Conservation Science

Tavis Forrester has signed on to an initiative in Costa Rica to create the first regional network of citizen science supported camera traps to monitor big cats and their prey's activities. From National Geographic:

Development of a Natural Practice to Adapt Conservation Goals to Global Change Conservation Biology Volume 28, Issue 3, pages 696–704, June 2014 Abstract

Birds migrating between the Arctic and South America could be responsible for distributing plants across the tropics, according to new research. Scientists screened wild shorebirds' feathers before migration and found plant parts embedded. Birds are known to disperse seeds and small animals across local, regional and continental ranges. It is the first evidence of plant fragments being carried in the plumage of long-distance migratory birds. Read the findings in the journal PeerJ

This is the year for two notable, and related, anniversaries. As we observe the 200th birthday of the national anthem of the United States, “The Star-Spangled Banner” by lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key, there’s a second anniversary to remember. It’s a dark stain for our country, but one that few recall in these early decades of the 21st century. It’s the 100th annual observance of the global extinction of the Passenger Pigeon, at one time the most abundant bird in North America, and possibly the world.

One of the key values of the Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation is environmental stewardship. We seek to protect, improve, and sustain our natural environment for the well-being of people and the planet. Island Conservation, a Santa Cruz nonprofit with UC Santa Cruz roots, has saved 389 species from possible extinction on 52 islands around the world. 1997 Switzer Fellow Brad Keitt is the Director of Conservation. "It's incredibly rewarding," said Keitt. "I feel lucky to have a job where I am making a difference that is so immediate yet lasting."

While the practice of biodiversity conservation has matured over the past decade, decisions for proposed actions still commonly lack evidence-based and return on investment (ROI) frameworks. That picture, however, is beginning to change. Planners and practitioners are beginning to embrace operating frameworks similar to the “effectiveness revolution” in public health. Relatedly, rather than ignoring the economics of conservation practice, planners and practitioners are adopting approaches that incorporate the costs of interventions into prioritizations.

Josh Donlan was featured on a RadioLab show on the Galapagos. From the show notes: Today, the strange story of a small group of islands that raise a big question: is it inevitable that even our most sacred natural landscapes will eventually get swallowed up by humans? And just how far are we willing to go to stop that from happening?

Josh Donlan and Todd Gartner's work on pre-listing species conservation has resulted in a draft policy from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.