IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) E-Bulletin April 2004

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:

EXPANDING THE ARK
NO RESPITE FOR CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SAIGA ANTELOPE
SSC AT THE 2ND WORLD BOTANIC GARDENS CONGRESS
GLOBAL GAP ANALYSIS
THE DECLINE OF NON-MARINE MOLLUSCS
CROCODILE CONSERVATION IN BOTSWANA
NEW SSC PUBLICATIONS INTERN

EXPANDING THE ARK
Despite their vast numbers, rich diversity, and vital role in terrestrial, marine, and freshwater ecosystems, many invertebrate species remain undescribed and under-represented in conservation planning, management, and policy strategies. To address this, the global invertebrate conservation community, including SSC members, has united under a new coalition launched through a recent symposium "Expanding the Ark: The Science and Practice of Invertebrate Conservation" held at the American Museum of Natural History, New York. Speakers from around the world outlined a broad range of perspectives on how best to advance invertebrate conservation. The symposium provided a venue to engage the scientific community, conservation practitioners, policy makers, and the public in a dialogue on the fate of invertebrate biodiversity, and to map concrete approaches for future action.

NO RESPITE FOR CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SAIGA ANTELOPE
The saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica tatarica) still faces imminent extinction despite the conservation efforts of many people. The plight of this nomadic herding antelope featured prominently in the launch of the 2002 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in which it was listed as Critically Endangered, the highest category of threat. Although extensive media coverage of the saiga's situation prompted a certain level of action, this has not been enough to stem its rapid decline. Unless current conservation measures are dramatically strengthened, poaching will continue and rapidly lead to extinction or near-extinction of the main remaining populations, especially that of Betpak-Dala in Kazakhstan. This was one of the conclusions of a recent workshop held in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Full story.

SSC at the 2nd WORLD BOTANIC GARDENS CONGRESS
Red Listing, fundraising and governance of SSC's plant network were among the topics for the Commission's Plant Conservation Committee (PCC) which met prior to the 2nd World Botanic Gardens Congress 17-22 April in Barcelona, Spain. SSC members were prominent at the Congress whose themes ranged from conservation and policy to education, research and horticulture. Many interesting conservation case studies, including ones on invasive alien species were presented. PCC Co-chair Mike Maunder presented the results of the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress. SSC contributed to a panel presentation entitled "models, protocols, practices, practical experience: do we have a full tool kit for botanic garden plant conservation"? SSC Plants Officer Wendy Strahm and Seona Anderson from Plantlife International outlined joint activities to achieve targets 2 and 5 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Global Strategy for Plant Conservation relating to plant conservation assessment and Important Plant Areas. Hamdallah Zedan, CBD Executive Secretary gave a keynote presentation stressing how botanic gardens can contribute to the global strategy. A new sense of botanic gardens pulling together to engage in increased conservation activity emerged from this meeting which was organised by the Botanic Garden and Botanic Institute of Barcelona, and Botanic Gardens Conservation International. More information from Wendy Strahm was@iucn.org

GLOBAL GAP ANALYSIS
A paper appearing in the science journal Nature recently places one of the major outcomes of the Vth IUCN World Parks Congress into the high profile scientific literature. Effectiveness of the global protected area network in representing species diversity, widely referred to as the "global gap analysis" is the most comprehensive peer-reviewed analysis of its kind. The World Parks Congress held in South Africa in September 2003 announced that the global network of protected areas now covers 11.5% of the planet's surface. This surpasses the 10% target proposed 10 years earlier at the Caracas Congress. However, the global gap analysis finds that at least 300 Critically Endangered, at least 237 Endangered, and 267 Vulnerable bird, mammal, turtle and amphibian species have no protection in any part of their ranges. The analysis builds on the work of thousands of scientists and dozens of institutions including IUCN/SSC. Full story.

THE DECLINE OF NON-MARINE MOLLUSCS
Members of SSC's Mollusc Specialist Group and others highlight the perilous state of terrestrial and freshwater molluscs in a recent paper in the journal BioScience. Non-marine molluscs are one of the most diverse and imperiled groups of animals, although not many people other than a few specialists who study the group seem to be aware of their plight. The paper provides an overview of global non-marine molluscan biodiversity and conservation status, including several case studies documenting its diversity and global decline. It outlines the roles that molluscs and malacologists should play in conservation, including research, conservation management strategies, and education and outreach. The paper is available online here.

CROCODILE CONSERVATION IN BOTSWANA
As human populations increase and encroach on wildlife habitat, conflict between humans and Nile crocodiles in Africa is escalating. SSC Crocodile Specialist Group member and Earthwatch scientist Dr. Alison Leslie receives reports of "problem" animals about once a month in Botswana's Okavango Delta region. Her work with teams on the Earthwatch-supported Crocodiles of the Okavango project is designed to examine the habitat needs of wild crocodiles, determine their impact on local human populations, and recommend conservation solutions. Dr Leslie has the land and local support to start a community-run crocodile farm that will ease hunting pressure on wild populations and provide a sustainable local economy. She is featured in the Crocodile Specialist Group profile here on the SSC website.

NEW SSC PUBLICATIONS INTERN
Bryan Hugill has taken over from Polly Phillpot as the SSC Publications/Communications intern. Having guided several Action Plans through the publication process, Polly is leaving to pursue a career in environmental education. Bryan is South African, has a background in conservation and previously volunteered with the IUCN World Heritage Programme.

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.