Conservation efforts of the American Society of Primatologists.

The American Society of Primatologists (ASP) was founded in 1976 as an educational and scientific organization dedicated to primatology (J. Erwin, personal communication). Its purpose is to promote and encourage the discovery and exchange of information regarding primates, including all aspects of their anatomy, behavior, development, ecology, evolution, genetics, nutrition, physiology, reproduction, systematics, conservation, husbandry, and use in biomedical research (ASP Constitution). Primate conservation has always been a high priority of the ASP. In the November 1977 (Vol. 1, No. 4) issue of the ASP Bulletin, Orville A. Smith, then ASP president, stressed that an immediate objective of the society must be to “establish broad areas of agreement on primate use and primate conservation, so that we can formulate common approaches toward a fundamental goal in which we already have agreement: the continued existence of nonhuman primates” (p. 1). That same year, the Conservation Committee was established as a standing committee of the ASP, charged with the oversight of Society-related conservation efforts. Peter Rodman was asked to serve as the first chair of the Conservation Committee. See Table I for a complete list of the ASP Conservation Committee Chairs. During the past 20 years, the ASP has made significant progress in promoting primate conservation worldwide. This editorial provides an overview of the ASP’s conservation efforts to date. It is not intended to be a complete historical account of all ASP conservation-related activities but rather a summary of the major contributions and initiatives that best characterize the conservation efforts of the American Society of Primatologists. Most information originated from the ASP Conservation Committee reports published in the ASP Bulletin. Where data were inconsistent or incomplete, past chairs of the Conservation Committee were contacted to help supplement the reports and clarify discrepancies. We apologize for any oversights or omissions.