IUCN

This monthly or bi-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. This issue and all previous issues are available on the SSC website.

LAUNCH OF 2004 IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES AND GLOBAL SPECIES ASSESSMENT

The IUCN’s 3rd World Conservation Congress opened in Bangkok on 17 November to the news that the world is facing an escalating global species extinction crisis. The launch of the 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species at the start of the conference revealed that 15,589 species face extinction. This includes one in three amphibians, almost half of all tortoises and freshwater turtles as well as one in eight birds and one in four mammals. Species loss has major implications not only for biodiversity, but also for human well-being and sustainable development. Halting this alarming trend was therefore one of the major concerns of the 5,000 delegates attending the conference. In addition to the Red List, the Global Species Assessment (GSA) was also launched. Based on the Red List, it is the most comprehensive evaluation ever undertaken of the status of the world’s biodiversity. It shows trends in biodiversity over four years since the last major analysis in 2000. It highlights which species are at greatest risk of extinction, where they occur, and the many threats facing them. The assessment is the first to include the Red List Index, a new tool for measuring trends in extinction risk. Full story // GSA book // Red List database

Dr Holly Dublin has been elected as the new Chair of the Species Survival Commission, following the retirement of David Brackett, who had served for the maximum eight years allowed under the rules of the IUCN statutes. Holly’s association with the Species Survival Commission began over 30 years ago when she became a member of her first Specialist Group. Since that time she has contributed to numerous SSC Specialist Groups, task forces and initiatives. In 1992 she became the Chair of the African Elephant SG, one of the Commission’s most productive and acclaimed groups. In 1994 she joined the SSC Executive Committee and has been a dynamic participant ever since. She moves with ease between the day-to-day realities and concerns of conservation practitioners and the world of international policy, its financiers and decision-makers. A skilled writer and orator with a long and dedicated history with IUCN and SSC, she will be a committed and effective Chair. Her priorities for the Commission over the next four years are:

restructure the Commission and its Secretariat support system to facilitate the integration of the work of SSC’s members and Specialist Groups with the outputs of the SSC Strategic Plan (2001–2010) and IUCN’s Key Results Areas (2005–2008);
re-appoint the Specialist Group Chairs on the basis of criteria developed by the Consultative Group on Commissions, recommended to the IUCN Governance Task Force and later adopted by Council;
continue to respond in tangible ways to the recommendations outlined in SSC’s “2001 Study on Voluntarism” and the “2004 External Review of IUCN Commissions”;
assist in securing support for the implementation of the Species Information Service to enable it to reach its full potential;
forge stronger and more synergistic partnerships and joint programmes of work with our “sister” Commissions, the Secretariat and with relevant institutions and individuals outside IUCN; and investigate the merit and feasibility of SSC hosting an international forum on species conservation.

NASA AND ORACLE ANNOUNCE SUBSTANTIAL DONATIONS FOR SSC’s SPECIES INFORMATION SERVICE

Two major announcements for the development of SSC’s Species Information Service (SIS) - IUCN’s worldwide biodiversity and conservation management tool that includes the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - were made at the IUCN 3rd World Conservation Congress in Bangkok, in November.

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) signed a joint declaration with IUCN to improve access to, and incorporate NASA data and remote sensing products into the work of IUCN. SIS will be a major beneficiary of this agreement. Full story
Oracle Corporation announced an in-kind donation of Oracle software and support services valued at US $3.0 million to IUCN. This generous gift means that SIS now has the necessary technical support and software required to reach its full potential as a worldwide conservation knowledge management system and service. Full story

ANNOUNCING RECIPIENTS OF THE SIR PETER SCOTT AWARD FOR CONSERVATION MERIT AND HARRY MESSEL AWARD FOR CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP

The Sir Peter Scott Award for Conservation Merit is given by the SSC in the name of the late Sir Peter Scott, whose commitment to global conservation, IUCN and SSC left a legacy of achievement recognized throughout the global conservation community. This award recognizes highly significant achievements in conservation. Accomplishments may involve one or more specific events, or they may reflect sustained activity over time. The recipient may be one or more individuals, an organization, or an institution. Achievements are recognizable as particularly significant and noteworthy contributions to the conservation of wild fauna and flora, especially (but not limited to) endangered and threatened taxa and those subject to exploitation by man. Nominations are approved by the Chair of the SSC with the SSC Executive Committee. The SSC Sir Peter Scott Award for Conservation Merit was presented at the WCC by outgoing SSC Chair, David Brackett, to Chair of the IUCN/SSC Red List Committee, Dr Georgina Mace, IUCN/SSC Plant Conservation Committee Co-Chair, Dr David Given and Chair of the SSC Asian Rhino Specialist Group, Dr Mohd Khan b Momin Khan. All were honoured for their long-time, significant contributions to conservation. In addition, the newly created Harry Messel Award for Conservation Leadership was given to Dr Perran Ross of the SSC Crocodile Specialist Group and Patricia Medici, Chair of the SSC Tapir Specialist Group.

TRIBUTE TO DAVID BRACKETT - RETIRING CHAIR OF THE SPECIES SURVIVAL COMMISSION

For the past eight years he has headed IUCN’s largest volunteer network, the Species Survival Commission (SSC). Having worked in the wildlife conservation field for almost 25 years, David was ideally suited for the SSC Chair. During his Chairmanship, SSC has grown from a membership of 5,000 to nearly 8,000 today with an ever-complex structure of more than 120 Specialist Groups, Task Forces and Committees. Under his leadership, the Species Survival Commission united under its 10 year Strategic Plan (2001-2010) with its goal, “the extinction crisis and massive loss in biodiversity are universally adopted as a shared responsibility resulting in action to reduce this loss of diversity within species, among species, and of ecosystems”. David firmly believes the development of the SSC goal and the debate surrounding it influenced the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Strategic Plan with its goal that was later picked up by the world’s heads of government at the World Summit on Sustainable Development – to significantly reduce the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010. Other highlights for David include the insights gained through the SSC Voluntarism Study, the establishment of the Sir Peter Scott Fund for Conservation Action, and the launch of the new SSC awards, including the Harry Messel Conservation Leadership Award. He leaves a lasting legacy - a more focused, integrated and effective body of conservation experts, primed to take on the challenges facing conservation in the 21st century. Full story

ANNOUNCING SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS FOR THE SIR PETER SCOTT FUND FOR CONSERVATION ACTION

The ebony forests of Mauritius , the Anegada iguana and the Endangered Przewalski’s gazelle are all set to benefit from the first round of grants issued under the Sir Peter Scott Fund for Conservation Action, created by the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC). This fund provides small grants (up to US$15,000) to support the activities of SSC members in their work to conserve threatened species around the globe. In many parts of the world, a small amount of well-directed money can have a significant impact. In the inaugural round, three projects have been selected to receive grants, $40,000 in total:

The selection committee was very impressed with the quality of the proposals submitted. They reflected the tremendous range of activity being undertaken by the more than 120 Specialist Groups in the SSC network. These three recipients are worthy representatives of a much broader group of SSC members. Full story // Information on the Sir Peter Scott Fund for Conservation Action

One of the world’s rarest birds, the po’o-uli Melamprosops phaeosoma – a species of Hawaiian honeycreeper - may now be extinct following the death in captivity of an ageing male on 28 November. The only other known individuals, two wild birds - a male and female, have not been seen for over a year. They may also be dead or perhaps just overlooked by wildlife officials if they have moved to another area. However, it seems likely that the po’o-uli is set to soon join the thirteen other unlucky extinct members of its family, along with many other Hawaiian endemic landbirds that can only be found as skins in museums. Full story

NEW STUDY PROPOSES THAT CHYTRIDIOMYCOSIS IS AN INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES INTRODUCED BY INTERNATIONAL TRADE

The sudden appearance of chytridiomycosis (a fungal disease), the cause of amphibian deaths and population declines in several continents, suggests that the pathogenic agent, the amphibian chytrid Batrachochytrium dendrobatadis, was introduced into the affected regions. However the origin of this virulent pathogen is unknown, but a recently published research paper in Emerging Infectious Diseases (Origin of the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus by Weldon et al ) proposes that Africa is the source of the disease. It suggests that international trade in the African Clawed Frog Xenopus laevis for research and the pet trade, which began in the mid-1930s, is responsible for its spread. If these findings are confirmed, Batrachochytrium dendrobatadis can be added to the list of introduced invasive alien species that have wreaked havoc on the world’s biodiversity.

FIRST COMPREHENSIVE INVENTORY OF ASIA ’s IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS (IBAs)

The first comprehensive inventory of Asia 's Important Bird Areas (IBAs) reveals that more than half have no legal designation, or are only partially protected by law. Important Bird Areas in Asia , published by BirdLife International, took eight years to complete, involving hundreds of ornithologists, volunteers and government staff in 28 countries and territories across the region. For example, BirdLife's Partner in India, The Bombay Natural History Society, developed and co-ordinated an impressive group of over 800 individuals, 70 NGOs and government institutions to form the Indian Bird Conservation Network (IBCN). The IBCN identified over 450 IBAs included in the new publication. The book identifies 2,293 sites, covering 7.6% of the region's total land area. 43% of these are completely unprotected, and a further 14% have only partial protection. If nothing is done to adequately protect and manage these areas, one in eight of the region's 2,700 birds could be threatened with extinction. Full story