Dwight Lawson and Rick Hudson

Welcome to the fourth annual Turtle Survival Alliance Conference – our first in conjunction with IUCN’s Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (TFTSG). This year’s program promises to be the best yet, with a broad and exciting array of talks and workshops featuring turtle biologists, enthusiasts and conservationists. By joining forces with the TFTSG, we hope to expand the diversity of shared experiences and opinions of this forum, and renew our collective dedication to preserving, conserving and appreciating turtles.

Through the hard work and enthusiasm of the volunteer planning committees and the generosity of our sponsors, this conference has grown every year and continues to gain prominence. Please join us in thanking the dedicated volunteers who have worked diligently to make this meeting a success. Program Chair, Chuck Schaffer has surpassed his previous efforts and assembled a remarkable panel of speakers. We also thank local Chair, Jeff Ettling and the St. Louis Zoo for their hospitality in hosting this ever-growing event. As they have for the past few years, Lonnie McCaskill, Andy Daneault and the conference committee have spent countless hours seeking sponsors and overseeing the myriad details that go into preparing for a gathering of this size. Finally, many thanks to the growing list of sponsors who have given generously again this year to offset the costs associated with this endeavor, especially our conference title sponsor Zoo Med. Other major supporters include Reptiles Magazine, Mazuri, Disney Animal Kingdom, Chelonian Research Institute, Conservation International, Chelonian Research Foundation, and, Gregory George, Dave Manser and Jay Allen. A complete list of conference sponsors can be found in the TSA Newsletter.

2005/2006 has been an exciting and productive year for the TSA. Funding from the Batchelor Foundation continues to support TSA’s range-country turtle conservation programs (see newsletter). Partner and member dues and generous donations from numerous individuals and institutions have provided critical, flexible financial backing for on-going operations and have enabled the TSA to issue its 3rd round of partner grants. Congratulations to this year’s recipients, Ray Farrell and the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory.

As we gather again to share our individual and collective experiences, expertise and interests, remember that the status of many turtle species around the world and at home remains tenuous. Your continued support is critical to the TSA, and vital in our efforts to assure a future for turtles. We sincerely hope that you enjoy the meeting and the hospitality of our St. Louis hosts, and we look forward to your continued involvement and support of the TSA in the coming year.

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