Conservation Committee


Membership:
Brad Bergstrom, Chair (bergstrm@valdosta.edu)
B. S. Arbogast
A. D. Davidson
N. Dawson
T. Doonan
A. W. Ferguson
A. J. Giordano
R. A. Medellin
A. Morzillo
R. A. Ojeda
L. A. Randa
S. Sheffield
S. Vignieri
Committee Charge:
History and Mission
The Conservation Committee was first established by the Board of Directors in 1927 as the Conservation of Land Mammals Committee, and is one of the oldest and consistently most active committees in the Society. The Committee functions to fulfill the Society's responsibilities to promote the conservation and welfare of natural populations of land mammals. The committee's name was shortened to Conservation Committee following the 2002 Annual Meeting.

Responsibilities
The committee is subdivided into seven subcommittees that are responsible for position letters, resolutions, conservation education, coordination with other societies, international conservation issues, special projects, and mammalian conservation news.
Committee Notes:
Activites by Subcommittee:

ACTION SUBCOMMITTEES
Resolutions
(1) Keep updated on mammalian conservation issues that require action in the form of a resolution (for less time sensitive issues); write resolutions with cover letters and list of recipients if warranted

Position Letters
(1) Keep updated on mammalian conservation issues that require action in the form of a position letter (for more time sensitive issues); write position letters with list of recipients if warranted


OTHER SUBCOMMITTEES

Education
(1) Grassland Education program
Work with Defenders of Wildlife and US Fish and Wildlife Service to:
(a) Finalize the format of the Grassland Education program (CD-ROM, video)
(b) get copies of program made (start off with 500 copies)
(c) distribute it to any and all teachers that can use it

(2) Why large carnivorous mammals are valuable brochure (new project)

Coordination with other Societies/Committees

(1) Keep in communication with other related ASM committees (Legislation and Regulation, Resolutions, Education and Graduate Students, Public Education)

(2) Keep in communication with other scientific societies that share common interests; this may include sending them copies of our actions (resolutions, position letters), copies of our annual committee report, contacting other societies for joint activities (i.e., letter writing), etc.

International Conservation Issues
(1) Keep current with mammalian conservation issues internationally; advise ASM membership on these issues (through ASM website)
(2) Major issue this year - upcoming CITES meeting - 10-20 April 2000 in Gigiri, Kenya

Mammalian Conservation News
(1) Compile news and updates on mammalian conservation issues; advise ASM membership on these issues (through ASM website)


Special Projects
(1) Complete North American Mammalian Monitoring project
(2) Plan for a Large Mammal Conservation Symposium for the Missoula, MT meeting in 2001; submit a proposal to the ASM Program Committee by April 2000

ASM Conservation Award
(1) Decide upon whether or not to give out a conservation award on behalf of the ASM, and, if so, exactly how to do it and submit proposal to ASM Board
Related Files:
Why Species Become Threatened or Endagered  -  A mammalogist's view of the process of extinction

Preble's Jumping Mouse Delist  -  April 2005 letter opposing removal of Preble's jumping mouse from threatened status.

Response to Prairie Dog Management Plans  -  November 2004 response to letter expressing concerns of prairie dog management plans and how they may impact black-footed ferrets.

Prairie Dog Management Plans  -  September 2004 letter expressing concerns of prairie dog management plans and how they may impact black-footed ferrets.

Gray Wolf Delist  -  November 2004 letter outlining concerns in opposition of delisting of gray wolf.

2009 Annual Report  -  The 2009 Annual Report of the ASM Conservation Committee

2005 Annual Report  -  The 2005 Annual Report of the ASM Conservation Committee

Enhancement of Survival Permits Policy  -  May 2004 letter expressing concern regarding draft policy for the enhancement of survival permits for foreign species listed as endangered species.

Feral Cat Policy  -  May 2003 letter offering support to adopt policy to reduce the negative impact of feral cats.

National Petroleum Reserve Activity Plan  -  March 2003 letter expressing concern about the management of the Northwest National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.

Endangered Species and Pesticide Regulation  -  March 2003 letter commenting on proposed changes to Endangered Species and Pesticide Regulation.

2006 Annual Report  -  The 2006 Annual Report of the ASM Conservation Committee

2007 Annual Report  -  The 2007 Annual Report of the ASM Conservation Committee

Letter to List Polar Bear as Threatened  -  April 2007 letter expressing ASM's support to list the polar bear as a threatened species.

Pronghorn Migration Corridor  -  April 2008 letter commending efforts to protect migration corridor of pronghorn in western Wyoming.

2008 Annual Report  -  The 2008 Annual Report of the ASM Conservation Committee

Comment on ESA Amendment  -  October 2008 letter expressing concerns of ASM to the proposed rule to amend consultation procedures relating to the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Gray Wolf Delisting  -  November 2008 letter commenting the proposed rule to designate the Northern Rocky Mountain population of Gray Wolf as a distinct population segment and removing from the federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife.

Jaguar Recovery Plan  -  Letter requesting USFWS to draft a recovery plan for the jaguar.

2010 Annual Report  -  The 2010 Annual Report of the ASM Conservation Committee