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e-Bulletin
Species Survival Commission |
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March 2006
The monthly e-Bulletin supplements Species, SSC’s published newsletter, and aims to keep staff, members and the wider IUCN network up-to-date with news and announcements from the Species Survival Commission. Previous issues are available to download in the archives: http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/news/ebulletin/earchives.htm
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4 MAY - LAUNCH OF THE 2006 IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES
The latest update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the world's most authoritative source of information on the status of plants and animals, will take place on 4 May 2006. It is one of the key tools used to determine the status of the Earth's biodiversity. A major new element since the last update in 2004 is the inclusion of many freshwater and marine species, notably sharks and rays, for the first time. A comprehensive information package will be available on the day on the SSC and IUCN websites.
ACT NOW TO STOP EXTINCTIONS
The United Nations Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) met in Curitiba, Brazil on 20-31 March to discuss strategies to reduce the current loss of biodiversity. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) had one clear message to this 8th Conference of the Parties to the CBD: it urgently needs to move from commitments to action, to start implementing what it has agreed – with only four years left. SSC organized two side events on indicators. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species provides the basis for one of the best-developed indicators for 2010, that of changes in the status of threatened species. Having such targets and indicators will provide governments with the means to monitor progress in achieving the 2010 targets – both within their countries and globally in the context of the CBD. More about IUCN's involvement with CBD COP8. http://www.iucn.org/cbd/
FIRST PLANT RED LISTING WORKSHOP LISTS 123 TAXA OF EAST AFRICA AS THREATENED
The Eastern Arc mountains and Coastal Forests of Kenya and Tanzania hold at least 1,800 endemic or near endemic plant species. It makes them truly one of the world’s botanical highlights. An inaugural Plant Red Listing Workshop for the region was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from 27 February to 3 March 2006, as a first step in the process of evaluating the conservation status of all the endemic and near endemic species in these areas. In total, an initial 176 taxa were evaluated and 123 (71%) taxa were assessed as Threatened (30 CR, 53 EN, 40 VU), and an additional 12 as Near Threatened.
Full story: http://www.iucn.org/en/news/archive/2006/03/09_plants.htm |
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PILOT PROJECT USES DNA TO CONTROL TRADE IN MEXICAN CACTI
Trade in illegally collected Mexican cacti could soon to be controlled by a ground -breaking DNA-based certification scheme, as scientists in the UK and Mexico embark on an ambitious genetic fingerprinting project. 79% of Mexican cacti are endemics and illegal collecting for the horticultural trade still threatens many despite controls. DNA technology is regularly used to curb illegal trade in wild animals, but has been applied to only a handful of projects for plants. It will require genetic data collection and analysis on a massive scale over the next four years.
Full story: http://www.uaq.mx/naturales/biologia/ccma/ENGLISH/03-Publications-In-News/PT%2042%20Mexican%20cacti.pdf (PDF)
ANDEAN AND PAMPAS CATS: ECOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIOURAL STUDIES IN SOUTHERN BOLIVIA – CAT SPECIALIST GROUP PROJECT OF THE MONTH
The Andean cat is the most threatened felid species in the Americas, and worldwide is considered to be one of the least known felines. It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The species inhabits the Andean region of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru and apparently is restricted to rocky habitats located above 3,500 metres. Little is known either about the pampas cat that inhabits the high Andean zones, although it has a wider distribution compared to that of the Andean cat. The pampas cat was considered as of Least Concern in the 2000 IUCN Red List, but its conservation status was changed to Near Threatened in the 2002 IUCN Red List.
For more information:
http://lynx.uio.no/lynx/catsgportal/project-o-month/20_potm/home/index_en.htm |
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FIRST MIGRATORY BIRD DAY
The African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) together with the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) will launch the first World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) on 8 April from the edge of the Great Rift Valley in Laikipia, Kenya. The aim of the day is to raise awareness, educate and inspire people about the need to protect migratory birds and their habitats, many of which are threatened by human activities. For more information: http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/news/2006_articles/worldmigratorybirdday.htm
RELAUNCH OF INTERNATIONAL BEAR FOUNDATION
International Bear Foundation is a conservation and welfare organisation based in The Netherlands. In autumn 2005, the International Bear Foundation was re-launched to support various nature conservation programmes and species conservation and welfare programmes. Projects supported by the International Bear Foundation involve bears and their habitats. New projects have been started in Georgia, Romania and Croatia. The International Bear Foundation also supports an ongoing welfare project in India. For more information contact: Email. info@internationalbearfoundation.co
MEETING ON THE CONSERVATION, CULTIVATION AND EXPLOITATION OF THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED FUNGI Pleurotus nebrodensis
Meeting will be held from 11-14 May and is organized by the Department of Botany at the University of Palermo, Sicily. Results of projects to cultivate P. nebrodensis both in situ and ex situ to reduce harvesting pressures will be presented. For more information contact: Prof. Giuseppe Venturella, email gventurella@inwind.it
SPECIES STAFF NEWS
Hugo Ruiz Lozano started as the new Species Programme Finance Assistant on 27 March. Hugo is from Mexico. He is fluent in all IUCN official languages. He has a law degree and has experience in accounting and finance. He will deal mainly with payments, donor and consultant contracts, reports, and will keep the Knowledge Network updated.
Helen Temple started on 20 March as the Red List Assistant working on European mammals, based at the Red List Office in Cambridge. She has a PhD from studying the ecology, cooperative breeding and conservation of the White-breasted Thrasher, a rare and endangered bird restricted to two small West Indian islands.
Wendy Strahm Species Programme Plants Officer left on 1 March after 13 years with IUCN dedicated to plant conservation. We wish her every success with her future career plans.
THE NEXT E- BULLETIN WILL BE MAY 2006 |
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