A review of professional ecological societies’ values, missions, and ethics

The rapid decline in Earth’s biodiversity poses significant threats to nature and human well-being. Human activities such as land use change, pollution, climate change, invasive species, and overexploitation drive this crisis, endangering millions of species and affecting critical habitats and ecosystems. This study investigates the role of professional ecological societies in addressing the ecological crises. Professional ecological societies have members that are experts in ecological, environmental, and conservation sciences. They engage in activities such as publishing research in their journals, organizing events, and promoting ecological education and outreach. Because of their leadership in ecology, we argue that these societies have a potentially important role to play in addressing the biodiversity crisis. To understand how societies see themselves in these roles and responsibilities, we reviewed the mission, vision, and codes of ethics of various ecological societies. Our analysis included a diverse selection of 73 societies from North America, Central and Latin America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Africa. We categorized societies by their geographical scope—local, national, or international—and used content analysis to identify their values and principles. Despite focusing on advancing ecological sciences and promoting conservation, many societies did not explicitly state their values or provide guidelines for achieving their missions. The study highlights the importance of clearly defined values and responsibilities in enhancing the impact of ecological societies by orienting their members’ actions. The findings also call for an urgent reflection on the missions and values of ecological societies to better align them with the dire global environmental crises that we are facing.