IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) E-Bulletin - September 2003

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

In this issue:

SSC ACTIVE AT THE Vth IUCN WORLD PARKS CONGRESS
MARINE PROTECTED AREAS MAY BE ONLY HOPE FOR SAWFISH SURVIVAL
WADERS IN DECLINE WORLDWIDE
FISHERIES OR BIODIVERSITY?
NEW APPOINTMENT TO SSC SUSTAINABLE USE SPECIALIST GROUP
SOUTH ASIAN INVERTEBRATE SPECIALIST GROUP NEWSLETTER

SSC ACTIVE AT THE Vth IUCN WORLD PARKS CONGRESS
SSC staff and members played a prominent role at the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress which ended on 17th September. The Congress delivered the Durban Accord - a succinct statement for the future of protected areas, an Action Plan, a set of 32 specific Recommendations, and a message to next year's meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity. All documents are available on the Congress website.
A number of initiatives were announced, pledging funding, political support and technical input to improve the management of the protected area estate.
On the SSC front, demonstrations were given to participants of the Species Information Service (SIS) with a preview of the prototype Web-enabled SIS (WESIS), currently under development.
Several SSC staff and members gave presentations in the "Gaps in the System" workshop stream which aimed at building comprehensive global protected area coverage, and in the "Evaluating Management Effectiveness" workshop stream which explored issues such as the impact of climate change on protected areas and the problem of invasive species. A Global Gap Analysis conducted by Conservation International's Center for Applied Biodiversity Science using Red List data, has revealed that at least 831 species classified as threatened with extinction, have no protection whatsoever in any part of their ranges.
SSC together with the IUCN Global Marine Programme, hosted a dialogue introducing a new initiative by SSC to "Shatter the Myth" about marine extinctions. Participants agreed there is a need to show decision-makers that marine plants and animals can go extinct, contrary to widespread belief, and change current marine management policy and practice. Full report
Another side meeting focused on the use of the Precautionary Principle in parks management. SSC is collaborating with IUCN's Environmental Law Centre and regional offices as well as partners TRAFFIC, Fauna & Flora International and ResourceAfrica in an international initiative that seeks to increase understanding of the Precautionary Principle in biodiversity conservation and natural resource management. See the Precautionary Principle Project website.
SSC Veterinary Specialist Group members were central to a two-day forum, that took place during the Congress, launching the AHEAD programme (Animal Health for the Environment And Development). More than 60 veterinarians, wildlife managers and other experts gathered from around the world to explore the health-related challenges facing conservation and development efforts. Full report.
A SSC Members' Reception, generously organized by Hector Magome, SSC Regional Vice-Chair for Southern Africa and sponsored by South African National Parks, provided a great opportunity for SSC Chairs and members attending the Congress to relax and enjoy a drink with old and new friends from the Commission.
Immediately before the Congress, the IUCN/SSC Plant Conservation Committee met at the Durban Botanic Garden with the main topic of discussion being how to move forward with implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity Global Strategy for Plant Conservation.

MARINE PROTECTED AREAS MAY BE ONLY HOPE FOR SAWFISH SURVIVAL SAYS SSC SHARK SPECIALIST GROUP
An alarming message that was fed into the World Parks Congress by the SSC Shark Specialist Group (SSG) is that marine protected areas (MPAs) may provide the only hope for some threatened shark species. If certain species such as the sawfishes do not receive immediate protection, they may soon be extinct. Yet MPAs are just one vital aspect of a suite of measures needed to protect ocean species. Just before the start of the Congress, representatives from all over the Subequatorial African region gathered for a workshop organized by the SSG. The priority was to assess the conservation status of all the region's sharks and related species including sawfishes, rays, chimaeras, and skates. Assessments will be submitted to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. See the Shark Specialist Group website for the full report.

WADERS IN DECLINE WORLDWIDE
A conference of the International Wader Study Group (WSG) which acts as the SSC/Wetlands International Wader Specialist Group was held in Cádiz, Spain from 25-28 September and drew attention to a disturbing decline in wader populations worldwide. It brought together 132 specialists from 20 countries to review the population and conservation status of waders (or shorebirds) around the world. The status of waders in all regions was assessed using the best available data and information, drawing on several major programmes that have compiled recent population data. In particular, a major WSG review of the status of waders in Africa and Western Eurasia has just been completed and has collated extensive new data across these areas. Of populations with known trends, 48% are declining, in contrast to just 16% which are increasing. The reasons for these declines are diverse and poorly understood. Full report.

FISHERIES OR BIODIVERSITY?
Are fishes a component of biodiversity conservation treaties or do they fall exclusively under the competence of fisheries management organization? This question is repeatedly raised at meetings of major environmental conventions considering whether to list threatened or declining fish species on their appendices, and at the meetings of fisheries managers anxious to safeguard their traditional role. Thirty shark experts, including Sarah Fowler, co-chair of the SSC Shark Specialist Group, gathered in San Marino from 29 September to 1 October to assess the status of the Mediterranean cartilaginous fishes; the sharks, rays and chimaeras. Initial discussions covered opportunities for shark management and conservation in the Mediterranean Sea and the identification of priority actions for the conservation of this vulnerable group of fishes. The European Community is moving to integrate fisheries and environmental policies to protect the marine environment and ensure the sustainability of fish stocks and fisheries, and has recognised the desirability of an ecosystem approach to fisheries, environmental protection, and conservation and management measures. "It is recommended that such integrated policy is exported to other nearby regions, and is also promoted on the global level, especially when shared and transboundary stocks, or stocks in the high seas are involved. This is particularly important in semi-enclosed seas as the Mediterranean", says Sarah Fowler. The preliminary workshop results will be communicated shortly, enabling species of particular conservation concern to be identified and targeted for conservation action. Full report.

NEW APPOINTMENT TO SSC SUSTAINABLE USE SPECIALIST GROUP
Lizzie Wilder has been appointed as the new Technical Assistant for the SSC Sustainable Use Specialist Group (SUSG), employed through Fauna & Flora International to support the work of the SUSG Chair, Jon Hutton, and the group in general. Lizzie has an MSc in Taxonomy and Biodiversity from Imperial College and the Natural History Museum, London, and has been involved in research into biodiversity and sustainable agriculture in Latin America.

SOUTH ASIAN INVERTEBRATE SPECIALIST GROUP NEWSLETTER
The South Asian Invertebrate Specialist Group (SAISG) has launched a new electronic newsletter entitled "ProtoEch" providing useful information on group members, abstracts of papers, conservation trips, news stories and anecdotes. Contact B.A. Daniel, Co-Chair SAISG, Email: icinsa@vsnl.net

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.