Conservation Forecasting
New computer tools allow forecasting of populations, species, and environments through the use of simulation models, analytical models, spreasheets, and other tools. Such models facilitate the description of situations and issues, identification of hypothesized relationships, assembly of data, specification of assumptions, projection of trajectories, analysis of threats, sensitivity testing of uncertainty, comparison of options, and identification of expected outcomes. This website was developed to provide information about and access to software tools that assist with species conservation assessments and planning.
If you use our software, please Register as a user to provide us with information about how the software is being used and how we can better serve species conservation.
Species Conservation Toolkit Initiative is hiring the next Conservation Scientist Programmer!
A Post-doctoral Fellow - Species Conservation Methods will develop analytical methods and software tools to advance the conservation of species. He or she will work with conservation scientists and managers of species conservation programs to ensure that software tools meet conservation needs and are used effectively, including developing and maintaining code, providing technical support for users, and helping to build capacity in the use of computer modeling tools that advance risk assessments, conservation planning, and management for threatened species. A Ph.D. degree in biology or related field required or Ph.D. in information science with considerable training also in biology is required. One year experience in conservation biology research or species management is also required. The position will be based at the Chicago Zoological Society (CZS). Anyone who is interested in being considered for this opening is encouraged to visit the CZS Career Center to obtain more details about the position and to apply by submitting a profile as soon as possible. Please visit www.czs.org/careers and look for requisition number 1762BR. The Chicago Zoological Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Licensing and cost
At this time, all software distributed on this site (but not including software that might be available on other sites under "LINKS") is distributed for free for the use by individuals, academic institutions, and not-for-profit organizations. The software and any downloaded manuals can be further distributed without modification and at no cost to other such individuals and organizations. However, all the software and manuals are copyrighted (mostly by Chicago Zoological Society or the IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group) and may not be sold or represented as one's own work. Published uses of the software should cite the software appropriately. However, the continued development and free distribution of these tools will depend on the support of users.
Please see the Support Conservation page to see how you can make the difference.
The programs are distributed with no guarantee that the methods perform as intended or described, that the computer codes are without bugs that could influence results, or that the programs are suitable for any particular purpose.
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