How do we make good conservation decisions?

To help answer this question, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has developed a series of web conferences to engage practitioners in the process of structured decision making using a variety of case studies. Structured Decision Making (SDM) is a decision analysis framework that we can apply to conservation problems to integrate strong science with values, laws, and policies. Conservation issues often involve multiple goals and actions, levels of uncertainty, and a complex understanding of systems. SDM helps conservation professionals develop a process to determine objectives, alternatives, and optimal solutions for environmental issues.

“Adaptive Management to Conserve Red Knots”

Tuesday, February 21st, 1:00-2:30PM Eastern

Description:  Since 1998, the horseshoe crab fishery has been managed cooperatively by Atlantic coast states through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.  The ASMFC recognizes this resource as having multiple objectives, including supporting populations of shorebirds.  Because much of the concern about a reduced horseshoe crab population centered on the ecosystem services (food for shorebirds) provided by high abundance of horseshoe crabs within Delaware Bay, a traditional single-species assessment was not sufficient for managing harvest of the Delaware Bay population of horseshoe crabs.  In order to factor in shorebird needs, an effort began in 2007 (Breese et al. 2007) to develop a multi-species approach to managing horseshoe crabs by employing the tools of structured decision making and adaptive management. This effort provides recommended harvests that are optimal with respect to the objectives of maintaining the crab fishery and providing sufficient resources to maintain viable populations of Red Knots.

*Participants must register no later than 12PM Eastern on February 20th in order to receive access to the webinar.

*Availability is limited to 200 names so register early and share a phone line when possible.