Contact: Jessica Feltz, Conservation Social Scientist, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission,
[email protected]Co-Organizers: Social Science Technical Committee; Jessica Feltz, Chair (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); Mallory White, Co-chair (Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources)
Overview:Aldo Leopold wrote that “Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land” in 1949. The concept that wildlife management and conservation must take into account the role that people have on the landscape has been a guiding principle for decades. The SEAFWA Social Sciences Technical Committee (SSTC) was officially designated as a standing committee in April 2016. The committee was established with the goal of “providing a venue through which state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, academia, and the public can provide a clearinghouse for the exchange of social science concerning wildlife and fisheries management, research techniques, wildlife law enforcement, natural resource associated outdoor recreation, and information and education”. Since the committee’s inception, Social Science capacity within Southeast state fish and wildlife agencies has nearly doubled, coupled with an expanded Human Dimension’s branch at the federal level. This increase in capacity, and therefore research alone highlights the important role Social Science provides to Conservation and Natural Resource Management.
This Symposia will feature presentations from SSTC members and Social Science practitioners that will highlight the work and impact of Conservation Social Science in the Southeast. Presentations will include ongoing Social Science research, research methodologies, examples of how social science impacts conservation and management, collaborative efforts between Social Scientists and species/program managers, and will offer panel discussions about the importance of Social Science.
