This proposal seeks funds for partial support of on international conference to assess the efficiency of taxon-based conservation, restoration, and management programs using chelonians (turtles and tortoises) as model systems. The workshop will examine conservation problems and develop remedial strategies. A task force will be established to oversee the field testing of these strategies after the conference. The approaches, methodologies and solutions discussed at the conference will have important applications pertaining to a wide range of organisms. The conference will contain a blend of participants including ecologists, conservationists, planners, and governmental representatives. The proceedings of the conference will be published. %%% This conference is an important, timely, creative, and cost-effective forum for the discussion and dissemination of information regarding the conservation, restoration, and management of chelonian species. The results of the conference will also yield important implications for conservation biology, in general.
