Mahoney, Riley, McDonald to speak at plenary on sustainability

Dr. Shawn Riley, Dr. John McDonald and Shane Mahoney will discuss questions of sustainability during a plenary session in Raleigh titled “Is Sustainable Use of Wildlife Sustainable?”

Dr. Shawn Riley

Dr. Shawn Riley is the Parrish Storrs Lovejoy Professor of Wildlife Management at Michigan State University and a scientist in the Partnership for Ecosystem Research and Management, a long-term collaboration between MSU and Michigan resource agencies.  Shawn’s research focuses mostly on human-wildlife interactions, how those interactions affect human attitudes and behaviors toward wildlife, and how best to integrate social science insights in wildlife management. He is a TWS Fellow and a TWS member since 1980.

Dr. John McDonald

Dr. John McDonald is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Science at Westfield State University and Vice-President of The Wildlife Society.  Previously, he was a Wildlife Specialist with the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in the Northeast Region where he administered >$30 million per year in Wildlife Restoration and State Wildlife grants to state fish and wildlife agencies. John is a TWS Fellow and Associate Editor for the Wildlife Society Bulletin and the Journal of Wildlife Management.

Shane Mahoney

Shane Patrick Mahoney is the President and CEO of Conservation Visions Inc. A Newfoundland native, Mahoney has over 30 years of experience working primarily as a scientist, wildlife manager, policy innovator and strategic advisor; but also as a filmmaker, writer, narrator, television and radio personality, and lecturer – all within the scope of the greater conservation world, encompassing both the scientific and professional wildlife communities, as well as NGOs and the hunting and non-hunting public.

See the abstract for the plenary session below.

“Recent events such as the public response to the Cecil the Lion affair are symptomatic of a larger growing undercurrent that threatens to undermine the public/private foundation for wildlife management in North America. Global economic institutions, major industries, and others have taken measures against sustainable uses of wildlife that have economic benefits, on purely moral grounds. Social media postings depicting both legitimate and unsporting wildlife harvests are generating negative public responses. These developments have illuminated a deep public sentiment towards empathy for wildlife that is not a new phenomenon, but is being awakened by current events. The impact of this awakening on wildlife management and the need for better collaboration to better understand the issues, identify strategies, and speak with one voice to ensure the relevancy of sustainable use management in a changing society will be the focus of this plenary session.”

“Is Sustainable Use of Wildlife Sustainable?” will take place in Ballroom A of the Raleigh Convention Center on Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 8:30-10 a.m. Click here for the complete lineup of plenaries and keynote speakers for our 23rd Annual Conference, or register now!