As you may already know, our planet is witnessing an unprecedented decline in biodiversity and an increase in the speed of extinction rate. As a response to mitigate and limit these trends, actors in conservation and research are joining efforts worldwide to produce more broad inferences to observe global trends to assess biodiversity loss and ecosystem responses to climate change and human disturbance. Despite the efforts in the North African region, we still lack fundamental understanding about many taxonomic groups and ecosystems. Collaboration between researchers and conservationists remained limited. Our aim with NAWCN is to establish an effective network across North African countries (Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Mauritania) to foster scientific research in conservation, ecology, wildlife ecology and restoration. Through collaborative initiatives, we aim to enhance our understanding about the fauna and flora in the North African region, reduce knowledge gaps and produce inferences to address; biodiversity loss, habitat fragmentation, human wildlife conflicts, wildlife management strategies, etc.

Below are some points to clarify about this initiative:

• NAWCN is oriented to people who have a scientific background in ecology or fields related to ecology or any person who is interested in wildlife conservation. While any person can join this initiative, a certain standard of communication will be maintained. Anything that will be based on assumptions or lack of evidence, misleading information and absence of scientific argumentation will not be allowed.

• NAWCN is not an advocacy group. We can discuss any sensitive topic or issue related to wildlife, biodiversity, human wildlife conflicts, yet we will not be using this group to advocate to stop a certain issue or misconduct. We can propose advices, suggestions, and scientific background on what to do to mitigate issues. We can analyze the situation but we will not make petitions, or get involved as activists.

• NAWCN encourages promoting researchers’ work. Feel free to post your work (publications, books, communications, webinar).

• All outcomes produced under NAWCN collaborations will respect copyrights and authorship regulations.

If you have any other suggestions, please let us know. This group is inclusive and will advance depending on members’ preferences and engagement.

Updates can follow based on your suggestions and recommendations.