CONSTITUTION FOR THE
Society for Ecological Restoration – Western Canada
(the “Society”)
1. The name of the society is the Society for Ecological Restoration Western Canada.
2. The purposes of the society are
a) To advance the science, practice and policy of ecological restoration to sustain biodiversity, improve resilience in a changing climate, and re-establish an ecologically healthy relationship between nature and culture.
b) To encourage the development and application of ecological restoration as a scientific and technical discipline, as a strategy for environmental conservation, as a technique for ecological research and as a means of promoting a mutually beneficial relationship between human beings and the rest of nature.
c) To encourage research in all areas related to the restoration of ecosystems.
d) To disseminate scientific and technical information related to restoration through meetings, publications and the media to the members of the society, to public and private institutions and to the general public.
e) To conduct programs of public education to raise awareness and understanding of all aspects of the values and limitations of restoration as a technique for environmental conservation.
f) To promote the exchange of information related to restoration among disciplines, institutions, regions and nations.
g) To encourage educational institutions to address the subject of restoration by including relevant material in existing courses and curricula, and also by establishing new courses, major and degree programs dealing with this subject.
h) To solicit funding and other forms of support for research in restoration as well as for specific projects.
i) To recognize individuals, organizations, groups and agencies that have made outstanding contributions to the field of restoration.
j) To articulate and advance the society's positions by encouraging public and private agencies and organizations to adopt policies and regulations and to take actions that promote effective restoration and that recognize the central role of experienced ecological restorationists in project planning and implementation.
k) To articulate and advance the society's positions by issuing technical reviews and constructive criticisms with regard to restoration components of projects in a manner that neither endorses nor opposes a project in its entirety.
l) To coordinate and provide expertise for those restoration programs in which organizations in addition to the society are involved.
m) To pursue other objectives that the directors determine to be in the interests of the society.
3. Guiding Values
n) Ecological restoration is an engaging and inclusive process. Restoration embraces the interrelationships between nature and culture, engages all sectors of society, and enables full and effective participation of indigenous, local and disenfranchised communities
o) Ecological restoration requires the integration of knowledge and practice. All forms of knowledge are essential for designing, implementing and monitoring restoration projects and programs. At the same time, lessons learned from practical experiences are essential for determining and prioritizing the scientific needs of the field.
p) Ecological restoration is policy-relevant and essential. Restoration is a critical tool for achieving biodiversity conservation, mitigating and adapting to climate change, enhancing ecosystem services, fostering sustainable socioeconomic development, and improving human health and well-being.
q) Ecological restoration is practiced locally with global implications. Restoration takes place in all regions of the world, with local actions having regional and global benefits for nature and people.
4. This society is a member-funded society. It is funded primarily by its members to carry on activities for the benefit of its members. On its liquidation or dissolution, this society may distribute its money and other property to its members.
BYLAWS
Here set out, in numbered clauses, the bylaws providing for the matters referred to in section 6(1) of the Society Act and any other bylaws.