Society for Conservation Biology South African Chapter

South African Chapter Strategy 2017-2022

Preamble:

South Africa contains high levels of unique fauna and flora, including three global biodiversity hotspots, making it the third most biologically diverse country in the world. However, South Africa is also part of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), a group of the five developing and newly industrialised countries with emerging global economies. The need is clear. As a country, South Africa must juggle the global obligation to conserve and protect biodiversity while simultaneously allowing for economic development to address widespread poverty and economic inequality.

The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) is an international professional organization dedicated to promoting the scientific study of the phenomena that affect the maintenance, loss, and restoration of biological diversity. This includes the study of the seemingly conflicting priorities of biodiversity conservation and economic growth. However, the global interests of the SCB are not always tailor-made for the distinctive situation in South Africa. Hence, the opportunity to establish a local Chapter of the SCB, which is specifically attuned to the South African local context.

In August 2015, during the 27th International Congress for Conservation Biology, a small group of conservation biologists showed interest in forming a South African Chapter of the SCB. This lead to the formation of the first Board of Directors in early 2016 followed by the formal chapter registration with the SCB on 08 April 2016.

Vision:

The South African Chapter of the SCB shares the Vision of its parent organisation:
The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) envisions a world where people understand, value, and conserve the diversity of life on Earth. We envision SCB, a globally diverse, equitable, and inclusive community of conservation professionals, as a leading scientific voice for the study and conservation of Earth’s biological diversity.