Species Survival Commission E-Bulletin - May 2001

This bulletin, as a supplement to Species, the Commission's published newsletter, aims to keep staff, members, and the wider IUCN network up-to-date with news and announcements from SSC's active programme.

Previous issues:
January 2001
February 2001
March 2001
April 2001

In this issue:
- International Biodiversity Day - Alien Invasive Species
- Caviar Importers' Grant to Sturgeon Group
- Version 2.0 of Ramas Red List software available
- Timetable for compiling the Red List
- Indian Subcontinent Orchid Meeting
- Award for Arabian Plants Specialist Group Chair
- Caribbean bats
- New websites
- Turtle dialogue generates Communiqué

INTERNATIONAL BIODIVERSITY DAY - INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES
For International Biodiversity Day on Tuesday 22 May with its theme "biodiversity and management of invasive alien species" IUCN mobilised a major communications campaign involving its Regional and Country Offices (see http://www.iucn.org/). The aim was to raise awareness of the growing problem of invasive species, which pose a major threat to native species and ecosystems around the world. A range of media activities were held in the run-up to the day, centring on the booklet "100 of the World's Worst Invasive Species" produced by SSC's Invasive Species Specialist Group http://www.issg.org/ and a new publication by IUCN Chief Scientist Jeff McNeely, "The Great Reshuffling: An introduction to the human dimensions of alien invasive species."

CAVIAR IMPORTERS' GRANT TO STURGEON SPECIALIST GROUP
The International Caviar Importers Association (ICIA), has generously agreed to provide a grant of US$10,000 to support the work of the SSC Sturgeon Specialist Group (SSG). Ten members of the Association will each contribute US$1,000 to enable the Group to retain a part-time executive officer and obtain communications equipment. Sturgeon produce one of the world's most valuable wildlife commodities - the caviar of some species may sell for £4,000 per kilogramme. In the 1996 IUCN Red List, 27 species of the sturgeon and paddlefish family were listed as threatened with extinction. Since then, the situation of sturgeon in the main caviar producing areas of the Caspian and Sea of Azov/Black Sea regions is thought to have worsened due to increasing illegal harvest following the break-up of the former Soviet Union.

VERSION 2.0 OF RAMAS RED LIST SOFTWARE AVAILABLE
Version 2.0 of the RAMAS® software used for assessing the conservation status of species for possible inclusion in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, is now available. The software incorporates the revised Red List Categories. To purchase a copy, please contact Isabelle Weber, IUCN/SSC Rue Mauverney 28, Gland CH-1196 Switzerland, fax: 41 22 9990015; email: isc@iucn.org or Applied Biomathematics, 100 North Country Road, Setauket, NY 11733, USA fax: 1 516 751 3435. Single-user and site-licensed copies of the software are priced US$295 and US$445 respectively.

TIMETABLE FOR SUBMISSIONS TO THE RED LIST
The SSC Red List Programme Office has issued the timetable for submissions to the Red List. The CD-ROM and website will be updated annually, and an analysis of the data produced in hard copy every four to five years. Unless otherwise notified, this schedule will apply every year:
30th April - deadline for any petitions against listings appearing in the previous edition of the IUCN Red List. Petitions may only be based on the Red List Criteria and accompanying documentation.
31st August - deadline for the submission of new assessments, corrections, new documentation, etc.
31st August - deadline for the submission of justifications from the parties in petitions cases, if the matter has not been resolved.
Mid-November - The Red List Standards Working Group and Petitions Subcommittee will meet by mid-November to discuss and decide on the outcome of any petitions. This decision will appear in the next issue of the Red List.
Early January - public launch of the Red List.

INDIAN SUBCONTINENT ORCHID MEETING
The second meeting of the Indian Subcontinent Regional Orchid Specialist Group took place 17 -19 April in Uttarachal. It attracted about 50 participants from several countries including Nepal, Bhutan, and India, as well as from the Botanical Survey of India's different regional offices including North East, and Andaman and Nicobar islands. The meeting discussed the current status of orchids in the region, identification of orchid-rich areas, the need for detailed ecological surveys, and participation of local communities in the conservation of orchids both in situ and ex situ.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD TO ARABIAN PLANTS SPECIALIST GROUP CHAIR
Chair of the SSC Arabian Plants Specialist Group, Prof. Abdulaziz Abuzinada was recently honoured with the presentation of the 'Environment Personality' award for 2001 by the Gulf Cooperation Council. Prof. Abuzinada is only the second recipient of the award which was created three years ago in an effort to increase public awareness of the environment. The prestigious ceremony took place in Muscat and was covered by Middle East Television.

CARIBBEAN BATS
The latest SSC Action Plan, Microchiropteran Bats: Global Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan, currently in press, includes a section highlighting the diversity and endemicity of the Caribbean bat fauna. The SSC Chiroptera Specialist Group plans to develop a Caribbean Regional Group to consider the recommendations outlined in the Plan, and liaise over the conservation of this important fauna. Co-Chair of the Group, Tony Hutson, is currently involved with bats in the Turks and Caicos Islands as part of a wider conservation programme for these islands. With Tim McCarthy of the USA, he is carrying out surveys, local training, and trying to establish a long-term bat population monitoring programme for the islands.

NEW WEBSITES
SSC's Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group has an attractive and informative new website (http://www.hku.hk/ecology/GroupersWrasses/iucnsg/index.html). The site includes descriptions of the group's work, and species assessments, as well as a range of photographs.

The Sustainable Use Specialist Group (SUSG) has launched its own website to further raise its profile as IUCN's major vehicle for promoting understanding of sustainable use. The site (www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/susg) includes 17 regional SUSG web areas and contact details of chairs and focal points. There are a number of feature articles such as the Pan African Symposium, the IUCN Small Grants Programme and the Lessons Learned in Sustainable Use Case Study Series. Several items are available in French and Spanish.

TURTLE DIALOGUE GENERATES COMMUNIQUÉ
The recent (15-17 May) Wider Caribbean Region Hawksbill Turtle Dialogue which took place in Mexico City, facilitated by IUCN, TRAFFIC, and the CITES Secretariat proved a success and resulted in a communiqué agreed by all participants. This communiqué is available on the SSC website in English, French, and Spanish at http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/whats-new.htm

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 at alk@iucn.org tel: +41 (0)22 9990153.