Round River Conservation Studies
Encyclopedia
Round River Conservation Studies is a non-profit organization focused on international conservation research and education. Round River's student programs are designed to involve small groups of students with inspiring people and actual research projects that are finding and implementing solutions to real conservation issues. The student programs contribute significantly to the larger conservation initiatives of Round River and their local partners.
Round River is dedicated to the formulation and accomplishment of conservation strategies to preserve and restore wild places, and believes wildness to be a vital characteristic for vibrant human and non-human communities alike. Therefore, Round River strives to develop and support traditions that sustain wildness, and do not threaten wild biological communities. To achieve these commitments, Round River employs the principles and methods of conservation biology
, with field research
, and community planning activities.
Round River’s founding science advisor and trustee, Michael Soulé
, was the first President of the Society for Conservation Biology
and is considered by many to be progenitor of the science of Conservation Biology. Following Dr. Soulé’s edict—that to be effective over the long-term, conservation planning must be on a regional scale, protect large core reserves, maintain connectivity, and enlist the support of local communities—Round River has established recognition for its development of innovative conservation area designs and its strategic land planning activities.
Round River's conservation efforts in North America
are focused in the temperate rainforests of British Columbia
and Alaska
, the territory of the Taku River
Tlingit First Nation, The Northwest Territories
, and the Northern Rocky Mountains
of British Columbia. In 2007, it launched a student program in the Koeye River Watershed, a part of the Great Bear Rainforest
in the mid-coast of British Columbia. This nascent program focuses on establishing a long-term system for monitoring the ecosystem, and community-based relations with the Heiltsuk
First Nation. As a result of our growing commitment to the wildlands of British Columbia, in 2002, an independent sister organization, Round River Canada was formed.
In Africa
, Round River works in the deserts of northwestern Namibia
to assist the efforts of the Save the Rhino Trust http://www.rhino-trust.org.na and most recently to conduct a regional ecological analysis for the Greater Kunene
Region in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.
In South America
, Round River works in the cloud forests of southern Ecuador
and in the Amazon Basin
of Peru
. For each of these project areas they strive to formulate conservation biology based land designs, while fostering innovative implementation approaches.
These regions were chosen because:
They contain relatively large areas of intact wildlands with a unique composition of species, including many endemics;
Resource conversion activities and unsustainable development threaten them; and,
Favorable conditions still exist to improve conservation education and strengthen long-term conservation plans and sustainable resource use through local community involvement.
For each of these project areas we are striving to formulate conservation biology based land designs, while fostering innovative implementation approaches.
Round River's board includes Trent Thursby Alvey, Rick Bass
, Peter Gerity, Doug Peacock, Michael Soulé, and Terry Tempest Williams. Its Executive Director is Dennis Sizemore.
Round River is dedicated to the formulation and accomplishment of conservation strategies to preserve and restore wild places, and believes wildness to be a vital characteristic for vibrant human and non-human communities alike. Therefore, Round River strives to develop and support traditions that sustain wildness, and do not threaten wild biological communities. To achieve these commitments, Round River employs the principles and methods of conservation biology
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
, with field research
Field research
Field research is the collection of raw data in natural settings. It helps to reveal the habits and habitats of various organisms present in their natural surroundings...
, and community planning activities.
Round River’s founding science advisor and trustee, Michael Soulé
Michael Soule
Michael E. Soulé is a U.S. biologist, best known for his work in promoting the idea of conservation biology. He earned a Ph.D. in Population Biology at Stanford University under Paul R. Ehrlich...
, was the first President of the Society for Conservation Biology
Society for Conservation Biology
The Society for Conservation Biology is an 5013 non-profit international professional organization devoted to scientific study of the "maintenance, loss, and restoration of biological diversity." There are 10,000 members worldwide, including students and those in related non-academic sectors. ...
and is considered by many to be progenitor of the science of Conservation Biology. Following Dr. Soulé’s edict—that to be effective over the long-term, conservation planning must be on a regional scale, protect large core reserves, maintain connectivity, and enlist the support of local communities—Round River has established recognition for its development of innovative conservation area designs and its strategic land planning activities.
Round River's conservation efforts in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
are focused in the temperate rainforests of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, the territory of the Taku River
Taku River
The Taku River is a river running from British Columbia, Canada, to the northwestern coast of North America, at Juneau, Alaska. Its mouth coincides with the Alaska-British Columbia border...
Tlingit First Nation, The Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
, and the Northern Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
of British Columbia. In 2007, it launched a student program in the Koeye River Watershed, a part of the Great Bear Rainforest
Great Bear Rainforest
The Great Bear Rainforest is the name coined by environmental groups in the mid-1990s to refer to a region of temperate rain forest in Canada, on the British Columbia Coast between Vancouver Island and Southeast Alaska...
in the mid-coast of British Columbia. This nascent program focuses on establishing a long-term system for monitoring the ecosystem, and community-based relations with the Heiltsuk
Heiltsuk
The Heiltsuk are an Indigenous First Nations of the Central Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia, centred on the island communities of Bella Bella and Klemtu. The government of the Heiltsuk people is the Heiltsuk Nation...
First Nation. As a result of our growing commitment to the wildlands of British Columbia, in 2002, an independent sister organization, Round River Canada was formed.
In Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Round River works in the deserts of northwestern Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
to assist the efforts of the Save the Rhino Trust http://www.rhino-trust.org.na and most recently to conduct a regional ecological analysis for the Greater Kunene
Kunene
Kunene may refer to:*Kunene Region, in Namibia*Kunene River, in Angola and Namibia*Kenny Kunene, a South African Businessman*Mazisi Kunene, a South African poet and historian...
Region in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.
In South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, Round River works in the cloud forests of southern Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
and in the Amazon Basin
Amazon Basin
The Amazon Basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries that drains an area of about , or roughly 40 percent of South America. The basin is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela...
of Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. For each of these project areas they strive to formulate conservation biology based land designs, while fostering innovative implementation approaches.
These regions were chosen because:
They contain relatively large areas of intact wildlands with a unique composition of species, including many endemics;
Resource conversion activities and unsustainable development threaten them; and,
Favorable conditions still exist to improve conservation education and strengthen long-term conservation plans and sustainable resource use through local community involvement.
For each of these project areas we are striving to formulate conservation biology based land designs, while fostering innovative implementation approaches.
Round River's board includes Trent Thursby Alvey, Rick Bass
Rick Bass
Rick Bass is an American writer and an environmental activist.-Life:Bass was born in Fort Worth, Texas, U.S., the son of a geologist, and he studied petroleum geology at Utah State University. He grew up in Houston, and started writing short stories on his lunch breaks while working as a petroleum...
, Peter Gerity, Doug Peacock, Michael Soulé, and Terry Tempest Williams. Its Executive Director is Dennis Sizemore.