Building on SCBNA’s 2025 webinar series “A Conversation on State Wildlife Agencies,” SCBNA’s Policy Issues Working Group collaboratively developed a definition of “conservation” for our regional society that was approved by the SCBNA Board of Directors on January 22, 2026. The definition is intended to guide actions within SCB North America, the broader Society for Conservation Biology global community, and all those interested in the protection and recovery of nature.

The definition was developed over a ten-month period through extensive discussion and input from researchers, educators, students, retired state and federal natural resource professionals, and other members of the public interested in conservation. In addition to the definition itself, a companion paper – shown below – was drafted to further explain the rationale behind the definition and clarify the meaning of key terms.

At a time of accelerating biodiversity loss and climate change, and as public values surrounding conservation evolve, SCBNA believes it is important to articulate a contemporary understanding of conservation that reflects both current science and society’s changing relationship with nature. The definition is intended to promote clarity, encourage dialogue, and help guide SCBNA in advancing its mission.

SCBNA’s Definition of “Conservation”

“Conservation is a practice informed by the best evidence-based science and place-based knowledge whose outcomes protect and restore the natural environment—including its air, soil, water, biological diversity, ecosystem processes, and evolutionary potential—to ensure equitable benefits derived from nature and safeguard its value for current and future generations of all life.”

We encourage SCBNA members to share their thoughts & feedback for our definition and to contribute to future additions to the companion document below.

Definition of Terms