Founded in 1937, The Wildlife Society (TWS) is an international non-profit scientific and educational association dedicated to excellence in wildlife stewardship through science and education. The Wildlife Society works to improve wildlife conservation in North America by advancing the science of wildlife management, promoting continuing education of wildlife professionals, and advocating for sound, science-based wildlife policy. The organization also encourages professional growth through certification, peer-reviewed publications, conferences, and working groups.
Society members are dedicated to sustainable management of wildlife resources and their habitats. Ecology is the primary scientific discipline of the wildlife profession; therefore, the interests of the Society embrace the interactions of all organisms with their natural environments. The Society supports the belief that wildlife, in its myriad forms, is basic to the maintenance of a human culture that provides quality living.
Mission and Objectives
The mission of The Wildlife Society is to enhance the ability of wildlife professionals to conserve biodiversity, sustain productivity, and ensure responsible use of wildlife resources for the benefit of society. The mission is implemented through five goals:
- Develop and maintain professional standards for wildlife research and management.
- Enhance knowledge and technical capabilities of wildlife managers.
- Advance professional stewardship of wildlife resources and their habitats.
- Advocate the use of sound biological information for wildlife policy decisions.
- Increase public awareness and appreciation of the wildlife profession.
The principal objectives of the Society, as they appear in the current Bylaws, are to:
- Develop and promote sound stewardship of wildlife resources and of the environments upon which wildlife and humans depend;
- Undertake an active role in preventing human-induced environmental degradation;
- Increase awareness and appreciation of wildlife values; and
- Seek the highest standards in all activities of the wildlife profession.
Society purposes, objectives, and activities are guided by a strategic plan and implemented by:
- Disseminating current information through publications and other activities;
- Sponsoring or co-sponsoring wildlife and related natural resource conferences;
- Providing scientifically-based information and recommendations to legislative leaders;
- Cooperating with other wildlife organizations and agencies to achieve mutual goals;
- Providing opportunities for wildlife biologists to enhance their professional credentials through a Certification Program, and Professional Development Program; and
- Increasing public awareness and appreciation of wildlife conservation and management.
History
The Wildlife Society was founded during the 1930s, a time of growing interest in the restoration of wildlife populations and the emergence of the new profession of game management. Influential leaders in the fledgling conservation movement – among them Aldo Leopold and J.N. (Ding) Darling – triggered by mounting concern over the decimation of wildlife caused by severe drought, widespread poaching, and deteriorating habitats, saw the need to gather and disseminate scientific knowledge.
The Wildlife Society, initially known as The Society of Wildlife Specialists, was launched at the North American Wildlife Conference in Washington, D.C., in 1936. A year later, in St. Louis, Missouri, the Specialists became The Wildlife Society. A constitution and bylaws were adopted in 1937, and the Society was incorporated on March 25, 1948. A 50-year history of the Society (1937-1987) can be found in the Wildlife Society Bulletin .
Over time, The Wildlife Society has broadened its programs beyond its original focus on scientific publications to include:
- Certification of wildlife biologists;
- Continuing education of wildlife professionals at an annual conference;
- Training opportunities through a network of over 50 chapters, 90 student chapters, and a dozen working groups;
- An awards program recognizing outstanding contributions to the profession of wildlife management;
- A leadership institute to train aspiring leaders in the wildlife field;
- A renewed and strengthened attention on advocating for science-based wildlife policy.
Just as the profession has evolved from a focus on game management to encompass all wildlife species and ecosystems, so too has the Society’s outlook broadened into these areas. Through it all, The Wildlife Society has remained dedicated to excellence in wildlife stewardship through science and education.
Emblem
The Society’s broad interests are depicted in its unique emblem, featuring Egyptian hieroglyphics. The figures, from top to bottom, represent mammals, birds, fish, and flowering plants. While The Wildlife Society generally doesn’t address fish conservation, which is recognized as a distinct science, the Society is actively involved in the conservation of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and ecosystems.
Organization
The Wildlife Society is governed by an elected Council of four officers (President, President-Elect, Vice President, and Past President) and representatives from each of the Society’s eight North American sections (Northeast, Southeastern, North Central, Central Mountains and Plains, Southwest, Northwest, Western, and Canada). A professional staff directs and implements TWS programs from the headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland.
Many of the Society's programs rely significantly upon the dedication and expertise of members. Members serve on committees that prepare technical analyses of current conservation issues, recommend changes to Society programs, and select recipients for TWS awards. The Society's members also volunteer their time as scientific editors of Society publications and as hosts for the Annual Conference.
Members have an opportunity for greater involvement in TWS activities through a network of more than 50 chapters, 90 student chapters, and 19 working groups. Chapters and student chapters are organized by geographical boundaries (generally a state, province, college, or university), whereas working groups are organized by subject area (such as biological diversity, wildlife damage management, and wildlife toxicology). Five wildlife conclaves (Western, Central, Northeastern, Southeastern, and Southwestern) are informal assemblages of TWS student chapters that meet annually to expand students’ horizons and promote camaraderie. Conclave activities include seminars, field trips, a quiz bowl, and other events.
Members
The Society’s members are highly trained and dedicated professionals from a diverse range of wildlife disciplines and expertise. They are active in the pressing wildlife issues of today including: sustainable use of wildlife and ecosystems, management of public lands, conservation on private lands, recovery of endangered species, restoration of degraded habitats, and management of abundant wildlife.
TWS members recognize that humans, like all plants and animals, depend upon their environments for survival and well-being, and that wildlife, in its many forms, contributes to the quality of human life, both indirectly as an integral component of healthy environments and directly through traditional and modern roles in human cultures and economies. Their choice of a career in wildlife conservation is often motivated by an understanding of these ecological principles, a love of the outdoors, and a deeply rooted sense of the intrinsic value of wild creatures.
Certification
For the qualified wildlife professional, The Wildlife Society offers a peer-review Certification Program. Certification constitutes official recognition that a wildlife biologist meets the Society’s rigorous standards for education, experience, and ethics. The primary objective of the program is to provide private clients, employers, and the public with access to qualified professionals and reliable advice in matters concerning wildlife resources.
Certification by The Wildlife Society is based on a person’s education and experience. Three categories are offered:
- Certified Wildlife Biologist – The requirements for this certificate include:
- Completion of rigorous academic requirements at a college/university.
- Experience as a wildlife biologist for five years.
- Agreement to comply with The Wildlife Society’s Code of Ethics for Wildlife Professionals.
The applicant’s coursework and experience are thoroughly examined by the Society’s Certification Review Board, a group of long-standing and highly-qualified members who represent a broad range of wildlife backgrounds. Once certified, the applicant must continue enhancing his or her knowledge of the most current wildlife management principles and techniques in order to recertify in five years.
- Associate Wildlife Biologist – The requirements for this certificate include:
- Completion of rigorous academic requirements at a college/university.
- Agreement to comply with The Wildlife Society’s Code of Ethics for wildlife professionals.
The applicant’s coursework is thoroughly examined by the Society’s C
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