This year, the Museum’s Center for Biodiversity and Conservation (CBC) celebrates 20 years dedicated to mitigating critical threats to global biodiversity.
Led by Director Eleanor Sterling, the CBC’s long-standing programs realize the full lifecycle of conservation action: identifying needs and issues, engaging partners in local communities, researching, disseminating findings, and monitoring results to track impact and identify future direction.
The CBC’s team of experts conduct site-specific conservation work in Palmyra Atoll (pictured below), the Solomon Islands, British Columbia, The Bahamas, South America, and mainland Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam and Laos, as well as in the New York City metropolitan area.
When approaching complex conservation challenges, the CBC builds local networks and develops community-based stewardship to create solutions that are both environmentally and culturally relevant. In addition, the CBC promotes open-access resources, such as research tools and training materials, to promote local ownership of conservation projects. The CBC also contributes to biodiversity conservation in another crucial way: training future conservation professionals who can multiply the original impact by training many others over time.
The Network of Conservation Educators and Practitioners (NCEP) is just one such effort, with programs in Bolivia, Laos, Madagascar, Mexico, Peru, Rwanda, the Solomon Islands, the United States, and Vietnam.
A version of this story appeared in the Winter 2013 issue of Rotunda, the Member magazine.
On Tuesday, April 9, and Wednesday, April 10, 2013, the CBC hosts the Milstein Science Symposium: Understanding Ecological and Social Resilience in Island Systems: Informing Policy and Sharing Lessons for Management.
The Milstein Science Symposium is proudly sponsored by the Irma and Paul Milstein Family.