Member Networks

At CIEEM we have something for all our members, wherever you are and whatever your interests:

National Sections representing members in Wales, Ireland and Scotland.
Regional Sections for members across England.
Special Interest Groups (SIGs) focussing on specific topics.

Each network is run by a committee of volunteers and provides opportunities for members to share knowledge, meet like-minded people and learn more about the science and practice of our profession. They do this by:

Organising events, such as workshops and field trips.
Speaking to students and early careers members.
Promoting professional standards.
Feeding into consultations.
Representing the views of members at a local, national and international level.

There are currently over 170 Member Network volunteers doing amazing work all over the country, as well as overseas. If you’d like to find out about who they are, what they get up to and how you can get involved, head on over to their pages in Members’ area, where you can also sign up to hear from your chosen networks under your Personal Preferences,

Find their latest activities under News and Events.

Geographic Sections

Committee members volunteer their time to support members living and/or working in their area through providing opportunities to network, share skills and learn more about the profession. They also have a role in promoting CIEEM in their area and representing members at a local and national level.

You can contact your committee at:

Special Interest Groups

Contact your Special Interest Groups at: membernetworks@cieem.net

Academia

Our academic members provide a direct link between the Institute and the next generation of members, as well as facilitating relevant and robust research to support evidence-based professional practice.

Members of the Academia SIG (ASIG) Committee volunteer their time to provide opportunities for academic members to network with each other and with others interested in working with academic institutions. Find out more in the Members’ area.

Early Careers

The early stages of a career can be challenging to negotiate. The Early Careers SIG (ECSIG) focuses primarily on the key areas of peer support, raising awareness of issues affecting early career ecologists and environmental managers, and pushes for a real attitude change towards early career members in the sector.

It provides a voice for those in the earlier stages of their career, recognising and celebrating their achievements while providing informal support around how to tackle the issues highlighted by SIG members. We welcome all CIEEM members in the early stages of their career, and those who support professional development and career progression, to join in with ECSIG. Find out more in the Members’ area.

Ecological Restoration and Habitat Creation

The Ecological Restoration and Habitat Creation (ERHC) SIG is a forum for the exchange of ideas, supporting events, CPD, policy engagement and other initiatives. The group’s focus is on the restoration of degraded ecosystems, rehabilitation, reclamation, habitat creation and habitat/species translocation.

Members of the ERHC SIG Committee volunteer their time to support members working in this sector through providing opportunities to network, share skills and learn more about the profession. Find out more in the Members’ area.

Freelance Practitioners

There are many freelance / self-employed CIEEM members who work in the sector. While working in this way provides lots of opportunities and flexibility, there are challenges too. The Freelance Practitioners SIG (FPSIG) is here to help.

Members of the SIG Committee volunteer their time to provide a valuable platform for our freelancing and sub-contracting members to network together, exchange knowledge of this side of the sector, create best practice guidance and provide crucial peer support where needed. Find out more in the Members’ area.

Freshwater Ecology

Freshwater ecosystems are increasingly threatened by pollution, habitat degradation and invasive species. This topic of ecology transcends geographical boundaries and requires urgent attention address complex issues involving wetlands, lakes, ponds and rivers, very few of which are in good overall ecological health.

Members of the SIG Committee volunteer their time to bring together ecologists and environmental managers interested in freshwater ecology, provide opportunities for networking, sharing case studies and experiences building a strong evidence base by which to increase action to protect these vital habitats and threatened species. Find out more in the Members’ area.

Marine and Coastal

The UK boasts some rich and diverse marine environments and these invaluable habitats are increasingly under threat from overfishing, climate change and pollution.

Members of the Marine and Coastal SIG Committee volunteer their time to support members working in this sector through providing opportunities to network, share skills and provide a focus for engaging with and responding to marine policy consultations. Find out more in the Members’ area.

UK Overseas Territories

The UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) boast more biodiversity than the entirety of mainland UK and include three biodiversity hotspots: the Caribbean islands, the Mediterranean basin and the Oceania eco-zone. Responsibility for protecting this priceless biodiversity is shared between the UK government and the local government of each territory.

Members of the UK Overseas Territories SIG Committee volunteer their time to support members working in this area through providing opportunities to network, share skills and learn more about the profession. Find out more in the Members’ area.

Rainbow Places (LGBTQ+)

Rainbow Places provides a platform for people to have conversations around their experiences, to develop and implement ideas of how to make the industry more inclusive, to raise awareness and visibility, to champion role models and ‘proud’ practices already providing inclusive workplaces, and to lead by example in building a network with LGBTQ+ professionals and allies across the landscape, place and environment sectors.

The SIG is hosted by the Landscape Institute and supported by CIEEM, Design Council, and Institute of Place Management (IPM).

Our Aims:

To form a support and communication network to represent our LGBT+ members and allies.
To help practices to improve LGBTQ+ inclusivity in the workplace.
To connect with LGBTQ+ groups in other disciplines.
To find areas within the industry with the potential to improve their approach to diversity.
To organise LGBTQ+ networking events.
To improve visibility of LGBTQ+ people within the industry.