Society for Conservation Biology

The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) is an international professional organization devoted to the development and application of conservation biology. It brings together researchers, educators, students, policy specialists, practitioners, and people working in related non-academic fields to improve the conservation of biodiversity and the ecosystems on which it depends. The organization operates as a United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit and has members distributed internationally, with regional sections, local chapters, topical working groups, publications, and congresses forming the main elements of its network. SCB emerged during the consolidation of conservation biology as a distinct field in the 1970s and 1980s. The field developed from growing concern that conventional biological disciplines did not adequately address accelerating species loss, habitat destruction, ecological degradation, and other large-scale threats to biodiversity. A formative meeting of ecologists and population biologists at the University of Michigan helped establish the intellectual foundations of the discipline. The resulting book, Conservation Biology: An Evolutionary-Ecological Perspective, became an influential statement of the field and helped create an international community of scientists and practitioners. Michael E. Soulé, one of the field's prominent founders, became SCB's co-founder and first president. The society was formally established in 1985 and expanded the field's professional infrastructure through its journals, meetings, and member network. Its principal peer-reviewed journal, Conservation Biology, began publication in 1987. The journal provides a platform for research and analysis concerning biodiversity conservation, including ecological, evolutionary, management, and policy dimensions. SCB later broadened its publication program. Conservation Letters, launched in 2007, was designed as a rapid-publication, policy-relevant journal covering conservation research from both the natural and social sciences. The society also launched Conservation magazine in 2000 to make conservation tools, techniques, case studies, and current developments more accessible to practitioners, policymakers, and wider audiences. That publication was renamed Anthropocene magazine in 2014 and is published by the University of Washington. SCB's activities extend beyond publishing. Since 1998, it has organized the International Congress for Conservation Biology, a global forum for presenting research, discussing conservation practice, and addressing biodiversity challenges. The congress was held annually until 2011, after which it moved to a biennial schedule partly to reduce the travel-related environmental impact associated with large international meetings. The congress location rotates among the society's regional sections and provides a venue for interaction across geographic and disciplinary boundaries. The organization has developed a federated international structure. Seven regional sections cover Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, Marine conservation, and Oceania. These sections organize regional congresses, support local conservation communities, and maintain their own governance arrangements. SCB also supports chapters, including student and university-based groups, which connect the international organization to local conservation work. Topical working groups address subjects such as freshwater conservation, social science, religion and conservation biology, conservation marketing and engagement, conservation genetics, participatory and citizen science, and conservation technology. SCB's positioning is that of a learned society and professional network rather than a consumer-facing brand or a direct-service environmental charity. Its principal contributions are knowledge exchange, professional development, peer-reviewed publishing, convening, policy engagement, and the strengthening of conservation capacity. The society's global structure enables it to link scientific evidence with regional priorities while supporting collaboration among academic researchers, practitioners, communities, and decision-makers. Its membership includes more than 4,000 people according to the cited reference material, and its network includes approximately three dozen chapters worldwide. The organization remains focused on advancing conservation biology as a science and on improving the effectiveness, inclusiveness, and practical impact of biodiversity conservation.

The Society for Conservation Biology was created in 1985 during the emergence of conservation biology as a distinct scientific and professional field. The field's roots lay in the growing recognition that biodiversity loss required an integrated approach drawing on ecology, evolutionary biology, population biology, genetics, and social science. A conference of ecologists and population biologists at the University of Michigan helped articulate this emerging discipline. Its associated book, Conservation Biology: An Evolutionary-Ecological Perspective, became influential internationally and helped establish a shared intellectual foundation for conservation biologists. Michael E. Soulé was a co-founder of SCB and served as its first president. A central early priority was the creation of professional institutions and a dedicated scientific publication. SCB launched the journal Conservation Biology in May 1987, initially published by Blackwell Scientific Publishers and later associated with Wiley-Blackwell. The journal gave the field a specialized peer-reviewed venue for research on biodiversity, ecological processes, conservation management, and policy. It also helped connect academic work with the practical problems faced by conservation organizations and public agencies. The society expanded its communications role in 2000 with Conservation magazine. Unlike the technical journal, the magazine was intended to make conservation methods, case studies, and current issues accessible to practitioners, policymakers, and other readers beyond academic research. In 2007, SCB added Conservation Letters, an online rapid-publication journal focused on timely and policy-relevant work from both natural and social sciences. Conservation magazine was renamed Anthropocene magazine in 2014 and is published by the University of Washington. SCB began hosting the International Congress for Conservation Biology in 1998. The congress became the society's principal international meeting and a forum for scientific exchange, professional networking, and debate over global conservation challenges. It was organized annually through 2011, when the schedule changed to every two years. The change was intended in part to reduce the carbon impacts associated with frequent international travel. Congress locations rotate among the society's international sections. The society's regional organization developed in the early 2000s. In 2000, its Board of Governors approved seven regional sections: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, Marine, and Oceania. The sections were established over the following years and were designed to apply SCB's mission at regional scale. Each section has its own governance and organizes meetings or congresses suited to local scientific, policy, and conservation priorities. The Africa Section was established after a 2001 meeting in Nairobi; the Asia Section was established at the 2003 annual meeting in Duluth; the Europe Section was established at the 2002 annual meeting in Canterbury; the Latin America and Caribbean Section was formed in 2003; the Marine Section was formed in 2001; and the Oceania Section was established in 2005. SCB's regional sections have developed their own congress traditions. The Africa Section has organized the African Congress for Conservation Biology since 2007. The Europe Section has organized the European Congress of Conservation Biology since 2006. The Marine Section has organized the International Marine Conservation Congress since 2011. The North America Section has held a North American Congress for Conservation Biology since 2009, while the Oceania Section has held its regional congress since 2007. The Asia Section began its section meeting series in 2015. The Latin America and Caribbean Section organizes a congress intended to connect conservation efforts across Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Local chapters provide another layer of organization. Chapters are affiliated with regional sections and allow members to pursue conservation activities in particular cities, countries, universities, and local communities. SCB also began developing topical working groups in 2001, with the first groups formally established in 2003. These groups have addressed freshwater conservation, social science, and collaboration between religion and conservation biology. Later groups focused on conservation marketing and engagement, conservation genetics, participatory and citizen science, and conservation technology. Through this structure, SCB has evolved from a professional society centered on an emerging academic discipline into a global network linking research, policy, education, and practical conservation.

• 2016

  New specialist working groups formed

  [1]Society for Conservation Biologyen.wikipedia.org

  Working groups focused on conservation genetics, participatory and citizen science, and conservation technology were established to broaden the society's interdisciplinary activities.

• 2014

  Conservation magazine renamed

  [1]Society for Conservation Biologyen.wikipedia.org

  SCB's practitioner-oriented Conservation magazine was renamed Anthropocene magazine and subsequently published by the University of Washington.

• 2011

  International congress changes to a biennial schedule

  [1]Society for Conservation Biologyen.wikipedia.org

  The International Congress for Conservation Biology moved from an annual to a biennial schedule, partly to reduce the environmental effects of frequent international travel.

• 2007

  Conservation Letters launched

  [1]Society for Conservation Biologyen.wikipedia.org

  SCB introduced Conservation Letters, an online rapid-publication journal intended to disseminate timely and policy-relevant conservation research.

• 2005

  Oceania Section established

  [1]Society for Conservation Biologyen.wikipedia.org

  The Oceania Section was established to support conservation science and practice across Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island regions.

• 2003

  Asia and Latin America and Caribbean sections established

  [1]Society for Conservation Biologyen.wikipedia.org

  The Asia Section was established at SCB's annual meeting in Duluth, and the Latin America and Caribbean Section was formed to connect conservation efforts across the region.

• 2003

  First topical working groups formally established

  [1]Society for Conservation Biologyen.wikipedia.org

  SCB formalized its first topical working groups, including groups focused on freshwater conservation and conservation social science.

• 2001

  Africa and Marine sections formed

  [1]Society for Conservation Biologyen.wikipedia.org

  The Africa Section was established at a Nairobi meeting, while the Marine Section was formed to address marine biodiversity conservation as a global rather than region-specific concern.

• 2000

  Conservation magazine introduced

  [1]Society for Conservation Biologyen.wikipedia.org

  The society launched Conservation magazine to communicate conservation tools, techniques, and case studies to practitioners, policymakers, and non-specialist audiences.

• 2000

  Regional-section structure approved

  [1]Society for Conservation Biologyen.wikipedia.org

  SCB's Board of Governors approved seven regional sections covering Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, Marine conservation, and Oceania.

• 1998

  International Congress for Conservation Biology launched

  [1]Society for Conservation Biologyen.wikipedia.org

  SCB began hosting its International Congress for Conservation Biology as a global forum for conservation research, practice, and policy discussion.

• 1987

  Conservation Biology begins publication

  [1]Society for Conservation Biologyen.wikipedia.org

  SCB launched its flagship peer-reviewed journal, Conservation Biology, creating a dedicated outlet for research and analysis on biodiversity conservation.

• 1985

  Society founded

  [1]Society for Conservation Biologyen.wikipedia.org

  The Society for Conservation Biology was established as the field of conservation biology developed into a distinct professional and scientific discipline. Michael E. Soulé was a co-founder and became the first president.

International professional society and scientific network for biodiversity conservation

• Peer-reviewed academic journal · 1987

  Conservation Biology

  SCB's flagship peer-reviewed journal, first published in 1987. It provides an international venue for research, synthesis, and analysis related to biodiversity conservation, including ecological, evolutionary, management, and policy questions. The journal helped institutionalize conservation biology as a recognized field and connects academic findings with conservation practice.

• Rapid-publication academic journal · 2007

  Conservation Letters

  An online journal launched by SCB in 2007 for timely, concise, and policy-relevant conservation research. Its scope includes work from natural and social sciences and is intended to accelerate communication of findings with implications for biodiversity policy and practice.

• Conservation publication · 2000

  Conservation magazine

  A publication introduced in 2000 to complement the technical journal Conservation Biology. It was designed to make conservation methods, tools, case studies, and current issues accessible to practitioners, policymakers, and wider audiences. In 2014 it was renamed Anthropocene magazine.

• International professional congress · 1998

  International Congress for Conservation Biology

  SCB's principal global meeting, established in 1998. The congress brings together conservation scientists, practitioners, educators, policymakers, and students to exchange research, discuss implementation challenges, and consider international biodiversity priorities. Since 2011 it has generally followed a biennial schedule.

• Regional professional events · 2006

  Regional congresses and section meetings

  A network of regional and thematic meetings organized through SCB's sections. Examples include the African, European, Asia, Latin America and Caribbean, North American, Oceania, and International Marine Congresses for Conservation Biology. These events adapt the society's global mission to regional and subject-specific conservation needs.

• 2011International Marine Conservation Congress

  Global marine sector

  The Marine Section began organizing an international congress dedicated to marine conservation science, public policy, and professional collaboration.

  Outcome. The congress became a recurring international meeting focused specifically on marine biodiversity conservation.

  Source
• 2009North American Congress for Conservation Biology

  North America

  The North America Section began organizing a congress focused on bridging conservation research and implementation, with themes linking urban, wild, social, and climate-related conservation concerns.

  Outcome. The congress created a recurring regional forum for connecting science, policy, and on-the-ground conservation practice.

  Source
• 2007African Congress for Conservation Biology

  Africa

  The SCB Africa Section began organizing a regional congress to connect African conservation scientists and practitioners and to promote locally relevant solutions to conservation problems.

  Outcome. The congress became a recurring regional platform for conservation research, practice, education, and policy discussion.

  Source
• 2007Oceania Congress for Conservation Biology

  Australia · New Zealand · Pacific Islands

  The Oceania Section began holding a congress to share conservation findings, methods, tools, and opportunities across the region.

  Outcome. The event established a regional venue for connecting conservation professionals and strengthening local conservation science and practice.

  Source
• 1998International Congress for Conservation Biology

  Global

  SCB established a recurring international congress to create a global forum for conservation science, policy, professional exchange, and responses to biodiversity challenges.

  Outcome. The congress became the society's principal international convening platform and continues through a rotating global schedule.

  Source

• 2014

  Conservation magazine renamed Anthropocene magazineOther

  Background

  SCB maintained a publication intended to communicate conservation issues beyond the specialist research audience.

  Action taken

  The publication Conservation magazine was renamed Anthropocene magazine and later published by the University of Washington.

  Aftermath

  The publication continued as a broader conservation and human-environment communications outlet outside the original magazine name.

  Source

• 2011

  International congress schedule changed to biennialStrategy

  Background

  SCB reviewed the environmental burden associated with frequent international travel to large congresses.

  Action taken

  The society changed the International Congress for Conservation Biology from an annual event to a biennial schedule.

  Aftermath

  The congress continued as a major global convening platform while reducing the frequency of international travel associated with the event.

  Source

1. 1Society for Conservation Biologyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Society for Conservation Biology official websiteconbio.org