Committee Chair: Emma-Liina Marjakangas

Committee Members: Karen Mustin, Arash Ghoddousi, Jenny Glikman, Michele Lussu, Lorin von Longo-Liebenstein, Gabriel Marcacci, Lisa Tedeschi, Michela Pacifici

In alignment with the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) Global’s statement, the Europe Region’s DEIJ Committee acknowledges that the success of biodiversity conservation is intertwined with, and relies on a commitment to greater access, inclusion, and empowerment of people who have many and different views, vantage points, identities and geographies; and who actively participate in biodiversity conservation with equal opportunity and access at all levels of the Region’s structure and membership. The DEIJ Committee aims to promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice in all SCB Europe activities
as well as to.

In ECCB2024, the DEIJ Committee organized three important events. First, a ~1 hour icebreaker for early-career and first-time-ECCB participants so they would get to know a few familiar faces at the beginning of the conference. This was very successful and we had ~80 participants. Second, a lunch discussion session on DEIJ issues in conservation field work. We provided some catering, showed a small presentation as a starting point and discussed in small and bigger groups about the problems and solutions. This discussion led to a guideline document that went through both internal and external review rounds (see below). There were ~15 participants, all very engaged with the discussion. Third, a speed mentoring event for ~30 mentors and ~60 mentees. People had to sign up in advance. Mentors sat down and the mentees rotated (in pairs) from mentor to mentor every ~10 minutes. The event lasted 1.5 hours. Everyone really loved this event and found it very useful.

The guideline document "Inclusive and just fieldwork in conservation science: a way forward" originating from the lunch discussion at ECCB2024 in Bologna, Italy is available as a pdf Download PDF file here to be used by conservation professionals when planning fieldwork. 

DEIJ Committee has worked to update the by-laws of the society to better account for diversity and inclusion in all of the society's activities. The new by-laws were voted and accepted in the Members' Meeting in Bologna, Italy in June 2024. On this basis, the Committee has also drafted DEIJ principles that now guide all work done by the society.