Photo credit: Inari Nousiainen
Approved by Europe Region members on June 20th 2024
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Mission
The mission of the European Region of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) is to promote conservation science and practice and its application to conserve biological diversity in Europe. SCB Europe also acknowledges that the success of biodiversity conservation is intertwined with and relies on a commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ). This includes greater access, inclusion, and empowerment of people of many views, vantage points, identities and geographies who actively participate in biodiversity conservation with equal opportunity and access at all levels of the Region’s structure and membership. The principal goals of the Region are:
Section 1. Voting Members. All members of the Society for Conservation Biology Europe Region are voting members, entitled to be members of Chapters and Working Groups, to serve on the Europe Region Board, and to vote on official matters affecting the Region.
Section 2. Expulsion. Membership in the Region shall terminate upon the occurrence of any of the following events: (1) a member’s notification of their decision to terminate their membership delivered to the President or Secretary of the Region, personally or by email, (2) a determination by two-thirds of the Region Board that the member has engaged in conduct materially and/or seriously prejudicial to the interests or purposes of the Region.
Governance
Section 1. Region Board. Up to twelve members shall constitute the Board of the Region. The Board composition should aim to achieve a good balance of diversity dimensions, including geographies and gender balance. All Board members shall be voting members of the Region. The term of office shall be three years with the option of a further period of three years through re-election. The term of office as a Board member can be extended beyond this if that member is elected to President Elect.
Section 2. Terms of Responsibility. New Members of the Board shall sign a Terms of Responsibility upon taking service in the Board. The Region Board may vote on the expulsion of a Region Board Member, by vote of two-thirds of the Region Board, if a Member has failed to comply with the Terms of Responsibility.
Section 3. Officers. There shall be five officers: President, President Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and DEIJ officer. If the office of President becomes vacant, the Board has the authority to appoint an Acting President for a period of six months with the possibility of renewal until the role of President is filled. The President Elect shall be elected by Region members every three years. If there are no nominees for President Elect or if no nominee is elected, the Board can appoint one of the existing Board members to the role of President Elect, voted on by the Board. The term of office for the President Elect is one year, followed by three years as President. At the end of the one-year term, the Board will vote for the confidence of that member continuing to term as President. Along with the President and President Elect, a Secretary, Treasurer, and a DEIJ officer will comprise the Executive Committee (EC). The Secretary, Treasurer, and DEIJ officer on the EC will be filled by existing Board members who are nominated by the President, and voted on by the Board. The DEIJ officer will also serve as DEIJ Committee chair. Those who were voted to hold an EC seat do so until the end of their respective terms. Due consideration will be given by the President to ensure nominations made for seats on the EC reflect the diversity of members on the Board. All officers must be voting members of the Region for their entire term of office.
Section 4. Strategic plan. The Region activities are guided by a strategic plan, which is a living document forming the basis of the actions of the Board and its Committees. The strategic plan identifies goals and tasks for the development of the Region and includes both short-term and long-term goals.
Section 1. Nominations. Nominations for Board members and President Elect shall be solicited by the Region Board. Nominations can be made by any Region Member including self-nominations, and provided within a duly-announced deadline. All nominees must be voting members of the Region. The list of nominations shall be submitted by the Secretary to the membership at least one month prior to the deadline for receipt of ballots.
Section 2. Balloting. Ballots shall be received from the Region Members by a duly announced deadline and shall be counted by at least two members of the Region Board or agent(s) authorized by the Society’s Board of Governors. The President shall appoint a replacement to count ballots for any member of the Region Board who has been nominated to ensure no conflict of interest. The candidate(s) receiving the largest number of votes on the ballots shall be declared elected. In case of ties, the Board will choose at a majority vote the elected candidate(s) taking into account the Region’s diversity, equity, inclusion and justice guidelines.
Section 3. Vacancies. All vacancies occurring during an officer’s term shall be filled by appointment by the Region Board.
Section 4. Special Elections. A special election may be held at any time during a period of dormancy (see Article 11) to reactivate the Region.
Duties of Officers
Section 1. President. The President shall organize and preside over meetings and mailings intended to substitute for meetings. The president shall also have an overview of the tasks and duties of the other Board members. The President, or another Board member designated by the President, shall serve as the Region’s voting representative on the Society’s Regional Council and the Global Network Board in accordance with Section 5.
Section 2. President Elect. The President Elect shall assist the President and perform their duties when they are absent.
Section 3. Secretary. The Secretary shall record minutes (or appoint someone to do so), administer correspondence of the Region, and maintain historical records and a list of members.
Section 4. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall maintain accounts, and collect and distribute funds for Region activities. The Treasurer shall coordinate fundraising activities, if any.
Section 5. DEIJ officer. The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice officer shall keep the DEIJ guidelines of the Region updated, serve as the contact person in Society actions related to DEIJ issues, and represent the board in the SCB Global DEIJ Committee.
Section 6. Representative on the Society’s Regional Council. The representative (the President or their designee, see Section 1) serves as a Member at Large on the Society’s Regional Council for the Global Network Board in accordance with the Society’s Bylaws. Only the representative may officially represent the Region on business of the Society.
Standing Committees
Section 1. Chairs and Membership. Standing committees shall be chaired by a member of the Region Board. Chairs shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Region Board. Committees shall be composed of interested members of the Region. The Chair shall be responsible for appointing the other members of the standing committee, and these members shall serve at the pleasure of the Chair. All standing committees shall, at any time, be accountable to the Region Board. The committees shall, when appropriate, strategically develop relationships with scientific, and other organizations that further the mission of the Region. Standing committees include Membership, Education and Student Affairs, Communications, Policy, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice committees.
Section 2. Charge of the Membership Committee. This committee shall be responsible for encouraging membership in both the Region and the Society, and establishment and oversight of local Chapters. The
committee shall assist the Secretary in maintaining the list of the Region’s membership and shall help facilitate any mailings to the membership. The committee shall be responsible for advertising the Board elections to the membership to broaden the nominee pool among the members.
Section 3. Charge of the Communications Committee. This committee shall facilitate the development of printed and electronic publications and media of the Region. This committee also shall work with other committees of both the Region and the Society to achieve outreach and marketing goals.
Section 4. Charge of the Policy Committee. This committee shall upon suggestions from Region Members, Chapters, and the Board or by its own initiative, decide to take action to explain the Region’s view on a particular issue or controversy. In the case of formal statements, these shall be prepared according to the procedures established within the Society.
Section 5. Charge of the Education and Student Affairs Committee. This committee shall facilitate and carry out initiatives designed to promote conservation education, encourage student participation in meetings, create opportunities for interaction among students and professionals, and administer student awards.
Section 6. Charge of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Committee. This committee shall keep the DEIJ guidelines updated, review all Region activities to ensure following of the DEIJ guidelines, be the primary contact point of the DEIJ officer of SCB Global Network Board, provide science-based recommendations for Region activities, advise on ECCB and other regional events, and provide updates for communications of the Region.
Section 7. The SCB Europe Region Executive Committee (EC) consists of five members, President (chair), President Elect (when present), Secretary, Treasurer, and DEIJ officer. The SCB Europe Region Board can transfer to the EC the rights to all decision-making about specific tasks, actions or ideas that ultimately influence the entire SCB Europe Region Board and its membership, but which are identified as being best decided on by the EC. The mandate for the EC taking a decision on any topic/question can be changed by the Board upon a vote during scheduled Board meetings. The EC shall inform the Board of their decisions and actions in a timely manner. All votes of the EC shall be decided by a simple majority (3 out of 5) of those voting, where members are able to vote yes, no, or abstain from voting. Three members shall constitute a quorum of the EC.
Ad hoc Committees and Chapters
Section 1. The Region Board, either by its own initiative or at the solicitation of the membership, may at any time decide to form an ad hoc committee with specific Terms of Reference. Committees shall be chaired by a voting member of the Region. Chairs shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Region Board. Committees shall be composed of interested members of the Region. The Chair shall be responsible for appointing the other members of the committee. All committees shall, at any time, be accountable to the Region Board.
Section 2. Any local Chapter established within the geographical limits of the Region should receive support from the Region on matters relating to the Society. The formal relations between Chapters, the Region and the Society are regulated in the Chapters’ Agreement, Bylaw and Charter.
Finances
The Region shall be supported by grants, contributions, and fundraising activities in accordance with the Region’s sponsorship policy. Funds of the Region shall be supervised by the officers (Article 3, Section 2), and shall be administered by the Treasurer. Financial records shall be reported to the membership in the annual report and as requested.
Policy.
Section 1. Definitions. A “Statement” is any public statement that reflects the position or view of the Region. “Public Advocacy” is any public activity by the Region in support of a Region Statement.
Section 2. Conditions for Declaration of Statements and Public Advocacy. The Region may make Statements and engage in Public Advocacy subject to the conditions outlined in the Society’s general Policy approval process. The Board and its Policy Committee should actively engage Chapters and Region’s Members to identify relevant topics for Policy statements.
Section 3. Reporting. The policy initiatives of the Region shall be reported to the Region Members and to the Society.
Meetings
Section 1. Annual Membership Meeting. A Members’ Meeting shall be held, or an alternative mechanism for conducting Region business and facilitating communication among members arranged, at least once every year.
Section 2. Procedure and Order of Business. Meetings and voting deadlines shall be announced at least one month in advance. At the beginning of each meeting, any Region or Society business shall be discussed prior to other scheduled agenda items. The business portion of each meeting shall be run by the President. The Section’s Bylaws shall be available at each meeting.
Section 3. Votes. All votes of the Region on matters not specified in the Bylaws shall be decided by a simple majority of those voting. Tie votes in Members’ Meetings or in meetings of the Region Board shall be decided based on the President’s vote.
Section 4. Quorum. 10% of the Region’s members (if the membership exceeds 150 individuals) or 15 members of the Region, including members represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum of the Region, and 50% of Region Board members a quorum of the Board.
Annual Report.
The Secretary in collaboration with the President and the Board shall file an annual report on the Region’s activities with the Society. The report shall be distributed to members via Region’s webpage.
Continuation/Dissolution
Section 1. Region Board Requirement. If the membership fails to elect a Region Board, the Region shall be considered dormant. At that time the outgoing Region Board shall forward the Region’s charter, bylaws, and remaining funds to the Society. The Region may be reactivated at any time within a period of two years by holding a Special Election. The purpose of the Special Election is to vote for a Region Board.
Section 2. Membership Requirement. If the membership falls below 100 for longer than two years, the Region shall be considered dormant. At that time the outgoing Region Board shall forward the Region’s charter, bylaws, and remaining funds to the Society. The Region may be reactivated when membership rises above 100.
Amendment to Bylaws
Section 1. Procedure. Proposals to modify the Region Bylaws must be approved by a majority of the voting members present and voting at any scheduled meeting (or alternative voting mechanism) of the Region. A voting member who is absent may file an absentee ballot.
Section 2. Conformance. No amendment to these Bylaws shall be enacted that results in a conflict with the Bylaws of the Society. Proposed amendments to the Region Bylaws must be approved by the Society’s Global Network Board before becoming effective.