MORE OCEANIC SHARKS ADDED TO THE IUCN RED LIST

Expert findings show even the fastest, widest ranging sharks are threatened by overfishing. More oceanic or “pelagic” sharks are being added to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species based on the findings of an international expert workshop, convened by the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group

For example, all three species of thresher sharks, known for scythe-like tails that can be as long as their bodies - were listed as Vulnerable globally, and the global threat status was heightened for shortfin mako, a favourite shark among commercial and recreational fishermen, from Near Threatened in 2000 to Vulnerable.

Full story: http://www.iucn.org/en/news/archive/2007/02/22_pr_sharks.htm

NEW INTERNATIONAL STANDARD FOR SUSTAINABLE WILD COLLECTION OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS

The IUCN SSC Medicinal Plant Specialist Group, in collaboration with the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, and others, has been a key player in the development of an International Standard for Sustainable Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (ISSC-MAP). An estimated 50,000 – 70,000 plant species are used in traditional and modern medicine throughout the world. They are undoubtedly an important health and economic resource for humanity, but unsustainable collection is commonly practiced, which not only threatens the survival of many species, but also the livelihoods that depend upon them.

Full story: http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/news/2007_articles/medicinal_plant.htm

MACARTHUR FOUNDATION TO ASSESS CLIMATE CHANGE THREATS AND FUND RESPONSES

The MacArthur Foundation will invest $5 million over three years to identify and mitigate the threat from global climate change on species in the most diverse ecosystems of the planet. A grant of $350,000 over two years will be awarded to the IUCN Species Survival Commission to support an assessment of species’ vulnerability to climate change. This grant will allow IUCN to make significant additions to the Red List database in order to more accurately and comprehensively measure and track the impact of climate change.

Full story: http://www.iucn.org/en/news/archive/2007/02/13_climate_change.pdf

CARCASS OF CRITICALLY ENDANGERED WHALE FOUND IN FISHING GEAR OFF JAPAN’S COAST

This is the fourth Western Gray Whale, all female, known to have been killed in this manner on the Pacific coast of Japan in the last two years. The Western Gray Whale population consists of about 120 individuals, of which only 25 to 35 are reproductive females. According to a population projection prepared by the World Conservation Union’s Western Gray Whale Advisory Panel, this rate of loss of females will, if continued, has a high probability of leading to extinction of the population.

Full story: http://www.iucn.org/en/news/archive/2007/02/01_pr_gray_whale.htm

TRIBUTE TO SMALL CARNIVORE SPECIALIST HARRY VAN ROMPAEY

Harry Van Rompaey emerged in the 1980s as the dynamo of a small group with common concern for small carnivores, resulting in the mustelids and viverrids being among the first groups with a full-length global IUCN action plan (in 1989). A key recommendation was a forum to circulate and archive information about these animals, so, almost simultaneously, out came volume 1 of Mustelid and Viverrid Conservation. The establishment of Small Carnivore Conservation (expanded taxonomic remit) rests solely to Harry’s credit. Many will recall Harry’s modest yet persuasive, and always respectful, correspondence over submissions, often with a dry aside on the ‘pleasures’ of computing. Harry’s death, on 2 February 2007 after a long illness (amazingly, he indexed all 35 issues in his last days at home!), leaves a gap in the small carnivore conservation world that will not be duplicated, although his inspirational personality leaves no shortage of people who will try.

The 2007 update of the IUCN Red List is planned for Tuesday 26th June. More details will be provided in due course.

IUCN/TRAFFIC ANALYSES OF THE PROPOSALS TO AMEND THE CITES APPENDICES, COP 14

Work is well underway and all submissions have been received for the production of the Analyses by the joint IUCN/TRAFFIC writing team. The Analyses will be posted on the SSC website on 30th March.

For more information, contact Thomasina Oldfield, Species Trade and Use Unit:

Email: Thomasina.Oldfield@ssc-uk.org

PROTECTED AREA CATEGORIES SUMMIT, ALMÉRIA, SPAIN

A web site has been created to provide information on the Summit: http://www.iucn.org/themes/wcpa/theme/categories/summit/summit.html.
WCPA shortly be launching an IUCN-wide online consultation process.

CONFERENCE: ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF BIOTA IN MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE ZONES

The exceptional biological richness of the five mediterranean climate zones of the earth - the Mediterranean basin, South Africa, Australia, Chile and California - makes them an ideal case study to investigate the evolutionary and ecological dynamics that generate elevated species numbers. The goal of the conference is to clarify the history of biotic assembly in mediterranean climate zones by integrating evidence across multiple disciplines, including evolutionary biology, systematics, ecology, paleontology, paleoclimatology, and paleogeology. The conference, in English, is aimed at scholars from various biodiversity disciplines at different stages of their careers, from beginning Ph.D. students to established scholars.

For more details: http://www.systbot.unizh.ch/mediterranean/index.htm

NEW SSC CYCAD SPECIALIST GROUP WEBSITE

The SSC Cycad Specialist Group has a new website that provides a wealth of information on the activities of the group and is designed to boost the conservation and sustainable use of cycads. Cycads are one of the most threatened groups of plants worldwide, with ca. 300 species distributed across the tropics and subtropics and the site provides information on various conservation activities and the people involved. There are also links to many other sites with information on cycad taxonomy, distribution, conservation and threatened status.

Take a look at: http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/sgs/csg/

SSC PIGS, PECCARIES AND HIPPO SPECIALIST GROUP NEWSLETTER NOW ONLINE

The latest issue of Suiform Soundings, the newsletter of the IUCN/SSC Pigs, Peccaries, and Hippos Specialist Group, is now available on-line as a cost free pdf. It publishes contributions in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French. Issue 6(2) contains the first of our revised action plan chapters, on Sus celebensis, the Sulawesi Warty Pig, several papers on peccaries, including an overview of research methodologies

It can be downloaded from: http://iucn.org/themes/ssc/sgs/pphsg/Suiform%20soundings/Newsletter.htm

SPECIES STAFF CHANGES

Wes Sechrest has recently left the Species Programme and we wish every success in his future employment. All Global Mammal Assessment enquiries mammal-related issues should now be referred to Jean-Christophe Vié, Mike Hoffman or Simon Stuart