Since 2015, American Turtle Observatory has been a close partner with the Northeastern state wildlife agencies, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, numerous universities, and other non-profits to conduct collaborative range-wide status assessments on three threatened Emydine species, the Blanding's, Wood, and Spotted Turtle. As part of these efforts, conservation symposia have been held since 2016 to bring experts together across the species' ranges who are involved in conservation, management and research. The symposia, funded by the USFWS Competitive State Wildlife Grants program, were designed to enrich our knowledge, complement our capacities, and expand partnerships and collaborations to reach regional conservation goals related to these species.
Below, you will find additional information on each of the three symposia, held in 2016, 2019, and 2023, including their corresponding survey reports. Surveys were sent to participants and experts after each symposium to provide a consensus on the threats and conservation actions needed for each species, as well as actions that can be undertaken by the region, working groups, or individuals.
Below, you will find additional information on each of the three symposia, held in 2016, 2019, and 2023, including their corresponding survey reports. Surveys were sent to participants and experts after each symposium to provide a consensus on the threats and conservation actions needed for each species, as well as actions that can be undertaken by the region, working groups, or individuals.
2016
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The 2016 Blanding's and Wood Turtle Conservation Symposium was held on October 3-4th at the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Field Headquarters in Westborough, MA. It was funded via the USFWS CSWG awarded to Massachusetts and its partners for the Northeast Wood Turtle status assessment and conservation planning project. There was a total of 101 attendees.
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AGENDA and ABSTRACTS
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SURVEY REPORT
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2019
AGENDA and ABSTRACTS
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SURVEY REPORT
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The 2019 Spotted, Blanding's and Wood Turtle Conservation Symposium was held on November 3-5th at Cacapon Resort State Park in Berkeley Springs, WV. Over 130 experts convened from across the region. The symposium was funded by the USFWS CSWG awarded to Virginia and its partners for the Eastern Spotted Turtle status assessment and conservation planning.
West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, American Turtle Observatory, and the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute hosted. |
2023
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The 2023 Emydine Conservation Symposium was held July 10-12th at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA and was attended by over 140 experts. This symposium focused primarily on the Wood, Spotted, Blanding's and Box Turtle, but welcomed all experts researching and managing species within the subfamily Emydinae. This symposium was funded by the USFWS CSWG awarded to Massachusetts and its partners implementing Wood Turtle and related Emydine turtle conservation efforts.
Juniata College, American Turtle Observatory, and the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute hosted. |
AGENDA and ABSTRACTS
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SURVEY REPORT
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