Best Practices Survey—Promising First Step toward Developing Guidelines

• Main Authors: Schaefer, Jame, Higgins, Susan
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: e-Publications@Marquette 2016
• Subjects: Religion; Religious Thought; Theology and Philosophy of Religion; Schaefer; Survey Point; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://epublications.marquette.edu/theo_fac/677; https://epublications.marquette.edu/context/theo_fac/article/1679/viewcontent/Schaefer_10058.pdf

SCB's Religion and Conservation Biology Working Group (RCBWG) released a summary of the its Best Practices Survey of SCB members on engaging faith communities. Conducted on behalf of RCBWG from May 31-September 10, the results of this survey underscore the benefits to conserving biological diversity when researchers and practitioners relate positively to faith leaders and communities. Respondents to the survey also shared their approaches to engaging leaders and members of faith communities in ways that might be helpful to other SCB members. Societal support for conservation has become increasingly vital for approval, collaboration, and advocacy of scientific solutions aimed at mitigating threats to the loss of biological diversity on the land and in the water. Results of the survey point to religious and native faith communities as allies in this quest. Prepared by Jame Schaefer (Marquette University) and Susan Higgins (Center for Large Landscape Conservation) who serve on the RCBWG Board, “Best Practices Survey—Promising First Step toward Developing Guidelines” provides an overview of the responses to ten questions submitted by thirty-nine SCB members who have engaged leaders and members of faith communities in conservation projects. The faith communities represent the major world religions--Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism--and a diversity of native spiritualities including Australian Aborigine and Native American. The projects on which SCB members reported occurred on all continents except Antarctica. Among the foci are aging polar bears, bison, climate change, coral rehabilitation, fish, iguana, kangaroo, rattlesnakes, terrestrial vertebrates, wildlife used for bush meat, forest management and restoration, restoration of rivers, and protective management of shrines and sacred places. The Best Practices Survey was launched by the RCBWG as the first step of the three-year Best Practices Project aimed at producing guidelines for SCB members to consider when planning and conducting ...