OC releases updated strategic plan

[Laura Bies]

The Ornithological Council has released an updated strategic plan. The OC was founded in 1992, and the previous strategic plan was finalized in 2006. The revised strategic plan released this week builds off of the 2006 plan, updating and streamlining it.

In the revised plan, the Ornithological Council’s mission is updated slightly. The revised mission is to:

• Ensure that the best ornithological science is incorporated into policy, research, and management decisions that affect birds and the study of birds;
• Safeguard and enhance the ability of ornithologists to pursue professional activities; and
• Serve as the collective voice of the ornithological community in amplifying the influence of ornithological knowledge in public affairs.

The revised plan also contains a new organization value: The ornithological community recognizes the value and importance of including the richness of human and geographic diversity in the ornithological community and literature.

Under the plan, the OC’s goals are:

1. Permitting regulations and policies are biologically justified, practically feasible, and provide conservation benefits to birds and bird populations.
2. Policies and regulations governing research involving live birds are based on science, do not include restrictions that do not protect bird populations, and reference the community-wide standards for humane research methods, set by the Ornithological Council through the Guidelines to the Use of Wild Birds in Research.
3. The Ornithological Council provides the best available ornithological science and objective analysis to decision-makers on scientific and conservation issues related to birds and their habitats.
4. Ornithologists have the skills and knowledge to effectively study, manage, and conserve birds, to grow in their skills and abilities and advance professionally, and to effectively voice their views about policy matters that affect their profession.
5. Policies, programs, and funding levels encourage the conduct and application of ornithological research, ornithological education, and information- sharing about avian research, conservation, and management decisions.

The revised plan was developed with input from the entire OC board of directors, which includes representatives of all the OC member societies. The work was led by a subcommittee of the board of directors.

Read the OC’s revised strategic plan here.