The International Biodiversity Network of Leading Conservation Science Institutions
Each institution cooperates in joint research design and implementation, and shares experience and data to advance conservation. This framework is a striking innovation in international partnerships, in its egalitarian decision-making structure. Each institution benefits from having independence and local relevance on the one hand, and common cause and the strength of a collaboration on the other.
Institutional Partners
Brazil: IPE
IPE, the Institute for Ecological Research of Brazil, is working to protect biodiversity throughout the country. In the Pontal region of Sao Paulo State, IPE addresses issues stemming from the extreme habitat fragmentation and agrarian reform. IPE saved the black lion tamarin (our logo animal) from extinction through a unique program including translocations of populations. Today, the work in the Pontal is multifaceted and includes extensive research and conservation activities on behalf of jaguars, tapirs, pumas, and other large mammals in the landscape, as well as human community development.
Chile: Fauna Australis
Fauna Australis is a research laboratory based in Chile and working in the southern cone of South America. Our projects aims to produce innovative solutions based in conservation science to protect biodiversity in human-dominated landscapes. Our projects include wildlife species from mountain, desert, Mediterranean, temperate rainforests and Patagonian ecosystems.
Cuba: Cuban Conservation Collaborative
A council of senior Cuban conservation scientists is setting priorities for conservation research in Cuba. Key current goals include marine turtle conservation in the Guanahacacibes Peninsula National Park, manatee conservation along Cuban coasts, the protection of two major Cuban wetland habitats of the West Indian whistling duck, and training graduate students in wetland conservation research.
Guatemala: Center for Biodiversity Conservation
Much of the work of the Center concerns the issue of how to manage coffee plantations to protect biodiversity. The Center team censuses and monitors birds, bats, amphibians and reptiles, and butterflies on two kinds of shade coffee plantations in western Guatemala. The Center is building a nature center in the region to serve as a home for long-term regional land use planning.
India: Asian Conservation Foundation
The Asian Conservation Foundation is India’s leading research organization focused on elephant conservation. Core goals include producing an elephant conservation action plan, an elephant health care manual, and improving local community participation in elephant-human conflict management in focal research areas. The ACF studies the ecology and behavior of elephants, conducts urgently needed surveys of remaining elephant habitat, and addresses the problems of elephant crop raising and elephant-caused human mortality.
Indonesia: Center for Insect Conservation and Management (PEKA)
PEKA focuses primarily on insect conservation and research to use beneficial insects in place of pesticides in Indonesian farmlands. For example, the PEKA team is teaching a group of rice farmers in West Java how to use biological control for rice pests, instead of making themselves and their families sick and destroying beneficial insects and birds. The Center uses the topic of insects as an entry point to engage the Indonesian public in a more general discussion of biodiversity conservation and health.
Venezuela: Provita
Provita was established in 1987 to conserve Venezuelan species and habitats through the implementation of projects that integrate conservation and development.Provita scientists are developing a system for quantifying the extinction risk of terrestrial habitats throughout Venezuela, and consolidating Provita’s activities on Margarita Island as a model for the conservation and sustainable use of Caribbean
Apply for Institutional Membership
Criteria for Institutional Membership
Effective practice of conservation science, as evidenced by:
Multidisciplinary programs
Innovation
History of publications
Demonstrated effectiveness in conservation practice, as evidenced by:
Engagement of local communities
Engagement with policy makers, and track record of influence on policies
Protected area designations/management
Demonstrated institutional “good practices” such as:
Having a strategic plan in place
Having a career ladder/training program for junior members
Adherence to all local laws including permitting, reporting, and labor laws.
Statements of ethical conduct, such as humane treatment of wildlife and cultural sensitivity.
Effective communications, as evidenced by:
Publications
Local publicity
Degree and nature of involvement of local partners
Measures of public awareness of activities