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.

Previous issues: visit the archives

SSC MOURNS TWO INSPIRATIONAL LEADERS
With great sadness, SSC reports that during March, both Ulysses S. Seal and José Marcio Ayres passed away. Both men contributed boundless energy to conservation efforts, and their combined experience has significantly helped the SSC to become the global expert network that it is today. For many within the SSC, Ulie and Marcio leave behind inspiring memories that continue to influence those who carry on their work. To read more about these remarkable conservation heroes see the IUCN website: http://www.iucn.org/info_and_news/press/currentnews.htm and tributes for Ulie at http://www.cbsg.org/; and Marcio at: http://wcs.org/7411/?art=40779944

THREATENED WATERFOWL SPECIALIST GROUP (TWSG) PROFILED
The TWSG is the most recent of the Specialist Groups to be profiled on the SSC website. Joining the Shark and Crocodile Groups, the TWSG web profile is the latest in a series that takes a close look at some of the Groups’ members and some of the species they work on. Profiles are introduced at: http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/sgprofiles/intro.htm, with links to the TWSG profile at: http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/sgprofiles/twsg.htm.

ENDANGERED PARTRIDGE DISCOVERED IN CAMBODIA
The SSC Partridge, Quail, and Francolin Specialist Group reports that the globally threatened, enigmatic, Orange-necked Partridge (Arborophila davidi), previously believed to be restricted to Vietnam, has now been discovered in Cambodia. A single bird was photographed by a remote camera-trap in southern Mondulkiri Province, close to the border with Vietnam, as part of a major new conservation initiative by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Royal Government of Cambodia’s Department of Forestry and Wildlife. The newly-discovered population is likely to benefit from a new conservation project within its habitat.

NEW SSC GLOBAL TREE SPECIALIST GROUP
SSC has a new Global Tree Specialist Group headed by Sara Oldfield of Fauna and Flora International, seconded by Adrian Newton and Paul Mathew. Closely linked to FFI's Global Trees Campaign, this Specialist Group will focus on ensuring that all threatened trees are evaluated for the IUCN Red List, and promote conservation action. Under the guidance of the IUCN/SSC Plant Conservation Committee, the Group will work closely with all existing Specialist Groups covering trees (African Trees, Conifers, and Palms), as well as with all the regional plant Specialist Groups. Further information: Sara Oldfield (sara.oldfield@fauna-flora.org).

SSC URGED TO COMMENT ON GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS PORTAL
On March 11, IUCN’s Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) Portal was launched. This aims to facilitate feedback on a draft IUCN paper entitled “Biosafety and Genetically Modified Organisms: Background for the Enunciation of an IUCN Position and Plan of Action”. The IUCN Council requested members of IUCN to comment on the paper, and this portal is the first step in the process of complying with the mandate of Resolution 2.31 of the Second World Conservation Congress that requires the Director General to “propose options for an IUCN contribution” on GMOs. IUCN Members, Commission members, and staff with an interest in the subject are invited to join the forum discussions and provide feedback on the paper until April 11, 2003. The portal is accessible via www.iucn.org/portal/elc/

RED LIST REMINDER
A further reminder to all SSC members that the deadline for submissions to the 2003 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is 30 April 2003. Revised, updated Authority Files are available at: http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/sis/authority.htm, along with a standard electronic questionnaire that covers minimum documentation requirements for those submitting assessments. All assessments have to be evaluated by the relevant Red List Authority before they can appear on the IUCN Red List, and completed assessments should be sent to the Red List Programme Office at redlist@ssc-uk.org

NEW RAMSAR SECRETARY GENERAL
Dr Peter Bridgewater has been selected as the new Ramsar Secretary General (see http://ramsar.org/w.n.ramsar_secgen1.htm). Dr Bridgewater has been involved in the development of the Convention on Biological Diversity Global Strategy for Plant Conservation; and SSC looks forward to even closer collaboration between the Ramsar Convention, the Species Programme, and the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation.

TAPIR SPECIALIST GROUP CONSERVATION FUND (TSGCF) ESTABLISHED
The Tapir Specialist Group (TSG) and the Tapir Preservation Fund (TPF) have founded the Tapir Specialist Group Conservation Fund (TSGCF) as a funding organization for tapir conservation projects. In the past, the TPF has funded tapir-related conservation projects led, to a great extent, by the members of the TSG. Whilst much was accomplished by these two distinct organizations working together, it became apparent that more could be achieved by fusing their operations. The TSGCF will conduct research on wild and captive tapirs; carry out environmental education; enable recommended actions of the IUCN/SSC Tapir Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan; implement conservation and education work with local communities within the tapirs’ range; and maintain the website: www.tapirback.com.

UPDATE ON SPECIES INFORMATION SERVICE (SIS)
(The report of SIS activities for the year 2002 is available at: http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/sis/sis7.html)
Steady progress is being made with SSC’s top priority, the Species Information Service. A team from Oracle has tested and delivered the software and initial database to Panther Ltd. It has also prepared a technical specification and installation guide for SIS. Following further testing, Panther will provide the installation procedure on the CD containing the final working version of SIS. A technical review of the software will be held during a meeting in Washington DC mid-April. Meanwhile, negotiations are underway over upgrading the SIS server, currently held in Rome, and possibly moving it, or creating a duplicate in another location, to provide greater connection speed, security, and back-up. Fundraising is ongoing for a SIS Data Manager/Systems Administrator while Environment Ministries of several European countries are being approached for general SIS funding.

DATE FOR THIRD IUCN WORLD CONSERVATION CONGRESS SET
The date for the Third IUCN World Conservation Congress has been set as 17-25 November 2004. It will be held in Bangkok, Thailand.

STAFF CHANGES
The Species Programme bids farewell to Adminstrative Assistant Isabelle Weber who left IUCN at the end of March after nearly four years with the organisation. Isabelle worked mainly on SSC finances, with great efficiency. Her replacement will be announced shortly. The programme also says farewell and thank you to Andrew Nichols who has filled in as Communications Officer while Anna Knee has been on maternity leave. Anna returned to the position on April 1 and can be reached, as before, at alk@iucn.org.

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)22 999 0153.