80th Annual Conference

Contact: JessicaFeltz, Conservation Social Scientist, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Jessica.feltz@agfc.ar.gov

Co-Organizers: Social Science Technical Committee

Jessica Feltz, Chair (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission)

Mallory White, Co-chair (Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources)

Type: Open Symposium

Overview:

Aldo Leopold wrote that “Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land” in 1949. The concept that wildlife management and conservation must take into account the role that people have on the landscape has been a guiding principle for decades. The SEAFWA Social Sciences Technical Committee (SSTC) was officially designated as a standing committee in April 2016. The committee was established with the goal of “providing a venue through which state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, academia, and the public can provide a clearinghouse for the exchange of social science concerning wildlife and fisheries management, research techniques, wildlife law enforcement, natural resource associated outdoor recreation, and information and education”. Since the committee’s inception, Social Science capacity within Southeast state fish and wildlife agencies has nearly doubled, coupled with an expanded Human Dimension’s branch at the federal level. This increase in capacity, and therefore research alone highlights the important role Social Science provides to Conservation and Natural Resource Management. 

This Symposia will feature presentations from SSTC members and Social Science practitioners that will highlight the work and impact of Conservation Social Science in the Southeast. Presentations will include ongoing Social Science research, research methodologies, examples of how social science impacts conservation and management, collaborative efforts between Social Scientists and species/program managers, and will offer panel discussions about the importance of Social Science. 

Contact: HaileyShanovich, Climate Adaptation Service Scientist, US Geological Survey - Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, hshanovich@usgs.gov

Co-Organizers: 

-Logan Benedict, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

- Jennifer Cartwright, US Geological Survey - Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center

-Kristine Metzger, US Geological Survey - South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center

-Wes Daniels, US Geological Survey - Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Type: Invite Only

Overview:

Invasive species continue to pose substantial ecological, economic, and management challenges for fish and wildlife agencies across the Southeast and U.S. Caribbean. Changing conditions add further complexity, driving shifts in species distributions, altering disturbance regimes, and creating new pathways for establishment and spread. This symposium will highlight innovative approaches, lessons learned, and emerging needs in invasive species management across the region. Presentations will showcase state‑ and territory‑led strategies, including tools and planning efforts related to invasive wildlife and plant prevention, early detection and rapid response, monitoring, and long‑term control. With 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) revisions being completed and approved, this session provides a timely venue for states and territories to share updated priorities, challenges, and opportunities as agencies move towards implementing climate‑informed invasive species strategies using their updated planning frameworks.

In addition, the symposium will feature collaborative science and applied research that support on‑the‑ground management, including synthesis and research projects funded by the US Geological Survey’s Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs). These efforts aim to provide managers with actionable information for anticipating future risks, strengthening resilience, and enhancing coordination across jurisdictions. A key objective of the session is to help shape and strengthen the Regional Invasive Species under Climate Change (RISCC) networks in the Southeast and South Central regions. By bringing together agency staff, researchers, and practitioners, the symposium will help identify shared priorities, foster cross‑state communication, and build a more cohesive regional approach to managing invasive species under changing conditions

Contact: Jacob Blandford, Appalachian Landscape Conservation Coordinator, Center for Large Landscape Conservation, jacobblandford@largelandscapes.org

Co-Organizers: 

Type: Open Symposium

Overview:

Ecological connectivity is a critical component of landscape conservation, supporting viable fish and wildlife populations by enabling movement across the landscape, facilitating seasonal migrations, gene flow, and other natural processes. Additionally, connectivity is critical for enabling species to adapt to climate change by allowing them to move freely to track shifting habitats and suitable climate conditions. Connectivity conservation is an important consideration when managing game species, sportfish, and Species of Greatest Conservation Need, including awareness of possible consequences like the spread of invasive species and wildlife diseases. Maintaining and enhancing ecological connectivity at multiple scales—from fine-scale habitat corridors and pinch points, up to the vast extent of the Appalachian Mountain corridor—is a priority shared by SEAFWA and fish and wildlife agencies throughout the region. 

Many partner networks and collaboratives in the Southeast region are working collaboratively to enhance landscape conservation and connectivity and support implementation of State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs) at the regional scale. These include the SEAFWA technical committees, the Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy, Appalachian Peoples and Places Conservation Collaborative, along with many watershed, habitat linkage, state/provincial, and other conservation partnerships.

This symposium brings those networks together and aims to enhance knowledge of ecological connectivity initiatives, promote cross jurisdictional collaboration, and foster partnerships for advancing habitat connectivity by highlighting ecological connectivity strategies, how these strategies have been implemented in the region, and the results that have been observed so far. Sessions will focus on the cutting-edge science that informs management actions aimed at increasing connectivity and mitigating vehicle-wildlife collisions. Case studies will highlight applications of this science to on-the-ground management of fish and wildlife.

Contact: Todd Ewing, Program Manager, Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership, todd@southeastaquatics.net

Co-Organizers: Shawna Fix, Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership

Kathleen Hoenke, Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership

Type: Open Symposium

Overview:

This symposium is conducted in recognition of the 25th anniversary of the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership (SARP) and the 20th anniversary of the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP). Both SARP and NFHP work to protect, restore, and enhance fish populations by supporting fish habitat conservation projects.  SARP, NFHP, and numerous other partners have worked extensively across the Southeast to restore fish habitat. Entities conducting these projects are equally diverse. State agencies, federal and local governments, non-governmental organizations, and private entities are all important practitioners of fish habitat restoration and often multiple partners are involved in each effort. The types of projects run the gamut from improving aquatic connectivity, stream bank and riparian zone restoration, water savings, invasive species eradication, and numerous other types of projects. Many of these projects have been part of long-term or large-scale restoration efforts. These restoration efforts are done to enhance recreational fisheries, improve water quality, or conserve imperiled species. This symposium will highlight the work of various watershed restoration efforts in the Southeast.