Following the adoption of Resolution 4.039 (Cross Commission Collaboration on Sustainable Use of Biological Resources) at the 4th IUCN World Conservation Congress, the IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP) and the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) have established a new cross-Commission group focused on sustainable use: the Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group (SULi). This builds on and re-focuses the extensive work of the Sustainable Use Specialist Group. This section of the IUCN website has been established as SULi’s web area and will be populated with information in due course.

Broadly, the work of the group will include highlighting the importance of wild species for providing community benefits; analysing and communicating best-practice in aspects of sustainable use; promoting innovation in adaptive responses to the challenges of sustainable use; and developing practical tools and approaches to support sustainability and resilience in resource use.

Key thematic areas of interest are likely to include food security, wild meat (bushmeat), coastal/artisanal fisheries, sustainable use/Community-based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) and community empowerment; and engaging with key international fora such as the CBD and CITES on sustainable use and equitable benefit-sharing. Collaboration is also anticipated with other IUCN Commissions, such as the Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM), and other specialist groups, programmes, and working groups both within and outside IUCN.

Rosie Cooney has been appointed as Chair of the new group. To contact Rosie with general inquiries, proposals for working collaborations, or to request details of how to join SULi email her at rosie.cooney@iucn.org. To subscribe to the SULi newsletter, scheduled to be issued approximately four times a year via email, click here.