Welcome to the TWS Biological Diversity Working Group
The Biological Diversity Working Group (BDWG) provides TWS members with the opportunity to exchange research and management information related to the conservation of biological diversity, and to contribute to the development of policies and programs that promote the conservation of biological diversity. We work with other natural resource professionals and TWS working groups to achieve mutual goals.
The BDWG encompasses all aspects of biological diversity conservation, including ecosystem, wildlife and habitat management; landscape ecology; regional planning; sustainable development or use of natural resources; and protection of threatened and endangered species.
Announcements
Credit: Andrew Fisher
- Our BDWG symposium session, Interdisciplinary Biodiversity Conservation: Building a Socio-ecological Future, was selected for the TWS 2026 Annual Conference in Des Moines, Iowa this November! If you are submitting an abstract to the Annual Conference, consider selecting our symposium session if you think your research is a good fit. Abstract submissions are open until May 22.
- Submit your content for our Instagram (@tws_bdwg) and newsletters! Our BDWG newsletters are an opportunity for our members to share field work highlights, art, ongoing research, wildlife photography, policy updates and more. Email us with your content and explicitly written permissions to use your content for social media and/or newsletters at twsbdwg@gmail.com.
Current Projects
- We hold monthly online board meetings on the first Wednesday of each month, 4:30-5:30 p.m. ET. All members are welcome to attend.
- We provide travel grants for students to present their research at the TWS Annual Conference. See below for more information. Applications are typically due in early August.
- We organize symposiums at the TWS Annual Conferences.
- Webinars and Newsletters
Membership is available to all current TWS members. You may join our working group by logging in to your TWS account. In addition, we would greatly appreciate any donations to the BDWG. All donations will go directly towards funding our student travel grants.
Officers
Chair:
TJ Francisco
Chair-elect:
Amanda O’Brien
Past Chair:
Greg Smith
Secretary:
Mary Hiney
Treasurer:
Joe Drake
At Large Board Member:
Alexa Murray
At Large Board Member:
Hailey Shanovich
Mission
The Mission of the BDWG is to improve conservation of biological diversity as an integral part of ecosystem management, sustainable development and use of natural resources. We facilitate study and transfer of information within and outside of The Wildlife Society relative to maintenance and enhancement of the diversity of living organisms and the ecological complexes in which they occur. Of necessity, the Working Group’s scope encompasses genetic, species, community and ecosystem/landscape scales.
Goals
- Develop fundamental understanding of the biological diversity concept, the causes and consequences of its degradation, and the positive and negative links between biological diversity and economic development.
- Promote conservation of biological diversity as a responsibility of professional wildlife biologists and articulate their role in management and enhancement of biological diversity.
- Advance the conservation of biological diversity both within the wildlife profession and outside to other professions whose activities have impacts at the regional, national or international level.
- Facilitate partnerships among international, federal, state and local agencies, nongovernmental organizations, the private sector and other interested parties for the conservation of biological diversity.
Meetings
We hold monthly online board meetings on the first Wednesday of each month, 4:30-5:30 p.m. ET. All members are welcome to attend. Information on how to join the meeting and an agenda will be sent to all members via email about one week prior to the meeting. The BDWG additionally holds an annual meeting during The Wildlife Society’s Annual Conference.
Student Travel Grants
The Biological Diversity Working Group (BDWG) offers travel grants for TWS student members presenting papers or posters with a focus on protecting biodiversity at The Wildlife Society’s Annual Conference. The Working Group is offering student grants this year of up to $500. The application is attached here. All applicants must be a member in good standing with The Wildlife Society (but are not required to be a member of the BDWG) and have been accepted to present a paper/poster at the 2026 TWS Annual Conference. Please email your application PDF to twsbdwg@gmail.com by August 2, 2026.
Credit: Cayden Olstad