Institute for Biodiversity Initiatives

Environmental Law - Student Teaching Program

In 2021, the Biodiversity Institute launched an “Environmental Law Teaching” program in collaboration with the School of Geosciences at the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg. The program is patterned after one developed by Professor Zyg Plater at Boston College Law School. Each spring, Professor Gardner and Prof. Plater advise a third-year law student and Biodiversity Fellow Katherine Pratt in developing and co-teaching a course on Environmental Regulation as adjunct professors to USF undergraduate students.

Memorandum of Understanding with the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles (IAC)

The Biodiversity Institute continues to work with the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles (IAC), a regional treaty with 16 member countries under a renewed MOU. Stetson students have had the opportunity to review and comment on draft IAC resolutions concerning the harvesting of sea turtle eggs and participate in researching and drafting a review of resolution implementation.

International Wildlife Conference

The International Wildlife Law Conference brings together lawyers, policymakers, scientists, and students interested in wildlife protection efforts. Co-sponsored by the Institute since 2007, Stetson Law hosted the 21st International Wildlife Law Conference on April 8-9, 2025. The date and registration information for the next conference will be provided here when they become available. Conference archives are available.

Ramsar Convention

The Ramsar Convention (or the Convention on Wetlands), signed in 1971, was one of the first international conservation agreements, promoting global wise use of wetlands. Professor Royal Gardner has served as chair for two years.