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Diversity in Conservation discussion panel with experts from the Doris Duke Foundation, the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), and the David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship Program. |
The diverse Santa Cruz region is home to a host of marine and terrestrial species, and has among the highest native amphibian, bird, and fish diversity in California. Our ecosystems stretch though Monterey Bay's productive submarine canyon, the bustling intertidal zone, redwood-filled canyons, and the high and dry chaparral. However, the biodiversity of the Santa Cruz region also faces many threats, including exurbanization, fragmentation, pollution, and climate change. The Santa Cruz Chapter of SCB (SCSCB) was recently formed in the fall of 2015 to contribute to the protection of our wild places through partnerships and collaborations across the Santa Cruz region.
Santa Cruz has a productive and diverse conservation community comprising land trusts, educational groups, and conservation activists. Our local university, the University of California, Santa Cruz, also has a rich history in conservation. Michael Soulé, the cofounder of SCB, was chair of UCSC’s interdisciplinary Environmental Studies Department from 1989-1996. UCSC offers many field-based natural history courses, is on the cutting edge of organic agriculture and agroecology research, and is a strong contributor to marine and island conservation research.
SCSCB hopes to connect conservation students and researchers at UCSC to conservation practitioners around the region. One way that we are bridging the divide between these two groups is by hosting the “Santa Cruz Conserves” seminar series. These seminars bring local conservation practitioners to the university to share the work that is being done on the ground with the academic community. Our goal is to expose students to real world conservation careers and programs outside of academia, and provide them with possible local volunteer or employment opportunities. In February, we heard from the Executive Director of the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO), Dr. Yiwei Wang.
SCSCB is also dedicated to engaging with a diversity of people, perspectives, and approaches in its mission to promote local conservation. In May, we hosted a Diversity in Conservation discussion panel with experts from the Doris Duke Foundation, the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), and the David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship Program to discuss the opportunities and challenges in integrating more diverse viewpoints and backgrounds into conservation.
SCSCB is excited to join the community of SCB Chapters around the world in its mission to help promote local conservation of biodiversity. Please visit us at scbsantacruz.sites.ucsc.edu or check out our Facebook page.