The Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) is infused with the energy and passion of members and participants globally who are engaged in the science, practice, and policy of ecological restoration. SER values the diversity of our restoration community and is committed to providing a welcoming, safe, and inclusive environment for all participants of SER events and gathering spaces. SER welcomes and encourages participation of individuals from racialized, minoritized and otherwise marginalized groups, values constructive contributions from diverse socioeconomic and political perspectives, and diverse ways of being and knowing, and is dedicated to creating a welcoming and respectful environment for all.

The objective of this Code of Conduct (“Code”) is to serve as guidance for acceptable behavior of anyone participating in SER events and the process for remediation should an incident in the nature of unacceptable behavior occur.

The Code reflects SER’s tenets of practicing diversity, equity, and inclusion. All SER meeting and event participants – including, but not limited to, attendees, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, SER staff, members of the media, vendors, guests, and service providers (hereinafter “participants”) – are expected to abide by this Code. This Code applies in all SER venues, including ancillary events and social gatherings, and on-line forums and discussions associated with SER. Throughout this document, the term ‘event’ always includes both in-person events and virtual SER events. Organizers shall enforce this Code throughout events.

Definitions

SER’s Code aims to establish a harassment-free and respectful environment at its events and is driven by the core values of equity and inclusion and the aim of creating a welcoming and respectful environment for all. The definitions given represent SER’s distinctions of the terms and are intended as examples of conduct that may violate any rule laid out in this document:

• Diversity – the quality of being different or unique as an individual or group, including but not limited to the following attributes: race, ability status, age, body size, ethnicity, gender or gender identity/expression, nationality or origin, physical appearance, political views or other affiliation, professional status, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, technology choice and/or working language proficiency.
• Harassment –behavior, gestures, or speech that is not welcome or is personally offensive. Examples of harassment include deliberate intimidation, inappropriate/unnecessary physical contact, photography or recording stalking, sustained disruption of talks, or unwelcome attention.
• Inclusion – the practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those who have physical or mental disabilities and members of other minoritized groups.

Encouraged Behavior

• Foster an atmosphere of inclusiveness and belonging, treating all participants with kindness, respect, consideration, and valuing a diversity of views and opinions (including minority, unpopular, or controversial points of view you may not share).
• Interact with others in ways that reflect the uniqueness, experiences, and worth of others, If you are not sure what a person or a specific community prefers to be called, just ask: “How would you like to be addressed?”
• Communicate in an open, compassionate, and positive manner by using transparent and kind communication. This can be done by avoiding negative tone and critiquing ideas rather than individuals.
• Actively listen without interrupting and imposing one’s own opinions.
• Think before you speak. Be mindful of those around you, and choose your words with kindness, thoughtfulness, and care.
• Acknowledge the opinions, skills, and contributions of others.
• Provide encouragement, help, support, or mentorship to other SER participants, if needed.
• Respect the rules and policies of the meeting venue, hotels, SER-contracted facility, or any other venue, including on-line platforms.
• Respect other participant members’ confidentiality pertaining to photographs and video recordings. 

Unacceptable Behavior

• Unwelcome or offensive verbal comments or exclusionary behavior.
• Sustained disruption of talks or other events.
• Physical or verbal abuse of any participant.
• Unwanted and/or unwelcome sexual or verbal attention and inappropriate physical contact.
• Use of sexual or discriminatory language, images, words, gestures, or concepts in physical gathering spaces or in presentations.
• Real or implied threat of physical harm.
• Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following.
• Abuse of power (including abuses related to position, wealth, race or gender).
• Racism, homophobia, or other behavior that discriminates against a group or class of people.
• Harassment, intimidation, microaggressions, or discrimination in any form are not acceptable. Please note that behavior that is acceptable to one person may not be acceptable to another, so use discretion to be certain respect is communicated. Harassment intended in a joking manner still constitutes unacceptable behavior.
• Invasion of privacy, including taking photos without consent, taking screenshots of conversations, or posting personal details about someone else without their permission.
• In general, SER presenters (oral and poster) can expect that other event participants may choose to photograph or record parts of their presentation. SER will state any specific recording policies in event literature. As such, SER presenters are asked to declare at the opening of their presentation or clearly on their poster if they are opposed to having photographs or recordings of their presentation (e.g. in the event of pre-publication data).
• Retaliation for reporting unacceptable behavior. 

Immediate serious threats to public safety

Please notify venue security if you or someone else is in immediate danger, or if you see something suspicious or would like to report a security issue or emergency at an SER event. Our team will be happy to help you contact hotel/venue security, local law enforcement, or local support services, or escort you or otherwise assist you to feel safe for the duration of the event. We value your attendance and participation, in any capacity.

Incident Reporting Guidelines

Approved as of June 2021