IUCN/TRAFFIC Analyses of the Proposals to amend the CITES Appendices, COP 14

The production of the Analyses by the joint IUCN/TRAFFIC writing team is now complete and the Analyses will be available on the SSC website from late on 30th March. www.iucn.org/themes/ssc This is the culmination of three months intensive consultations involving hundreds of experts around the world. The Analyses provide as objective and factual an assessment as possible of each amendment proposal to the CITES listings. This allows the Parties to CITES to form their positions on the proposals based on the best and most up to date scientific information.

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

Email. Thomasina.Oldfield@ssc-uk.org

Twenty Coral Reef Fishes Threatened with Extinction

Groupers are the basis of the multi-million dollar live reef fish market of the sea food trade centred in Hong Kong, where consumers can pay up to US$50 per kg for this delicacy. Groupers are also the most valuable commercial fishes in the fresh fish markets of the tropics and sub-tropics.

Twenty species of grouper, a globally important group of 162 coral reef food fishes, are threatened with extinction unless management or conservation measures are introduced. This was the conclusion of a panel of twenty experts from 10 countries at a recent conservation summit convened to assess the status of groupers worldwide. The workshop was co-organized by the IUCN SSC Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group.

Full story: http://www.iucn.org/en/news/archive/2007/03/6_coral_reefs.ht

New Apes Population, Environments and Survey Database launched

The new Ape Populations, Environments and Surveys (A.P.E.S.) database, has just been launched, and can be accessed on the A.P.E.S. website at http://gis.eva.mpg.de. It is a joint initiative of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig and the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group.

One of the main aims of the A.P.E.S. database is to provide the information needed for long-term management and conservation strategies to save the great apes. It will provide an accurate global picture of the distribution and status of all great apes, and will undoubtedly become a valuable tool for all those working to conserve and protect the world’s remaining wild ape populations.

Full story: http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/news/2007_articles/apes_database_launch.ht

Lifting Tiger Trade Ban a Catastrophe for Conservation

Any lifting or easing of the current Chinese ban in tiger trade is likely to be the death sentence for the endangered cat species, a new TRAFFIC report says. The report 'Taming the tiger trade': China's markets for wild and captive tiger products since the 1993 domestic trade ban’ warns that Chinese business owners who stand to profit from the tiger trade are putting increasing pressure on the Chinese Government to overturn the 1993 ban. This would allow domestic trade in captive-bred tiger parts for use in traditional medicine and for clothing to resume.

Full story: http://www.traffic.org/RenderPage.action?CategoryId=1776

Freshwater Fish thrown a lifeline by Global Conservation Experts

The plight facing freshwater fishes was tackled by some of the world’s leading conservationists in a week long gathering earlier this month. Many of the world’s 14,000 freshwater fish species are in difficulty because of climate change, over-fishing, pollution, damming and habitat destruction. In a global effort to tackle these problems, Chester Zoo, UK, hosted a five day meeting of the IUCN SSC Freshwater Fish Specialist Group (managed jointly by IUCN and Wetlands International).

The conservation status of over 500 species was also evaluated, using standard IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, to determine which species would be classified as threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This brings the number of completed and ongoing freshwater fish assessments to over 4,000, and it is hoped that, with additional funding, this will eventually lead to a global freshwater fish assessment of all 14,000 species.

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

Threats to Migratory Sharks highlighted at CMS Scientific Council

35 species of migratory sharks and rays considered Threatened by the IUCN (World Conservation Union), also meet the criteria for listing under the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), states a report submitted to the Scientific Council by the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group and the Shark Alliance. CMS listings encourage countries to work together on conservation agreements for species which migrate across their boundaries and could be especially beneficial for wide-ranging sharks given the current lack of shark fisheries management.

Full story: http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/news/2007_articles/migratory-sharks.htm

Sad loss of Chris Wozencraft, Chair of the IUCN SSC Small Carnivore Specialist Group

It is with sincere regret that we announce the death of Chris Wozencraft, 53, who died on 6 January 2007. He was recently appointed Chair of the IUCN SSC Small Carnivore Specialist Group and worked in the Department of Biology, Bethel College in Indiana, USA. He had a wealth of professional experience in small mammal research and monitoring, and had published many scientific articles, including the notable taxonomic review of the order Carnivora for the recent book Mammal Species of the World. Chris’s research elicited the taxonomy and systematics of mammals, especially the Carnivora, with which he was especially familiar and with which his name will long be associated. Chris’s contributions to the profession were monumental. His untimely death was most unfortunate; he will be deeply missed. A full tribute and obituary will be published in the October issue of Small Carnivore Conservation.

Gabriela Lichtenstein: New Chair of IUCN SSC South American Camelid Specialist Group

Gabriela Lichtenstein has accepted the appointment as Chair of the IUCN SSC South American Camelid Specialist Group. She has a Biology degree from the University of Buenos Aires and a PhD in Behavioural Ecology from the University of Cambridge. Her experiences include a research project on the sustainability of vicuña use in Peru and she is currently working on the socio-economic impact of guanaco use in Patagonia. In her own words she “has a holistic approach towards wild camelid conservation and enjoys working in multi-disciplinary teams”. Gabriela is particularly keen to include local people’s perspectives in conservation agendas and to feed international policy forums with rigorous scientific research.

ARKive features Top 50 Threatened Mediterranean Island Plants

ARKive, the nature history photograph and film organisation, is supporting the IUCN Species Survival Commission's Top 50 Plants Campaign to help save plant species that face a high risk of extinction by featuring a selection of the most threatened Mediterranean island plants on their website.

See ARKive newsbulletin: http://www.arkive.org/displayNewsletter?news_id=79

SSC Chair Profiles now on SSC Specialist Group web pages

The SSC Specialist Group Chair profiles that were featured in the last three editions of Species, the SSC newsletter, can now be accessed from the Specialist Group page on the SSC website.

See: http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/sgs/sgs.htm

David Newton received the Mazda Wildlife Fund trophy at a ceremony held in Dikololo Game Reserve in South Africa's North West province. At this ceremony TRAFFIC East Southern Africa was acknowledged as one of South Africa's top conservation organisations for the work being done on wildlife trade.

On line Consultation for Protected Area Categories Summit, Alméria, Spain, 7-11 May 2007

IUCN’s Programme on Protected Areas is hosting an e-discussion forum to obtain input for the upcoming Summit on the IUCN Protected Areas Management Categories. This Summit is part of a broader consultation process leading to revised guidelines for the IUCN Category System. Participation at the Summit is, unfortunately, limited and by invitation only. We are, therefore, inviting all IUCN Members, Councillors, Commissions, worldwide staff, as well as all those interested to provide their feedback through the e-discussion forum.

The online forum will operate until 6 April. You are invited to make general comments on the Categories System or provide feedback on specific working papers. The e-forum will be moderated in English, but comments will be accepted in IUCN’s three official languages (English, Spanish and French).

Please participate and have your say by visiting: http://www.iucn.org/themes/wcpa/theme/categories/summit/summitpapers.html

For more information on the Categories Summit, please visit: http://www.iucn.org/themes/wcpa/theme/categories/summit/summit.html

World Migratory Bird Day 12/13 May 2007

World Migratory Bird Day was first ever promoted worldwide by the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds Agreement (UNEP/AEWA) and the global Convention on Migratory Species (UNEP/CMS) in 2006 under the theme “Migratory birds need our support now!”. This year, the immense threats to migrating birds caused by climate change will be its main focus. Climate change has severe consequences for these nomads of the skies…….

For more details see. http://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/

Rhino May Day - 30 May 2007

A conference about the latest developments in rhino conservation is being held on Wednesday 30 May 2007 at the Meeting Rooms of the Zoological Society of London, with the involvement of members of the IUCN SSC Rhino Specialist Groups.

The Rhino Resource Center and the Zoological Society of London are organising this year's event which will bring together a variety of speakers involved in rhino conservation projects in Africa, Asia and in zoos.

For more information see: http://www.savetherhino.org/etargetsrinm/site/850/default.aspx

South African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) launches new GIS Portal

SAIAB are to launch their new GIS Portal on March 23 2007 in Grahamstown, South Africa. It contains some outputs from the Species Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment Unit’s African assessments (a five year project funded by the European Union to assess the status of freshwater biodiversity throughout Africa and to demonstrate the application of these data in the environment).

Website: http://www.saiab.ru.ac.za/

Alcoa Foundation Conservation and Sustainability Fellowship Programme Grants

IUCN is one of the three “Sustainability Institutes” for the Alcoa Foundation Conservation and Sustainability Fellowship Programme. This is designed for mid-career conservationists, primarily from NGOs, who would be able to use US$ 10,000 to complete, carryout, or prepare for publication, a piece of applied research in the following areas that are key to our work:

• The Implications to Biodiversity of Alternative New Forms of Energy
• Review and Synthesis of Corporate Biodiversity Management and Reporting Systems (including Indicators)
• Biomimicry – The Use of Biological Systems to Help Design New Approaches to Sustainability
• The Contribution of the Cultural and Spiritual Values of Indigenous Peoples to Protected Area Objectives
• Detailed Case Study of One or More Biodiversity Compensation Schemes
• The Implications for Conservation of Major Demographic Trends, Including Ageing, Urbanization, and Population Movements

Applications should be sent to the Institute of International Education, 1400 K Street, NW, Suite 650, Washington D.C. 20005. Email: practitionerfellows@iie.org. Note that applications will be accepted until 31 May 2007.

Further information can be found from the IUCN webpage under Initiatives, and a news story will be posted on the Members portal.

Species Staff Changes

Nathalie Velasco will be leaving the IUCN Species Programme in April to take up a full time post in the Administration at IUCN HQ. Nathalie has been with the Species Programme for over four years and recently has been working tirelessly to complete the on-line Commission Registration. We wish her every success in her new job.

ALL communication relating to Nathalie’s former role should now be addressed to sscmembership@iucn.org

Shelly Vosse is the new George Rabb internship intern in the SSC Chair's Office in Cape Town. Shelly has a Masters in Conservation Ecology and much experience of local conservation issues in the Cape Town area. She is very keen to learn more about international conservation issues and IUCN work. Her email address is sscintern@iucn.org