What my first fly-in to DC taught me as a scientist

Last month, I had the privilege of participating in the first-ever fly-in to Capitol Hill, advocating for federal funding for proactive science-based conservation programs. Representing the American Fisheries Society and drawing on my perspective as a staff member of The Wildlife Society, I emphasized the value of cross-disciplinary expertise in addressing the interconnected challenges facing wildlife and fisheries. The fly-in—and the preparation leading up to it—underscored the importance of coordinated advocacy and the role our professional societies play in informing effective conservation policy. Below are a few reflections from the experience.

We are living in a critical time

With proposed cuts to critical programs, sweeping reductions in staff and an ongoing restructuring of the day-to-day functioning of our federal agencies, it feels increasingly like we’re living through the ecological equivalent of a multi-lane highway pileup.

Prior to the amassing changes, hundreds of species were already struggling, some critically enough to list them as endangered. If we didn’t move them out of the way of obstacles like habitat loss and degradation, we knew some could be harmed. And now, making matters more difficult, the normal avenues we rely on to protect wildlife are uncertain and changing quickly.

Wildlife and fisheries professionals are the first responders at the scene. We bring training, tools and expertise to assess damage, stabilize populations and guide recovery. Our science is the first aid kit. But in a collision this widespread, it’s not enough to hand over the kit and walk away. The ecosystems cannot apply the bandages. We must stay in the wreckage and step up to stop the bleeding.

We’re doing this under enormous pressure. We have ever limited resources, fewer colleagues, and increasingly hard decisions about which species or habitats can be reached first.

Policymakers are the bystanders. Some have basic training in the area. They know how to help but aren’t always sure of themselves. Others are still trying to understand the scale of the crisis. And a few may be looking the other way, hoping their constituents don’t notice. It’s up to us, as the first responders, to engage with policymakers, communicate clearly and show them how their actions, lack of action or alternative actions can determine the future health of biodiversity. It’s up to us to speak up and engage the public to make the crisis visible and to advocate for the resources and action needed to turn triage into recovery.

Connections, connections, connections

If there’s one thing we need more of in conservation, it’s stronger, more intentional linkages between our science and the people it ultimately serves. We can’t afford for our work to live in a silo because it will just add more cars to the pile-up. To make meaningful change, we must lean into interdisciplinary work and collaborations. Collaborating with social scientists, economists, landowners, Tribal nations, urban planners and public health experts allows us to ask not only what the data show, but also: What does this mean for people today? What decisions could this influence tomorrow? Who will feel this impact next year?  This makes science actionable. Policy shifts when we show that there is something to act on.

There needs to be more of us … a lot more of us

When I signed up to take part in the fly-in, I didn’t do so under any illusion that I’d have all the answers. This was my first time ever doing something like this. I had no idea what to expect. What I didn’t anticipate was just how many questions I wouldn’t be able to answer. I didn’t expect how many knowledge gaps appeared the moment the conversation turned toward specific issues, local impacts or nuanced tradeoffs.

This is where we need you

In a crisis this big, no single responder has everything in their pack. We all carry different tools, different insights and different types of experience. Your lived reality in the field, in the lab and with community partners might be exactly what’s needed when others of us come up short. Legislators are representatives of the people, and they listen when their constituents speak. That means we need scientists from every state, every agency and every background to step forward and apply pressure. You can speak about a problem, a community or a specific issue that others cannot.

We need scientists to speak, even if all you can do right now is whisper. We need you to step into the policy space, even if you are afraid or don’t have every answer. There is too much risk if you don’t.

None of this is new advice. However, it is critical to live it. The species and ecosystems that generations of scientists have sacrificed and dedicated their lives to protecting will face the consequences.