Latin American Mammalogy Network (Red Latinoamericana de Mastozoología, RELAM)

The RELAM was created as a response to the common problems and needs faced by Latin American Mammalogical Societies. Some of these needs are:

• To promote communication and information exchange between mammalogists from Latin American countries.
• To promote Mammalogy as a field of research among new generations of students.
• To encourage scientists and students to contact their national mammal societies.

Thus, the main goal of this network is to integrate Mammalogical Societies throughout the Region, favoring collaboration between existing Societies and promoting their creation in those nations where they are still non-existent.

History

The RELAM was created on August 12, 2009, at the 10th International Mammalogical Congress (IMC–10) held at Mendoza (Argentina), as part of a meeting organized by the SAREM and the Asociación Boliviana de Investigadores en Mamíferos (ABIMA). Fourty-six people from several Societies and countries are considered to be founding members of the RELAM.

General Goals

• To encourage the scientific and technical development of participant countries in the study of mammals.
• To promote scientific research between participating countries, setting priorities in the conservation and management of mammals and their habitat.
• To stimulate the scientific and technical cooperation between participating countries through academic and practical collaboration involving mammalogical research and training.
• To promote greater self-sufficiency and stronger, more favorable international relationships among Latin American countries.
• To identify common research interests between Societies within the network, in order to develop joint strategies to promote and finance scientific research at the regional level.
• To provide technical assistance and advice on regional policies concerning the management and conservation of mammals throughout Latin America.
• To serve as the main channel of communication and dissemination of the scientific activities of the societies belonging to the network.

Particular Goals

• To promote Mammalogy at regional level through the increase in number of researchers, in order to strengthen mammalogy and their respective mammalogical societies.
• To support the allocation of funds to promote local and regional research on mammals, oriented toward the development of conservation and management policies.
• To promote the exchange of information between mammalogists and students from Latin America, to stimulate sharing of experiences, training and integration.
• To facilitate academic and field training of researchers and students through grants-in-aid, available to support attendance to courses, workshops, seminaries, and/or meetings.
• To encourage the discussion, evaluation, approval and communication of policies and regulations concerning the study, management and collection of mammals in Latin American countries.