WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP & WHY DO WE CARE?

Effective stewardship of animal tracking networks is vital for the sustainable management of wildlife populations. It requires a balanced approach that considers ecological science, technology, ethics, policy, and community engagement to ensure that tracking efforts contribute to the long-term conservation of species and their habitats. 

An animal tracking network fulfils a community stewardship role in this, and with that come responsibilities too: represent the tracking network moving towards suitability of equipment and actions, guard the (ethical) obligations toward good animal welfare practices in the field, and represent and encourage diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) of its membership base. 

These stewardship aspects are embedded in ETN's core values. Through our network of infrastructure, scientists, data, and knowledge, we take the following actions to fulfill our stewardship role. 

KEY ASPECTS

ETN defined several tracking network stewardship key aspects which are outlined below:

1. Sustainability

Role & responsibility: Represent the tracking network in pushing for suitability of equipment and actions

Recommended actions:

  • Voice the need to improve product sustainability to the manufacturers.

  • Establish relationships with other initiatives working on equipment sustainability

  • Provide up to date information on actions network members can take to improve their sustainability

  • Centralise meeting points to facilitate sustainable travel

2. Animal welfare

Role & responsibility: Guard the (ethical) obligations toward good animal welfare practices in the field

Recommended actions:

  • Provide up to date information on best practice on animal handing

  • Enable network community discussions to learn and improve on best practices

3. DEI (diversity, equity & inclusivity)

Role & responsibility: Embracing a diverse, equitable and inclusive tracking community and represent the diversity within the community 

Recommended actions:

  • Create a mission statement that includes network vision on DEI

  • Perform a network wide DEI GAP analysis

  • Take directed actions to bridge the gaps identified

USEFUL LINKS:

Inclusive practices in ecology:

Inclusive fieldwork guidelines:

Environmental stewardship guidelines:

Personal reflexivity:

Disability:

Pronouns: