Conservation Challenges Forums … 2021 Edition

Students in Conservation Biology in Practice will lead 10 public forums of current issues in conservation biology between M 11.08 and M 11.22.  These events are open to the public by Zoom , with discussion and interaction encouraged.  Each is 35minutes in length.   We also encourage you to complete this brief feedback form after the forum.

 

Although the forums are over, most have an associated website you can visit. 

Links are at the end of each forum description.

 

Session 1.  Monday 11.08

• 09:40-10:15 – The Exotic Pet Trade.  You likely know Joe Exotic from  Tiger King, but how much do you know about the policies and impact of exotic pet trade? We will introduce the exotic pet trade, compare NC policies to those of other state and countries, and highlight the trade’s impact on conservation efforts. By the end of our interactive forum, you will have enough knowledge to craft your own opinions on the exotic pet trade, current NC policies, and what might be done to ensure a better tomorrow.  [ Visit their Website! ]

 

• 10:25-11:00 – The Case for Non-native Species in Conservation.  We will discuss the role of non-natives species in conservation by examining six non-native species being used in conservation across North Carolina: brown trout in the Mountains,  coyotes in the Piedmont, and pacific oysters in the Coastal Plain. Based on this examination, we will present some of the common themes surrounding the use of non-native species in conservation. [ Visit their Website! ]

 

Session 2.  Wednesday 11.10

• 09:40-10:15 – How Climate Change Affects Pollinators, Pests, & NC Agriculture.  During our interactive forum, we will have two different stations guiding you through how climate change is affecting insect pests and native bees in North Carolina. After these activities, we will tie it all together by talking about how these changes are disturbing agriculture in North Carolina and what you can do to support native pollinators. By the end of our forum, we hope you will have a better understanding of how agriculture will be affected by climate change from a conservation perspective.  [ Visit their Website! ]

 

• 10:25-11:00 – West vs East – Regional Differences in Fire Management, Conservation, History, & Future.  The human ability to use and manipulate fire has profoundly shaped our societies, our cultures, and our environment. When mismanaged, the consequences are catastrophic. Join us to discuss the regional differences of fire history and management, how we got to where we are today, and what we can do about the future.  [ Listen to their Podcast! ]

 

Session 3.  Monday 11.15

• 09:40-10:15 – Capturing Connectivity: Do Corridors Connect Wildlife? The changes people make to the landscape to support their own existence can cause harm to wildlife and their habitat. Wildlife corridors have been offered as a potential way to reduce, or reverse, the effects that habitat loss and fragmentation can have on wildlife populations. We will discuss the reasons why corridors are implemented as conservation tools through various case studies from around the world. They are thought to prevent biodiversity loss, to connect isolated habitats, to keep genetic diversity amongst populations, and more. We will discuss the efficacy of wildlife corridors as a conservation tool for achieving these goals and their effects on various wildlife species. [ Visit their StoryMap! ]

 

• 10:25-11:00 – Conservation Opinions – Charisma & Education. There is a reason the World Wildlife Fund has a panda as their logo and Disney films are full of smiling sea turtles and elephants. This forum presents the results of a semester-long research project that investigates the influence of factors including animal charisma, endangerment status, and education level on student willingness to donate to charismatic vs less charismatic species. Come ready to discuss, learn, and see how your willingness to donate to protect species compares to our survey group! [ Visit their Website! ]

 

Session 4.  Wednesday 11.17

• 09:40-10:15 – Beach Pollution is not Always What it Seems.  When you think of beach pollution, the first things you think of might be plastic water bottles, plastic straws, or snack wrappers.  Although this initial understanding is supported by trash art sculptures and social media posts, this may not be the majority of pollution you would actually find on a beach.  In a search for answers, our team collected trash along the North Carolina coast and discovered a much more surprising trash distribution.  During our forum, we will reveal what we actually found on our cleanup project, present an artwork that represents that trash distribution in a new way, and discuss what this means for our environment moving forward.  [Scroll down to see their art piece! ]

 

• 10:25-11:00 – Coastal Degradation in North Carolina. The coast of North Carolina, known for its unique barrier island system, is not only a popular tourist destination but also an important wildlife habitat for animals like the American Oystercatcher, Loggerhead Sea Turtle, and Southern Flounder. These species and others are affected by coastal degradation caused by human development, climate change, pollution, and unsustainable tourism. We will examine a few species to illustrate the effects of coastal degradation and explore some possible solutions such as beach closures and education of the public.  [ Visit their Storymap! ]

 

Session 5.  Monday 11.22

• 09:40-10:15 – How the Public Sees the Role of Zoos in Conservation. Do you love zoos? Do you hate them? Do you want to learn more about them? Then come to our forum that focuses on the modern-day perception of zoos by the public. We will touch on key elements such as the importance of zoos to conservation, how the public engages with zoos, demographics of zoo visitors, and more!  We offer suggestions about how to narrow existing gaps between zoo’s conservation efforts and the public. We hope to see you there!  [ Visit their Website! ]

 

• 10:25-11:00 – Mining Gold in the Amazon. Gold mining has been an ongoing conservation issue in the Peruvian Amazon. As mining operations grow, consequences are amplified and the ramifications reach well beyond the mines’ boundaries. During this forum we will be discussing the methods of mining, the effect on the environment and the effects on humans. This will lead into an open discussion on possible solutions that aid in preservation of the rainforest. [ Visit his blog! ]

 

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About the Forums

Controversies in Conservation Forums were started in 2014 by students in the Conservation Biology in Practice (FW333) course at NC State University.   Students and forum participants examined a variety of contentious conservation topics, including conservation triage, wildlife trafficking, and feral cats.  In 2018, the series was renamed Conservation Challenges to allow broader examination of conservation issues and practices, including those that might not be especially controversial.  The focus on encouraging audience participation remained.  In 2021, the format was changed to allow every student team to present a forum.  Forums were shortened so that we could include two per class session.  Still, the focus on audience interaction remained.  

 

2020 Conservation Challenges Forums

• Surrogate Species Approaches to Conservation
• How do Strict Poaching Laws Impact Disenfranchised Communities of Kenya?

2019 Conservation Challenges Forums

• Implications of Proposed Revisions to the Endangered Species Act
• CITES & The African Elephant Controversy
• The Conservation-Poverty Nexus

2018 Conservation Challenges Forums

• Overall Theme: The Challenges of Non-Native and Invasive Species
• A Massive Challenge Begets Massive Response
• How do we Handle Native Species that Behave Like Invasives?
• Should we rethink our approaches to non-native species?

2017 Controversies in Conservation Forums

• Defeating invasive species, one bite at a time
• Ecotourism: Helping or Hurting?

2016 Controversies in Conservation Forums

• Interstate 540 and the Dwarf wedgemussel: Who should get out of the way?
• Is it time to go “all in” on Red wolf recovery?
• Dams, Climate Change, & Endangered Species: A Study in Trade-offs

2015 Controversies in Conservation Forums

• Beach Driving at Cape Hatteras National Seashore
• Wildlife Trafficking & Indigenous People
• Killing for Conservation?

2014 Controversies in Conservation Forums

• Conservation Triage: Should we Give up on Some Species?
• Red Wolf Recovery Program: Cancel or Continue?
• The Great Cat Debate: Should Wildlife & Pets Mix?

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