As one of the leading paleontological societies, it is important that the SVP participate in discussions and issues affecting vertebrate paleontology, our profession, and the public. These may include, but are not limited to, protection of fossils on public lands, the role of vertebrate paleontology and evolution in education, ethics, joint agreements with other professional societies or governmental agencies, and other significant issues. The SVP will release periodic statements on this site, which reflect current or new policies, or the society’s position on key issues.

CONSTITUTION, BYLAWS, AND HANDBOOK

SVP Constitution

SVP Bylaws

SVP Handbook

 

OFFICIAL SOCIETY POLICY AND GUIDELINES

The society has issued a number of policy and best practices guidelines and the list below is incomplete. Our website is currently under construction and we will restore this section as soon as possible.

Myanmar Amber: Guidelines for Researchers, Research Institutions and Publishers

Myanmar Amber: Guidelines for the Peer Review Process

Due Diligence Provenance Checklist for Myanmar Amber

Best Practice Guidelines for Repositing and Disseminating Contextual Data Associated with Vertebrate Fossils (2016, revised 2019)

Congressional testimony from SVP on national monument cuts (Mar 13, 2019)

Video coverage of House Committee on Natural Resources hearing on impacts of the monument reductions (Mar 13, 2019)

Ethics Bylaw

SVP Ethics Code 2021

Protocols for Ethics Violation Reporting

SVP Ethics Reporting

Non-Discrimination Policy

Professional Conduct: Best Practices Regarding Research, Publication, and Museum Work. Prepared by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Ethics Education Committee.

Guidelines from the Ethics Education Committee for collecting, documenting and curating fossils

On Evolution

On the sale of vertebrate fossils

On the use of United States Public Lands

Impact Mitigation Guidelines (1995, revised 2010)

Social Media Guide

 

MYANMAR AMBER RESOURCES

General resources:

Further information on Myanmar amber, mining, human rights violation and amber trade (August 2020)

Summary of Myanmar gemstone and antiquities (fossil) laws

Recommendations:

Guidelines for Researchers, Research Institutions and Publishers

Guidelines for the Peer Review Process

Due Diligence Provenance Checklist for Myanmar Amber

SVP official letters:

Letter to the paleontological community (June 14, 2021)

Letter to editors and publishers (April 21, 2020)

 

OFFICIAL SOCIETY STATEMENTS

SVP sends a protest letter on BLM-USFS’s final proposed resource management plans for the Bears Ears National Monument

SVP’s comments on BLM-USFS’s proposed resource management plans for the Bears Ears National Monument

SVP’s response letter to BLM concerning BLM’s “Community Pit #1” near Las Cruces, New Mexico

Letter to House Appropriations Interior Subcommittee FY25 BLM Appropriations

Letter to Senate Appropriations Interior Subcommittee FY25 BLM Appropriations

SVP’s letter to BLM New Mexico State Office concerning BLM’s “Community Pit #1” near Las Cruces, New Mexico

Comments on the proposed resource management plans for BLM’s Rock Springs Field Office in Wyoming

Comments on BLM’s proposed resource management plans for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Comments on BLM’s proposed oil and gas lease sales in southeastern Utah

Comments on proposed ‘Conservation and Landscape Health’ rules (RIN 1004-AE92)

SVP urges funding needed for the enactment of the U.S. Paleontological Resources Preservation Act

SVP Follow-up Statement on Utah HB 396

SVP Comment on Utah HB 396 – Letter to Rep. Elison

SVP Comment on Utah HB 396 – Letter to Gov. Cox

SVP Comment on Utah HB 396 – Letter to Sen. Ibson

SVP demands answers concerning the damage to the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite in Utah, USA (Letter 1)

SVP demands answers concerning the damage to the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite in Utah, USA (Letter 2)

SVP statement on White House taking first step to restoring paleontology at Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears national monuments

Letter regarding sale of Triceratops Big John skeleton

Letter to House Appropriations Interior Subcommittee FY22 BLM Appropriations

Letter to Senate Appropriations Interior Subcommittee FY22 BLM Appropriations

SVP’s support letter for the draft law on the Protection of the Paleontological Heritage of Peru

SVP’s letter to Christie’s Auction House on the sale of Tyrannosaurus rex ‘Stan’

SVP Statement on Black Lives Matter

SVP’s revised letter to Discovery Channel on the series ‘The Dino Hunter’.

SVP Special Statement on Coronavirus

SVP’s letter to editors of journals and publishers on Burmese amber and fossil repository

SVP’s comments on the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s draft policy

SVP’s letter to University of Alaska about drastic 100% cut to its Museum

SVP’s respond to sale of a privately owned juvenile tyrannosaur that was exhibited at University of Kansas

SVP’s comments on the BLM and USFS’s draft monument management plans for the Bears Ears National Monument

SVP’s comments on the BLM’s draft monument management plans for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Letter to Artcurial auction house about the sale of Allosaurus and Camptosaurus

Letter to Aguttes auction house about the sale of a Theropod dinosaur

Frequently asked questions about National Monuments and vertebrate fossils

SVP provides paleontological resource management plans for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

SVP provides paleontological resource management plans for the Bears Ears National Monument

Overview of paleontological resources at 21 U.S. national monuments

SVP comments on 21 U.S. national monuments

SVP comments on Bears Ears and Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monuments

SVP response to US Department of the Interior’s proposed PRPA regulations