Society for Conservation Biology

What Society for Conservation Biology does

The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit international membership society founded in 1985 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. Its stated mission is to advance the science and practice of conserving Earth's biological diversity, and it serves conservation professionals, students, and non-profit organizations. SCB operates through a federated structure of six geographic regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and Caribbean, North America, Oceania), local chapters, and topical working groups, with a reported 4,000+ members worldwide.

SCB's core products are three peer-reviewed scientific journals — Conservation Biology (flagship, launched 1987, impact factor 4.842), Conservation Letters (launched 2008 via Wiley partnership, impact factor 7.126), and Conservation Science and Practice (launched 2019, open access) — alongside a portfolio of conferences including the biennial International Congress for Conservation Biology (ICCB) and regional congresses (ECCB, NACCR, ACCB, CAC, NZES-SCBO). Supporting programs include the Smith Fellowship for early-career scientists, student and service awards, the Conservation Connection online community platform (built on Higher Logic), a free textbook, the SCB Career Center job board, peer review services for external publishers, and a policy advocacy program. Technical infrastructure is conventional web/community tooling with no disclosed AI/ML capabilities.

Revenue is generated through membership dues, journal subscriptions and article processing charges, conference registration fees, donations, and grants. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Distribution is digital-first via conbio.org and Wiley-Blackwell, supplemented by in-person congresses. In 2023, members approved a governance restructuring devolving strategic decision-making to regional and program councils, with full implementation targeted by 2026.

Name

Society for Conservation Biology

Legal name

Society for Conservation Biology

Website

https://conbio.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) is a 501(c)(3) international membership society, founded 1985 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., serving 4,000+ conservation professionals, students, and non-profits globally through three peer-reviewed journals, regional and global congresses, working groups, and a six-region federated governance structure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Science Membership Society

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarly Society & Association Publishing (EDAGAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Academic & Scientific Conferences (MPAGAGAD), Scholarly Societies & Conference Proceedings Publishing (MPAJABAK), Life Sciences (Biology, Ecology, Agriculture) Scholarly Publishing (EDAGAFAC)

Keywords

• Conservation biology society
• Peer-reviewed scientific journals
• Professional membership services
• Biodiversity conservation research
• Scientific conference hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for professionals, students, and organizations. Members receive access to journals, conferences, networking, and professional development resources.
2. Conference and Event Registration: Registration fees for International Congress for Conservation Biology (ICCB), regional congresses (ECCB, NACCR, ACCB), and working group meetings worldwide.
3. Journal Subscriptions and Publishing: Members receive discounts to publish in SCB journals. Non-members cannot subscribe to Conservation Biology. Revenue from journal access and article processing charges.
4. Donations and Contributions: Donations to support SCB, its regions, global programs, working groups, and chapters. The organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SCB operates a global membership society that publishes three peer-reviewed scientific journals in conservation biology, hosts international and regional scientific congresses, and delivers professional development programs (Smith Fellowship, student awards, mentoring, peer review services, job board) for conservation professionals, students, and conservation-focused nonprofit organizations. Its community platform (Conservation Connection) and six regional sections support networking, working groups, and policy advocacy across 4,000+ members worldwide.

Product overview

The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) membership society offering a portfolio of programs and services rather than a single commercial product. At its core, SCB publishes three peer-reviewed journals — Conservation Biology (flagship, since 1987), Conservation Science and Practice (since 2019), and Conservation Letters (Wiley-owned, since 2008) — which disseminate conservation science globally. SCB organizes major conferences including the biennial International Congress for Conservation Biology (ICCB) and regional congresses (ECCB, NACCR, CAC, ACCB). The organization provides professional development through the Smith Fellowship Program, student awards, a free textbook, and a career center. SCB also operates an online community platform (Conservation Connection, built on Higher Logic) and coordinates thematic Working Groups, six geographic Regions, and local Chapters worldwide. Its policy program develops statements and engages in conservation policy advocacy. SCB's partnership program collaborates with organizations such as WildTeam UK, Current Conservation Magazine, and Skype A Scientist.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conservation Biology Journal SCB's flagship peer-reviewed journal, launched in 1987, publishing groundbreaking research articles, essays, and reviews that develop new theory and methods for the conservation of biological diversity. Impact factor 4.842 in 2016; subscription access restricted to members and subscribers.
• Conservation Letters Journal A Wiley-owned online open-access scientific journal launched by SCB in 2008 publishing concise, cutting-edge, policy-relevant conservation research with rapid turnaround. Holds a 7.126 impact factor.
• Conservation Science and Practice Journal A Society-owned peer-reviewed journal launched in 2019 that publishes papers addressing the policy, planning, and practice of conserving biological diversity, with special emphasis on connecting findings to conservation outcomes. Open access.
• SCB Membership Annual membership program for individuals (professionals, students) and organizations in the conservation field, providing access to journals, conferences, networking, working groups, chapters, and professional development resources.
• SCB Global Meetings (ICCB) and Regional Congresses Large international and regional scientific congresses including the biennial International Congress for Conservation Biology (ICCB), ECCB (European), NACCR (North American), ACCB (Africa), CAC (Asia), and NZES-SCBO (Oceania), bringing together conservation scientists and practitioners worldwide.
• Smith Fellowship Program A prestigious fellowship program supporting early-career conservation professionals through professional development, research funding, and networking within the SCB community. 2027 call for proposals announced.
• Conservation Connection Online Community Platform SCB's online community platform (built on Higher Logic) enabling members to participate in discussions, share resources, join communities, and network across geographic regions and topical working groups.
• SCB Career Center (Job Board) SCB's online job board enabling members and conservation organizations to find and advertise conservation-related positions.
• SCB Peer Review Services Fee-based peer review services provided by SCB to publishers and organizations seeking expert scientific review of conservation-related manuscripts and materials.
• SCB Policy Program SCB's policy program that develops policy statements, engages in global policy initiatives, and coordinates regional policy efforts across endangered species, climate change adaptation, and scientific integrity focal areas.
• SCB Free Textbook Free textbook resource provided by SCB to support conservation science education for students and practitioners.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3 peer-reviewed journals with established impact factors serving the conservation science community
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• WildTeam UKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing SCB members with discounts (20% SCB Member Discount) on conservation project management training courses. WildTeam UK provides skills training for conservationists to design and deliver more effective conservation projects. The partnership enhances member professional development opportunities.
• Current Conservation MagazinecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership adds Current Conservation Magazine to SCB's portfolio of affiliate publications. This international open-access quarterly publication works with scientists, science writers, and artists to tell conservation stories. Partnership aims to increase visibility and generate submissions from SCB members. Includes webinars and editorial collaboration.
• Skype A ScientistminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to inspire and foster environmental values among the next generation. Skype A Scientist connects scientists with teachers, classrooms, and public audiences globally. Includes Conservation Week with three live stream events on biodiversity conservation across major time zones (Americas, Europe/Africa, Asia/Oceania).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): The world's largest and most diverse conservation network, combining government and NGO members to influence policy and produce the IUCN Red List. Comparable to SCB as a global membership-based scientific authority on biodiversity conservation, but at substantially greater scale.
• The Nature Conservancy: One of the largest environmental NGOs globally, funding conservation science and practice across habitats. Shares SCB's mission of advancing conservation science but operates through direct land/sea program execution rather than as a scholarly society.
• Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS): A major international NGO operating wildlife parks and field conservation programs worldwide. Shares SCB's biodiversity conservation mission and global footprint but operates as a field-program implementer rather than a scholarly society.
• Conservation International: A large global NGO working on biodiversity hotspots, science-based conservation, and policy. Comparable in mission and global reach but differs as a direct conservation implementer with corporate-style funding rather than a membership society.

Direct peers

• Ecological Society of America (ESA): A nonprofit scholarly society publishing peer-reviewed journals and hosting annual conferences for ecologists. Closely comparable to SCB in structure (membership society, journals, conferences, working groups), with overlapping scientific communities.
• Society for Ecological Restoration (SER): An international membership-based nonprofit advancing the science and practice of ecological restoration. Comparable in member-society structure, peer-reviewed publishing, conferences, and policy advocacy for a closely related discipline.
• British Ecological Society (BES): The oldest ecological society in the world, publishing leading journals, hosting annual meetings, and supporting ecologists globally. Directly comparable as a membership society publishing journals and convening conservation/ecology professionals.

Emerging players

• BirdLife International: A global partnership of national bird conservation organizations producing scientific assessments (e.g., IUCN Red List). Comparable as a science-driven conservation membership network, though focused taxonomically on birds.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Society4ConBio
• YouTubelinkedin.com/company/society-for-conservation-biology
• Facebookfacebook.com/227557507333973
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/society-for-conservation-biology

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Society for Conservation Biology