Ethics for/of the Professional Botanist Ethics for/of the Professional ...
Ethics for/of the Professional Botanist Ethics for/of the Professional ...
Ethics for/of the Professional Botanist Ethics for/of the Professional ...
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>Ethics</strong> <strong>for</strong>/<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essional <strong>Botanist</strong><br />
David L. Magney<br />
Cali<strong>for</strong>nia Native Plant Society<br />
David Magney Environmental Consulting
Topics Covered<br />
• Purpose: Why we should we care about<br />
ethics<br />
• How plants affected by <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />
botanist<br />
• No accountability<br />
• Reflection on pr<strong>of</strong>ession<br />
• Code <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ethics</strong><br />
• Certification<br />
David Magney - CNPS Conservation 2009 2
Why We Should Care<br />
• Decisions by <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essional botanist can<br />
determine <strong>the</strong> fate <strong>of</strong> species or one or more<br />
populations <strong>of</strong> a species<br />
• Data ga<strong>the</strong>red and “published” by <strong>the</strong><br />
botanist can be valuable <strong>for</strong> a wide variety<br />
<strong>of</strong> floristic and conservation research<br />
• Populations <strong>of</strong> native plants are rapidly<br />
being destroyed to accommodate<br />
development (agriculture, energy, housing)<br />
David Magney - CNPS Conservation 2009 3
Problems<br />
• No accountability<br />
– No certification program<br />
– No <strong>for</strong>mal code <strong>of</strong> ethics<br />
– No pr<strong>of</strong>essional support <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> ethical botanist<br />
– No means to censure an unethical botanist<br />
• Lack <strong>of</strong> consistency<br />
• Many rare plant populations and plant<br />
communities are destroyed without<br />
mitigation<br />
David Magney - CNPS Conservation 2009 4
Problems (cont.)<br />
• Lack <strong>of</strong> consistency<br />
• Botany pr<strong>of</strong>ession loses <strong>the</strong> trust <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
public<br />
• Lack <strong>of</strong> qualified pr<strong>of</strong>essional botanists<br />
• Lack <strong>of</strong> perceived need <strong>for</strong> a pr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />
botanist<br />
• Botanical resources not identified or<br />
protected<br />
David Magney - CNPS Conservation 2009 5
Code <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ethics</strong><br />
• A <strong>for</strong>mal Code <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ethics</strong> is needed to:<br />
– Provide guidance<br />
– Provide accountability<br />
– Improve <strong>the</strong> standing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>ession<br />
– Improve <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essionalism<br />
– Empower <strong>the</strong> botanist<br />
• Best through a <strong>for</strong>mal certification program<br />
David Magney - CNPS Conservation 2009 6
Certification Program<br />
• CNPS examining developing a certification<br />
program <strong>for</strong> Cali<strong>for</strong>nia botanists<br />
• Rigorous minimum qualifications<br />
– With flexibility<br />
• Require following Code <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ethics</strong><br />
• Require continuing education<br />
• Provide rewards and empowerment<br />
• Provide discipline (even de-certification)<br />
David Magney - CNPS Conservation 2009 7
Questions?<br />
www.cnpsci.org<br />
President@cnpsci.org<br />
David@Magney.org
Change language