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This monthly Bulletin, as a supplement to SPECIES,
SSC’s published newsletter, is to keep staff, members
and the wider IUCN network up-to-date with news and announcements
from the Commission.
This issue and all previous issues are available on the SSC website: www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/
Previous issues: visit the archives
In this issue:
News
EXPERTS DEVELOP GLOBAL ACTION PLAN TO SAVE AMPHIBIANS FROM EXTINCTION
IUCN UNDERTAKES FIRST EVER IUCN RED LIST OF EUROPEAN MAMMALS
GLOBAL MARINE SPECIES ASSESSMENT UNDERWAY
CALL TO SAVE MANKIND’S CLOSEST RELATIVES
WOLLEMI PINE AUCTION – RAISING MONEY FROM A CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES
LAUNCH OF CROP WILD RELATIVE INFORMATION SYSTEM
Reports
THE FUTURE IS LOOKING BRIGHTER FOR THE SEYCHELLES WHITE-EYE – ONE OF THE ISLANDS ’ RAREST BIRDS
Announcements
NEW SSC STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER
SPECIES PROGRAMME STAFF COMINGS AND GOINGS
OTHER IUCN SPECIES-RELATED APPOINTMENTS
RECONSTITUTION OF SSC SPECIALIST GROUPS
FORMER CHAIR OF SSC PLANTS COMMITTEE RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS NEW ZEALAND CONSERVATION AWARDS
EXPERTS DEVELOP GLOBAL ACTION PLAN TO SAVE AMPHIBIANS FROM EXTINCTION
A summit of leading scientists have agreed to an action plan intended to save hundreds of frogs, salamanders and other amphibians facing extinction from familiar threats such as pollution and habitat destruction, as well as a little-known fungus that is wiping out their populations. The Amphibian Conservation Summit held 17-19 September in Washington DC, called for a series of actions, including emergency responses to save species under the greatest threat. More than 60 specialists, convened by SSC, drafted the seven-page Amphibian Conservation Action Plan.
Full story: http://www.iucn.org/en/news/archive/2005/09/amphibians.pdf
Amphibian Conservation Action Plan declaration: intranet.iucn.org/webfiles/doc/SSC/SSCwebsite/GAA/ACAP_Summit_Declaration.pdf
IUCN UNDERTAKES FIRST EVER RED LIST OF THREATENED EUROPREAN MAMMALS
The IUCN Regional Office for Europe and SSC’s network of specialists, together with IUCN Species Programme staff will jointly conduct the first specific assessment of Europe 's approximately 281 mammal species in the framework of the pan-European initiative "Countdown 2010 - Halt the loss of biodiversity”. This assessment includes a high number of threatened endemic species, amongst them the most endangered big cat in the world - the Iberian lynx. Only around 250 individuals remain - habitat fragmentation has reduced numbers to a critical level.
Full story: http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/news/euro_mammal_red_list.htm
GLOBAL MARINE SPECIES ASSESSMENT UNDERWAY
The Global Marine Species Assessment (GMSA) carried out as part of SSC’s wider Biodiversity Assessment Initiative is underway. The GMSA will be the first global review of the conservation status of every marine vertebrate species and of selected invertebrates and plants. Led by SSC, the project will involve a range of partners in compiling and analyzing all existing data on around 20,000 species, and determine the risk of extinction according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Kent Carpenter has been appointed as project coordinator, based at Old Dominion University , Virginia , USA .
CALL TO SAVE MANKIND’S CLOSEST RELATIVES
The recently launched Regional Action Plan for Conservation of Chimpanzees and Gorillas in Western Equatorial Africa seeks a multilateral response to the threats facing western lowland gorillas and central African chimpanzees that share the same habitat in six countries. Drafted by more than 70 primatologists, including members of the Great Ape sub-group of SSC’s Primate Specialist Group, it identifies 12 areas for emergency programmes. For more information contact: Rebecca Kormos, SSC Primate Specialist Group, r.kormos@conservation.org
WOLLEMI PINE AUCTION – RAISING MONEY FROM A CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES
A total of 292 individuals of the Wollemi pine, a living fossil thought to be extinct for millions of years until rediscovered near Sydney, Australia 11 years ago, are to be auctioned by Sotheby’s on 23 October, with the proceeds going to conservation in the region and internationally. SSC members have been involved in conservation efforts for this species and one of the lots, a grove of trees, is being sold as the Given Collection named after David Given former Chair of the SSC Plant Conservation Committee. For more information see www.wollemipine.com
LAUNCH OF CROP WILD RELATIVE (CWR) INFORMATION SYSTEM
The Plant Genetic Resource (PGR) Forum Crop Wild Relative Information System (CWRIS) was launched on 14 September at the First International Conference on CWR Conservation and Use in Sicily , Italy . PGR Forum is a precursor to the SSC Crop Wild Relative Specialist Group currently being formed. CWRIS is the first information management system designed to facilitate access to CWR data for a diverse range of user groups, including plant breeders, protected area managers, policy-makers, conservationists, taxonomists and the wider public. The CWR Catalogue, included in the system, contains more than 23,000 species records and in excess of 243,000 records of taxon occurrences in 130 geographical units. More www.pgrforum.org/CWRIS.htm
THE FUTURE IS LOOKING BRIGHTER FOR THE SEYCHELLES WHITE-EYE – ONE OF THE SEYCHELLES ’ RAREST BIRDS
The last few years have seen a welcome turn-around in the fortunes of the Seychelles white-eye, thanks to the success of the Seychelles white-eye Recovery Programme, involving Dr Gérard Rocamora, a member of SSC’s Reintroduction Specialist Group, and other conservation organisations. As with so many island endemics, introduced alien species were having a devastating impact and pushing the white-eye towards extinction. Positive conservation action has seen a welcome change in the bird’s fortunes.
Full story: http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/news/whiteeye.htm
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NEW SSC STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER
The 64th meeting of the IUCN Council (the union’s governing body) approved the appointment of Yvonne Sadovy to the SSC Steering Committee. Yvonne is Chair of the Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group and an expert in marine issues, and has already made a significant contribution to the Commission.
SPECIES PROGRAMME STAFF COMINGS AND GOINGS
Mariano Gimenez Dixon, SSC’s Programme Officer for fauna, has left IUCN after more than 13 years of service to the Species Programme.
Alison Rosser , Programme Officer for SSC’s Wildlife Trade Programme for 11 years has left IUCN to take up a position as Lecturer in Biodiversity Conservation at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent , UK .
Carmen Mury, Finance Assistant has left to take up a post in the UN. Bryan Hugill is acting as temporary Finance Assistant.
Grateful thanks to all staff for their valued work over the years.
Jim Ragle, formerly of Conservation International is the new manager for the Species Information Service, taking over from Stuart Salter. Jim is based in IUCN headquarters.
Mandy Haywood, who previously worked for the Wildlife Trade Programme has joined the SSC Global Mammal Assessment team based at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville , USA.
OTHER IUCN SPECIES-RELATED APPOINTMENTS
Channa Bambaradeniya is the new IUCN Asia Regional Species Coordinator. He has been working with the IUCN Sri Lanka Country Programme for the last six years, as Programme Coordinator and Head of the Ecosystems Management and Species Conservation Unit. SSC looks forward to a close working relationship with Channa.
RECONSTITUTION OF SSC SPECIALIST GROUPS
As called for at the World Conservation Congress (IUCN’s General Assembly) every four years, membership of the Union’s six commissions is dissolved. All SSC Specialist Groups and Task Forces must be reappointed, along with their members. All invitation letters have now been sent to prospective group chairs (some remain the same). As each confirmation is received, details are posted on the SSC website and the updated list can be seen at www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/sgs/sgs.htm
FORMER CHAIR OF SSC PLANTS COMMITTEE RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS NEW ZEALAND CONSERVATION AWARDS
Congratulations to David Given, former co-Chair of the SSC Plants Committee, who has received two major national New Zealand awards: a Lifetime Achievement Award by the country’s Network for Plant Conservation, and Te Tohu Taiao which is the New Zealand Ecological Society's annual award for "recognition of outstanding achievement in the study and application of ecology in New Zealand ".
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If you would like more information on any of the items included in this issue or wish to submit an item to future issues, please contact Anna Knee (alk@iucn.org) or Andrew McMullin (mcmullina@iucn.org); tel: +41 (0)22 999 0153.
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