Edward T. LaRoe III Memorial Award – NACCR 2026

The Edward T. LaRoe III Memorial Award recognizes the innovative application of science to resource management and policy. We give this award annually to an individual who has been a leader in translating principles of conservation biology into real world conservation, specifically those who have spent at least part of their career in public service.

This year, we are honored to present the 2026 Edward T. LaRoe III Memorial Award to Dr. Adrian Treves.

Dr. Treves is a leading conservation scientist with 26 years of experience focused on large carnivore ecology and coexistence. His career spans service to governments in the United States, Germany, and France, where he advised the French Ministry of Environment on wolf science. From 1993–2012, he lived and taught in several developing countries, mentoring PhD students from Chile, Colombia, and Canada, while his U.S. students conducted fieldwork across the Russian Far East, Kenya, Rwanda, and the United States.

Originally trained in predator–prey behavioral ecology, Dr. Treves transitioned his expertise to applied conservation by collaborating with major NGOs including Conservation International and the Wildlife Conservation Society. Since 2005, he has served on the boards of several conservation organizations. In 2007, he joined the University of Wisconsin–Madison to train the next generation of conservationists. Adrian has taught hundreds of undergraduates about ecology, conservation, and human dimensions of biodiversity. His excellence in teaching and mentoring was recognized with the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 2025.

Dr. Treves’ scientific contributions are substantial: 110 peer reviewed publications, more than 50 additional scientific writings, and thousands of broadcast media mentions. His work—publicly available through his UW–Madison website—includes pioneering randomized, controlled field experiments on non lethal methods to protect livestock and carnivores in Chile, Colombia, Canada, and multiple U.S. tribal and private lands. His research is widely influential, with 16,000 citations as of March 30. Dr. Treves also provides scientific guidance to attorneys and NGOs on wolf and grizzly bear protections under federal and state law.

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Unfortunately, Dr. Treves’ was unable to accept our award in person while at NACCR. However, he provided the following quote in response to the award: “I’m deeply grateful for this honor and would like to thank the selection and steering committees of SCBNA. I’d like to call attention to a watershed moment that happened during this conference. The SCBNA came together to approve a definition of conservation – at a time when courage is needed to push back against forces that put profit and use of nature before all other values. My warm congratulations to this courageous organization.”