A Globalized Approach

The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to facilitating, promoting, and advancing the scientific study and conservation of biological diversity. While our historical roots were founded in the field of biology, we recognize that conservation in today’s complex world requires a globalized approach that maximizes collaboration amongst professionals from all fields.  With more than 4,000 members worldwide, professionals, students, organizations, and supporters collaborate together in a way that transcends borders to advance the SCB vision and mission.

Vision

We envision a world where people understand, value, and conserve the diversity of life on Earth and where SCB, a globally diverse, equitable, and inclusive community of professionals, students, organizations, and supporters, serves as a leading voice for the scientific study and conservation of Earth's biological diversity.

Mission

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

Organizational Values

The Society for Conservation Biology holds these values:

  • The Society and its Members - We value the Society in its entirety, respect the roles that the Society and its members play in collaboratively achieving our vision, and value our members and open, honest and respectful communication.
  • Excellence - We value, establish, uphold and promote professional standards of excellence for the conservation science profession across the globe.
  • Diversity - We recognize the importance of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community in addressing the worlds’ global challenges to maintaining biological diversity.
  • Cooperation and Partnership - We value, encourage and foster cooperation and partnerships within and beyond the direct conservation science community.
Beliefs
  • There is intrinsic value in the natural diversity of organisms, the complexity of ecological systems, and the resilience created by evolutionary processes.
  • Human-caused extinctions and the destruction and loss of function of natural ecosystems are unacceptable.
  • Maintaining and restoring biological diversity are individual and collective responsibilities of humans.
  • Science is critical for understanding how the natural world operates and how human actions affect nature.
  • Collaboration among scientists, managers, policy-makers, and other stakeholders is vital to incorporate high-quality science into policies and management decisions affecting biological diversity.
Strategic Intents and Governance Structure: 2024-2027

In 2023 SCB membership voted and approved the new governance model and associated constitutional changes. The new governance model devolved strategic priorities and decision making of core business lines to the regional and program councils. By the end of 2026 it is our goal that we will be well down the path of achieving the original vision of this new governance model (at that time termed vision 2026 to express a 5-year plan from the outset of co-designing the new model in 2021). It is timely to now revise strategic priorities to align these with our new governance model so that groups can take charge of their areas of strategic intent. 

 

The Governance Structure ensures voices of all members of the Society are heard and offers pathways for all members to be decision-makers with regard to strategy, identity, process and resource allocation. It will comprise of 4 key governance bodies. The overall makeup and role of each body is defined below and mapped to a strategic intent which they are lead custodians for. Each body will take ownership of their strategic intent area of focus and develop a broader three-year operational approach of how to deliver on the areas of intent. 

The Global Network Board (GNB) is the legal board of SCB. It is composed of board officers, with equal representation of the Regional Council and Programs Council. It is charged to make the legal and fiduciary decisions for SCB as well decisions that integrate the interests of the Regional and Programs Councils. The GNB works closely with the Society’s Global Services Staff (GS) to deliver on Society member needs and all business lines.

  • GNB Strategic intent of focus: International reputation. Maintaining our international reputation as the peak conservation science and policy body and grow capacity to deliver on this core goal. This relates strongly to the strategic intent of organizational capacity. GNB and GS should partner closely to ensure the two are delivered together.
  • Organisational value this delivers on: Excellence - We value, establish, uphold and promote professional standards of excellence for the conservation science profession across the globe.

The Regional Council (RC) is be made up of Regional leaders and represent the interests of members across geographic regions, support local Chapters and drive global membership. Decision-making on issues relating to regional membership engagement and activity sits with the Regional Council.

  • RC strategic intent of focus: Membership needs. Grow our global membership and deliver membership services that empower our members to maximise their impact in advancing our vision and mission.
  • Organisational value this delivers on: The Society and its Members - We value the Society in its entirety, respect the roles that the Society and its members play in collaboratively achieving our vision, and value our members and open, honest and respectful communication.

The Programs Council (PC) is made up of leaders of Working Groups, Global Programs, Committees and Taskforces, represents the interests of members across themes and interests, and also drives global membership. Decision making on programmatic vision and direction will sit with the Program Council.

  • PC strategic intent of focus: Conservation science and practice with a particular emphasis on areas of high programmatic interest (both emerging and enduring). The highest quality scientific research and expertise needed to understand and conserve biological diversity is identified, supported and disseminated. To achieve this intent work with the relevant committees is essential. These include our:
    • Journal committee: to deliver on the intent to publish the highest quality conservation science.
    • Policy committee: to inform local to global policy were relevant to ensure that policies are evidence based and designed to effectively conserve biodiversity.
  • Organisational value this delivers on: Cooperation and Partnership - We value, encourage and foster cooperation and partnerships within and beyond the direct conservation science community.

The Global Services Team (GS) is the staff of the society and are charged to support network connectivity, information flow, communication, and convening across the governance spheres.

  • GS strategic intent of focus: Organizational capacity. Build organizational capacity to maintain robust & sustainable economic & business models. A sustainable organization is core to maintaining our international reputation. GNB and GS should partner cloesly to ensure the two intents are delivered in tandem. A sub intent here that could be the carriage of the EID committee but in partnership with GS is to build an inclusive and equitable organization where all members and staff feel safe and heard. 
  • Organisational value this delivers on:
    • Excellence - We value, establish, uphold and promote professional standards of excellence for the conservation science profession across the globe.
    • Diversity: We recognize the importance of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community in addressing the worlds’ global challenges to maintaining biological diversity.

Learn more about the history of SCB here.