Conservation

Chair

• Marjorie D. Matocq (mmatocq@unr.edu)

Members

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.
 

Full list of ASM Resolutions

ASM Resolutions written by the Conservation Commitee

• 2017 - Impact of the Proposed Barrier between Mexico and the United States
• 2010 - Conservation of Endemic Mammals of Cozumel Island, Mexico
• 2008 - Effects of Wind-energy Facilities on Bats and Other Wildlife
• 2007 - Conservation of Jaguars in North America
• 2007 - Reintroduction and Conservation of the Mexican Gray Wolf
• 2006 - Resolution on the Harvest of Wolves in Alaska
• 2003 - Resolution on the Introduction of Red Foxes in Tasmania
• 2003 - Resolution on Conservation of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska
• 2001 - Recovery of the Grizzly Bear in the Lower 48 Contiguous United States
• 2001 - Protection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
• 2001 - Japanese Scientific Whaling
• 2001 - Conservation of the Orangutan in Indonesia and Malaysia
• 1999 - Mammalian Predator Control in the United States
• 1998 - Resolution on the Decline of Prairie Dogs and the Grassland Ecosystem in North America
• 1997 - The Yellowstone Bison Herd and its Management
• 1997 - The Canadian Endangered Species Protection Act
• 1995 - Reauthorization of the Endangered Species Act
• 1994 - Revision of the United States General Mining Law of 1872 as it Applies to Wildlife Conservation
• 1994 - Resolution on the Canadian Museum of Nature
• 1994 - Resolution on High Intensity Oceanic Sounds
• 1994 - Participation by Government Biologists in Professional Organizations
• 1993 - Regarding Human Overpopulation
• 1992 - Regarding the Convention on Biological Diversity of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
• 1992 - Endangered Species Act Reauthorization
• 1991 - Resolution in Support of the National Institutes for the Environment
• 1991 - Conservation of Biological Diversity
• 1990 - Resolution Urging Support of Legislation for a National Institute for the Environment (NIE)
• 1990 - Resolution on the Value of Mammalian Research and the Humane Treatment of Research Animals
• 1990 - Resolution on Reauthorization and Funding of the Fish & Wildlife Conservation Act of 1980
• 1989 - Resolution to Discontinue the Use of Sea Lion Rock in the Copalis National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) as a Bombing Practice Target by the U.S. Navy
• 1988 - Protection of Hawaiian Monk Seal Pupping and Nursing Habitat from Human Disturbance at Kure Atoll, Hawaii
• 1988 - Conservation of Critical Mammalian Habitats of the Trans-Mexican Neovolcanic Belt
• 1988 - Conservación de Hábitats Críticos para Mamíferos en el Eje Neovolcánico Transmexicano
• 1987 - Reintroduction of the Red Wolf (Canis rufus) in the United States
• 1987 - Expansion of Critical Habitat for the Hawaiian Monk Seal
• 1987 - Conservation of the Rhinoceros (Perissodactyla - Rhinocerotidae)
• 1986 - Tropical Deforestation and Biological Diversity Bills
• 1986 - Resolution in Support of Conservation Efforts on Behalf of the Endangered Philippine Visayan Spotted Deer
• 1986 - Recovery and Restoration of the Black-footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes)
• 1986 - Re-authorization and Funding for the Endangered Species Act
• 1986 - Re-authorization and Funding for the 1980 Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act
• 1985 - Resolution Supporting Conservation of Critical Habitats for Australian Rainforest Mammals
• 1984 - Resolution Supporting the International Environmental Protection Act of 1983
• 1984 - Resolution Supporting Designation of Critical Habitat for the Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal
• 1984 - Resolution Supporting Continuation of the U.S. Man and Biosphere Program
• 1984 - Resolution Supporting a Biological Survey of the United States
• 1984 - Resolution Regarding the National Parks of Haiti
• 1984 - Resolution on Attendance and Partiipation of U.S. Government Scientists at Professional Meetings
• 1984 - Resolution in Support of Maintaining Mammals in Captivity for Benefits to Society in Education and Scientific Research
• 1984 - Resolution in Support of Listing the Guadalupe Fur Seal as an Endangered Species
• 1982 - Endangerd Species Act
• 1982 - Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Program
• 1981 - Resolution to Protect Black-footed Ferret
• 1978 - Resolution to Point Out that the U. S. Coast Guard Loran Station on Green Island, Kure Atoll, Should be Closed to save the local Hawaiian Monk Seal Colony
• 1978 - Resolution Supporting Conservation Efforts in Mexico
• 1977 - Resolution Supporting Efforts in Conserving the Lion Tamarin
• 1977 - Resolution Supporting Efforts in Conserving the Chacoan Peccary
• 1977 - Resolution Supporting Conservation Efforts in Surinam
• 1977 - Resolution Supporting Conservation Efforts in Peru
• 1977 - Resolution Supporting Conservation Efforts in Costa Rica
• 1977 - Resolution Supporting Conservation Efforts in Amazonia, Brazil
• 1976 - Resolution to Support and Strengthen the Administration of the Endangered Species Act
• 1976 - Resolution to Encourage the Management of Wildlife Ecosystems
• 1976 - Resolution to Encourage Canada to Protect Endangered Species
• 1976 - Resolution Requesting the Mexican Government to Protect Endangered Species
• 1976 - Resolution on Porpoise Mortality Associated with Yellowfin Tuna Fishing
• 1976 - Resolution Addressed to the Republic of Haiti
• 1975 - Resolution on Trade in Endangered Species
• 1975 - Resolution on Regulation of Scientific Collecting
• 1975 - Resolution on Protection of Endangered Species in Indochina
• 1975 - Resolution on Conservation of the Wolf
• 1974 - Of Concern Regarding Decline of Federal Funding for Basic Science
• 1974 - For Support of Efforts to Repair Adverse Environmental Effects of Surface Disturbances Caused by the Exploration of Fossil Energy from the Earth
• 1974 - For Support of Efforts to Evaluate Free-roaming Equine Populations on Federal Lands
• 1974 - For Support of Ecological Reserves in Canadian Arctic
• 1974 - For Preservation of Voucher Specimens in Environmental Studies
• 1973 - To Appoint a Committee to Study Future Management of San Miguel Island
• 1973 - Science and Religion
• 1973 - For the Proper Management of Puget Sound Killer Whale Populations
• 1973 - For the Preservation of Wilderness Wildlife Values in the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge (HINWR)
• 1973 - For Support of Efforts to Limit Free-roaming Equine Populations on Federal Lands
• 1973 - For Protecting Marine Mammals on their Breeding Grounds
• 1973 - Against the Harassment of Marine Mammals for Photographic Purposes
• 1972 - Resolution on the Giant Panda
• 1972 - Resolution on Proposed Release of Axis Deer on the Island of Hawaii
• 1972 - Resolution on Laguna Ojo de Liebre - a Whale Refuge
• 1972 - Resolution on Establishing Management Policies for Red Wolves
• 1972 - Resolution on Antarctic Seals
• 1971 - Resolution on Whaling
• 1971 - Resolution on Management of Marine Mammals
• 1971 - Resolution on Gray Whale Calving Grounds
• 1971 - Resolution on Game Management and Hunting Activities
• 1971 - Resolution on Collecting and Export of New Guinea Wildlife
• 1970 - Resolution to Establish Big Thicket National Park
• 1970 - Resolution Regarding Actions of the IUCN
• 1970 - Resolution on United States Whale Research
• 1970 - Resolution on Population Growth
• 1970 - Resolution on Action by the IUCN Regarding Circumpolar Lands
• 1970 - For a Federal Marine Wildlife Laboratory
• 1969 - Resolution to the International Whaling Commission concerning Blue Whales and the need for an International Observer Program
• 1969 - Resolution Supporting Creation of a Channel Islands National Park
• 1969 - Resolution of Sincere Appreciation to the ASM Trustees
• 1969 - Resolution of Greetings and Thanks to all Living Charter Members of the ASM
• 1969 - Resolution in Support of Further Research on Red Wolves in the Gulf Coast of Texas
• 1969 - Resolution concerning the Santa Barbara Oil Spill
• 1969 - Resolution concerning the Indiana Bat
• 1969 - Resolution Commending and Endorsing Policy Statements by The Wildlife Society
• 1968 - Resolution concerning Oil Exploration in Bristol Bay
• 1968 - Resolution concerning Harvest of Pinnipeds in the Bering and Chukchi Seas
• 1968 - Resolution concerning Columbian White-tailed Deer
• 1968 - Resolution concerning a Bounty on Wolves in Minnesota
• 1967 - Resolution on Legislation Preventing Importation of Endangered Species
• 1967 - Resolution on creating a National Park or Wildlife Sanctuary at Scammon's Lagoon, Sonora, Mexico
• 1967 - Resolution on Control of Red Wolves
• 1967 - Resolution concerning Predator Control in Ontario, Canada
• 1967 - Resolution concerning Capture of Small Cetaceans for Display, Scientific, and Educational Purposes
• 1967 - Resolution concerning Black-footed Ferrets and Control of their Key Prey, Prairie Dogs
• 1966 - Resolution concerning the need for Further Research on Polar Bears
• 1966 - Resolution concerning the Fur Seal Act of 1965
• 1966 - Resolution concerning Pelagic Whaling in the North Pacific Ocean
• 1966 - Resolution concerning Marine Mammals of the Bering and Chukchi Seas
• 1966 - Resolution concerning Gray Whales in Scammon's Lagoon
• 1966 - Resolution concerning DOD Ingress to Insular National Wildlife Refuges
• 1965 - Resolution to the International Whaling Commission on its Failure to meet Legal and Moral Obligations to Global Whale Populations
• 1965 - Resolution to President Johnson on the Sensitivity of Island Biota
• 1965 - Resolution on holding the 1972 Winter Olympic Games in Banff National Park
• 1965 - Resolution on Carnivore Conservation
• 1965 - Resolution concerning Hunting of Kaibab Squirrels
• 1965 - Resolution concerning Grizzly Bears in Sierra del Nico
• 1965 - Resolution concerning Conservation of Red Wolf
• 1964 - Resolution on Conservation of African Wildlife
• 1964 - Resolution Concerning Lowland Gorilla
• 1964 - Resolution concerning Bat Banding Programs
• 1963 - Resolution on Minimizing Injury to Wildlife from Pesticide Use
• 1963 - Resolution Concerning Ungulate Control in National Parks
• 1959 - Resolution in Support of True Prairie National Park, Kansas
• 1959 - Resolution in Support of the U.S. Wilderness Preservation System
• 1959 - Resolution in Support of Cape Cod National Seashore
• 1959 - Resolution Concerning Extensive Use of Dieldrin in the Southeastern United States for Fire Ant Control
• 1959 - Resolution Commending the Honorable Fred A. Seaton, U.S. Secretary of the Interior, for Support of the Arctic Wildlife Range, Alaska
• 1958 - Resolutoin to the Newly Formed State of Alaska Urging Development of a Natural Resources Administrative Body
• 1957 - Resolution concerning Wilderness Areas in Northeastern Alaska
• 1957 - Resolution concerning Barren-Ground Caribou in Canada
• 1956 - Resolution concerning Serengeti National Park
• 1956 - Resolution concerning Bighorn Sheep in Kanaskis Game Preserve
• 1956 - Resolution Commending the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Alaska Game Commission for Protecting Wolverines
• 1955 - Resolution on the Wichita Mountains
• 1955 - Resolution on Wild European Rabbits
• 1954 - Resolution on Proposed Echo Park Dam in Dinosaur National Monument
• 1954 - Resolution in Support of the Arctic International Wilderness Area in Northeastern Alaska

• ASM letter regarding the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area
• ASM to President Lopez Obrador - funding of science in Mexico (English)
• ASM to President Lopez Obrador - funding of science in Mexico (Spanish)
• ASM statement concerning proposed oil and gas exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
• ASM letter commenting on proposed definition of habitat for the ESA
• Joint letter with SCBNA pertaining to revisions to the recovery plan for Mexican wolves
• Joint letter with SCBNA and AOS on proposed changes to regulations guiding implementation of the ESA - Sept 2018
• ASM letter commenting on potential Red Wolf recovery plans, July 2018
• Brief regarding supplemental feeding of the Jackson elk herd and implications on CWD and other wildlife in the GYE, May 2018
• Joint ASM and SCBNA letter on taxonomic uncertainty of Florida panther, August 2017
• Joint ASM and SCBNA letter commenting on Mexican Wolf draft recovery plan, August 2017
• ASM letter commenting on conservation of the Alexander Archipelago wolf population, August 2017
• ASM letter commenting on proposed listing of the wolverine as threatened under ESA, November 2016
• Joint ASM/SCBNA letter commenting on proposed rule to delist Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bear population, 10 May 2016
• ASM letter expressing concern over culling Mauritius fruit bats, 25 Nov 2015
• ASM response to AK Dept. of Fish & Game decision to harvest more Alexander Archipelago wolves despite our request, 1 Nov. 2015
• Kim Titus of Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game response to ASM request to close season on Alexander Archipelago wolves, 22 Oct. 2015
• ASM letter requesting closure of federal subsistence hunt on Alexander Archipelago wolves, 24 Aug. 2015
• ASM position letter on management actions for Alexander Archipelago wolves and listing the subspecies as endangered, 7 July 2015
• ASM letter commenting on lethal control of carnivores in Idaho, 14 Jan. 2015
• ASM comment on old-growth logging transition on the Tongass National Forest, 20 Jan. 2015
• ASM letter commenting on proposed revision to the nonessential experimental population of the Mexican Wolf, 22 Sept. 2014
• ASM letter commenting on listing determination for the wolverine, 31 July 2014
• ASM letter on proposed revision to the nonessential experimental population of the Mexican wolf, 16 Dec. 2013
• ASM letter proposing the delay of wolf delisting, 15 Dec. 2013
• ASM letter requesting delay of blanket de-listing of gray wolves and continued protection of Mexican wolves, 22 May 2013
• ASM letter to USFWS in support of listing the wolverine as threatened, 6 May 2013
• ASM public comment on Oregon's Wildlife Services' environmental assessment of gray wolves, 7 Sept. 2012
• ASM position letter to Alaska Governor in support of the Alaska Wildlife Scientific Advisory Committee, 14 August 2012
• Response letter from USFWS regarding recovery planning for Mexican Wolf, 27 July 2012
• Joint letter to USFWS requesting recovery planning for Mexican Wolf, 20 June 2012
• USDA Wildlife Services' answers to questions from ASM Conservation ahead of June 2012 forum on predator control
• ASM Position letter on Wyoming gray wolf delisting,15 May 2012
• Letter from USDA-APHIS Deputy Admin. in response to March 2012 letter urging redirection of management operations, 26 April 2012
• Letter from Conservation Committee chair in response to Administrator Clay, 7 May 2012
• ASM letter urging the redirection of management operations under USDA’s Wildlife Services, 21 March 2012
• ASM letter commenting on the proposed re-interpretation of Threatened and Endangered species, 1 March 2012
• A mammalogist's view of the process of extinction
• ASM letter commenting on proposed rule to designate N. Rocky Mntn population of Gray Wolf as a distinct, 25 Nov. 2008
• ASM letter expressing concerns to proposed rule amending consultation procedures relating to Endang. Species Act, 14 Oct. 2008
• ASM letter commending efforts to protect migration corridor of pronghorn in western Wyoming,15 April 2008
• ASM letter requesting USFWS to draft a recovery plan for the jaguar, 27 Feb. 2008
• ASM letter expressing support to list the polar bear as a threatened species, 2 April 2007
• ASM letter opposing removal of Preble's jumping mouse from threatened status, 26 April 2005
• ASM letter outlining concerns in opposition of delisting of gray wolf, 15 Nov. 2004
• USDA response letter expressing concerns of prairie dog management plans & how they may impact black-footed ferret, 4 Nov. 2004
• ASM letter expressing concerns of prairie dog management plans and how they may impact black-footed ferrets, 30 Sept. 2004
• ASM letter expressing concern enhancement of survival permits for foreign species listed as endangered, 17 May 2004
• ASM letter offering support to adopt policy to reduce the negative impact of feral cats, 20 May 2003
• ASM letter expressing concern about the management of the Northwest National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, 29 March 2003
• ASM letter commenting on proposed changes to EndangeredSpecies and Pesticide Regulation, 24 March 2003

• Policy Engagement
• Networking (People and Information)
• Visioning the Future

COMMITTEE STRUCTURE

1. Policy Engagement
   ASM Workshops:

• Island Endemism and Mammals
• Energy Development
• Urbanization
• Migration

2. Networking & Information Provider
   Building capacity and connections within and outside ASM to engage science in policy processes.

3. Visioning the Future

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 and Comments
(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.

• The 2022 Annual Report of the Conservation Committee
• The 2021 Annual Report of the Conservation Committee
• The 2020 Annual Report of the Conservation Committee
• The 2019 Annual Report of the Conservation Committee
• The 2018 Annual Report of the Conservation Committee
• The 2017 Annual Report of the Conservation Committee
• The 2016 Annual Report of the Conservation Committee
• The 2015 Annual Report of the Conservation Committee
• The 2014 Annual Report of the Conservation Committee
• The 2013 Annual Report of the Conservation Committee