This site presents the latest news on the policy activities of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB). SCB is an international professional organization whose mission is to advance the science and practice of conserving the Earth's biological diversity, support dissemination of conservation science, and increase application of science to management and policy. The Society's membership comprises a wide range of people interested in the conservation and study of biological diversity: resource managers, educators, government and private conservation workers, and students make up the thousands of members world-wide. The purpose of this blog is to make SCB members and the wider public aware of the variety of policy work being done by SCB's global organization, regional sections, working groups, and chapters, and to facilitate dialogue between SCB members on how to make the society's activities more effective at advancing our mission of conserving biological diversity.

IMPORTANT NOTE: In July 2012, SCB launched a entirely redesigned website, which includes frequently updated policy news. Although older posts can still be accessed on this page, we encourage you to visit the new Policy Page at conbio.org for direct access to blog posts and other information.
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SCB Policy Blog

News on the policy activities of the Society for Conservation Biology

SCB Petitions Agencies To Develop Recovery Planning Regulations for Endangered Species
May 15th
SCB Petitions Agencies To Develop Recovery Planning Regulations for Endangered Species May 14, 2013.  Today, the Society for Conservation Biology submitted a formal petition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Oceanic and…
SCB Calls for Protection of Gray Wolf Under California Law
May 7th
SCB Calls for Protection of Gray Wolf Under California Law May 6, 2013.  Today the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) submitted comments on behalf of its North America Section and its Humboldt State University Chapter in support of protecting…
SCB Releases Recommendations for Action During the Second Obama Presidential Term
April 22nd
SCB Releases Recommendations for Action During the Second Obama Presidential Term April 22, 2013.  Today, SCB released a set of recommendations to the Obama Administration, which outlined a series of steps that agencies throughout the Federal gov…
SCB Submits Comments on Flawed Assessment of Keystone XL Pipeline
April 19th
SCB Submits Comments on Flawed Assessment of Keystone XL Pipeline April 22, 2013. Today the Society for Conservation Biology submitted comments on the second Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) and its accompanying biological assessment…
SCB Calls for Listing Lesser Prairie Chicken as an Endangered Species
March 11th
SCB Calls for Listing Lesser Prairie Chicken as an Endangered Species March 11, 2013.  Today the Society for Conservation Biology submitted comments on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) proposed rule to list the Lesser Prairie-chic…
SCB Requests Additional Research on the Impacts of Fracking on Biodiversity
March 1st
SCB Requests Additional Research on the Impacts of Fracking on Biodiversity   February 28, 2013.  Today, the Society for Conservation Biology sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, and Department of Int…
Scientific Societies Request Climate Summit with President Obama
February 8th
Scientific Societies Request Climate Summit with President Obama February 8, 2013.  Today the Society for Conservation Biology, Society for Ecological Restoration, American Fisheries Society, The Wildlife Society, American Meteorological Society,…
SCB Statement on the Use of Ivory for Religious Objects
January 24th
SCB Statement on the Use of Ivory for Religious Objects January 24, 2013.  Today, the Society for Conservation Biology approved a formal policy statement on the use of elephant ivory for religious objects on behalf of SCB’s Religion and Con…
SCB Calls for Comprehensive Review of Coal Exports’ Impacts on Biodiversity
January 19th
SCB Calls for Comprehensive Review of Coal Exports’ Impacts on Biodiversity January 19, 2013.  Today, the Society for Conservation Biology submitted scoping comments for the upcoming Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Gat…
Scientific Societies Ask Mexico to Take Additional Steps to Save the Vaquita
December 18th
Scientific Societies Ask Mexico to Take Additional Steps to Save the Vaquita, the World’s Smallest and Most Endangered Porpoise December 18, 2012.  Since its discovery fifty years ago, the vaquita (Phocoena sinus), or Gulf of California har…