Call for Abstracts
Presenter Registration Policy
All Conference presenters must register prior to July 2nd, 2024 (if you have a coupon code request pending, please hold off on registering until you receive the email correspondence from HCA, we are processing all requests & will communicate as soon as we are able – do not send additional requests) to be considered for inclusion in the program book. Presenters scheduled during Public Afternoon still must register.
CONFERENCE THEME
ʻAuamo Kuleana – Amplifying Strength Through Balance
ʻAuamo kuleana is a widely used call to action that evokes the image of the ʻauamo, a pole used for carrying heavy loads that balances and distributes weight upon the shoulders. The phrase reminds us that kuleana to our environment is both a collective privilege and an individual responsibility; that there is urgent need for us to embrace and move forward with both; and that we are engaged in multi-generational work. Importantly, we must remain mindful of our limits and well-being, while also creating balance for future generations to act from a place of strength and abundance. This kuleana is not for any one person to bear. We carry this load collectively – and the work shapes us as individuals and as a community.
CONFERENCE TRACKS
The 2024 Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference will focus on the conference theme through the following six tracks. Each track includes relevant concepts identified by the conference planning committee with the recognition they are not comprehensive and not intended to be exclusive. Abstracts should explicitly address the conference theme, how it relates to the field of conservation, and tracks.
Hawaiʻi is an epicenter of both biodiversity and species imperilment, where conservation-reliant species are facing various threats that cannot be eliminated, but only managed and continuing species-specific management efforts may be needed for a very long time. This track invites proposals that reflect on past lessons learned and application to management of these critical species into the future:
- Addressing extinction threat and low likelihood of “recovery” for listed species
- Managing conservation reliant species and habitats
- Loss of native species
- Large scale and permanent impacts of climate change
- Native species translocations
- Showcasing bright spots in management of these species and areas
Hawaiʻi faces many long-standing conservation issues from the past that are extremely difficult to reverse. We have also achieved conservation successes as a result of long term efforts. We invite proposals that explore research, tools, and stewardship approaches that highlight the evolution of understanding to address conservation needs and maintain what we have worked so hard to achieve. These may include, but are not limited to:
- Urgent needs and opportunities in terrestrial, aquatic, and marine biosecurity
- Species resilience
- Proven conservation tools and strategies
- Implementing large-scale projects to address global and local threats
- Addressing established invasive species: management, eradication, adaptation
- Wildfire prevention, mitigation, and planning
- Competition for limited resources, especially in times of increasing need
- Innovative policy solutions
- Techniques to better manage urban and high traffic ecosystems
Recognizing the need to build and maintain meaningful partnerships and foster new innovative collaborations to address our conservation needs of the future, this track encourages presentations that foster communication and exchange within the conservation community across various sectors, which include, but are not limited to:
- Building and sustaining partnerships in conservation
- Working across boundaries, interdisciplinary, cross-sector collaborations and approaches
- Diversified funding strategies and innovative sustainable financing mechanisms
- Growing an inclusive culture of conservation across sectors
- Connecting action to policy
This track will explore the latest in emerging research, innovative conservation management techniques, tools, and application of results, and studies that demonstrate development of novel technology of application of the technology to address conservation issues. Topics may include, but are not limited to:
- Tackling challenging emerging issues such as species translocation and assisted colonization, genetic modification, permanent phase shifts etc
- New and emerging tools
- Improvements in propagation techniques
- New findings in phylogenetics and taxanomic groupings
- Conservation genetics applications and innovations
- Cutting edge surveillance and monitoring technologies
Engaging youth and emerging professional and providing them with the training and tools needed to become the future conservation leaders in the field is a priority. With a growing interest in conservation of natural resources this track will explore innovative conservation capacity building and educational programs that advance the conservation workforce of the future.
- Building and illuminating conservation career pathways
- Knowledge exchange across generations for familial and institutional succession planning
- Innovative capacity, education, training programs
- Individual and collective kuleana in conservation
Conservation work in Hawaiʻi benefits from values derived from many worldviews and cultural connections to the places we work. As such, there is also a wealth of knowledge tied to the history and people of these places upon which to draw from to increase our conservation success. This track will focus on both the foundations of community based and culturally integrated conservation, as well as examples of innovations. Session proposals may include, but are not limited to
- Community co-management of biocultural resources
- Harmony of collective balance between communities and the places they manage
- Strengthening biocultural foundations in conservation
- Indigenous languages in conservation practice
- Cultural values and practice in contemporary resource management
- Indigenous approaches to science and resource stewardship
