Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

The Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit is one of approximately 40 units nationwide that serve to link land grant universities to state and federal conservation agencies. The principal linkage is the placement of three US Geological Survey scientists serving as additional fulltime faculty in university departments . Their mission is to conduct research, provide graduate training, and participate in technical assistance focused toward resolution of natural resource issues, wetland resources in the case of the Florida Unit. That is accomplished through cooperation among the University of Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the US Geological Survey, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Wildlife Management Institute.

Program for Studies in Tropical Conservation

The Program for Studies in Tropical Conservation (PSTC) is an interdisciplinary program that develops human resources and strengthens institutions in tropical countries through integrated research and training.

Tropical Conservation and Development

Students in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (WEC) are welcome to engage in the Tropical Conservation and Development program. TCD is not a degree granting program, but rather offers an interdisciplinary certificate and concentration to students enrolled in Master's or Ph.D. programs, spanning 25 academic units at UF. TCD complements the knowledge and skill sets that students develop in their home units, emphasizing student learning outside their immediate discipline and the ability to think in terms of linked social-ecological systems, work in teams, communicate in nonacademic formats, and reflect critically on their own perspectives and actions. Even if you do not register for the graduate certificate, WEC students can take advantage of many formal and informal activities that TCD sponsors, including a student-led weekly seminar series (Tropilunch), regular Conservation and Development Forums, skills-based workshops, interdisciplinary working groups, and a variety of funding competitions for research grants, conference travel, graduate assistantships, innovation award, and practitioner experiences.

Students and faculty engaged in TCD work on conservation and/or development issues in the tropics, as well as sub-tropical and temperate areas in developing countries (e.g., southern Africa, southern cone of South America, Greater Himalayan region). TCD also welcomes participation of WEC students working in Florida, although many funding opportunities do have geographic restrictions. To learn more about the TCD program visit our web page http://www.tcd.ufl.edu or contact Bette Loiselle loiselleb@ufl.edu.

Southern Cone Conservation Leadership Initiative

The Southern Cone Conservation Leadership Initiative (SCCL) is an interdisciplinary iniative of UF's Tropical Conservation and Development Program (TCD) that promotes development of future conservation leaders in southern South America and advances biodiversity conservation, management of parks and reserves, and sustainable resource use in this region. Visit the SCCL website for more information.