB), and express our sympathy and support. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, NOSCB was a thriving and active chapter on the campus of the University of New Orleans, with a strong focus on environmental education and assistance with local conservation projects. Since Katrina, chapter members have scattered and the university is marshalling its resources so it can open again next spring. Meanwhile, we've heard from Rachel Wallace (president) and Laura Vogel of the chapter, who assure us they are well and that a number of members are currently staying in the area. They hope to get the chapter back on its feet in 2006, and meanwhile will be volunteering with the Red Cross and The Nature Conservancy.

The NOSCB Chapter will definitely have an important and long-term role to play in the recovery from Katrina.

Rachel Wallace, NOSCB president, has provided two websites that offer preliminary information on the environmental impacts of Katrina. The Gulf Coast was home to a number of endangered species, including the Mississippi Sandhill Crane, and supported several wildlife refuges and wetland conservation projects:

National Wildlife Refuges - www.fws.gov/refuges/
Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation - www.saveourlake.org

We wish all the best to Rachel, Chad Ellinwood (vice-president), Laura, and the members of NOSCB in their personal recoveries from Katrina and with their future efforts as a strong and cohesive group.

Sincerely,
Fiona Nagle, chair, Chapter Advisors Committee
Tom Sisk, Chapter-BOG Liaison
Kat Powers, SCB Executive Office