IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) E-Bulletin October 2005

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. This issue and all previous issues are available on the SSC website: www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/

Previous issues: visit the archives

In this issue:

News

SSC PERSPECTIVE ON AVIAN INFLUENZA
ASSURING CONSERVATION OF THE LION IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA
ESCAPING THE CATS' CLUTCHES GIVES THE ANEGADA IGUANA A GOOD HEADSTART
GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE TO BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Meetings

SSC AT THE CBD GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR PLANT CONSERVATION CONFERENCE

New Publications

ONE WORLD, ONE HEALTH – AFRICANS' INTEGRATED APPROACH TO WILDLIFE, LIVESTOCK, AND HUMAN HEALTH PAYS DIVIDENDS FOR CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
SHARKS STATUS SURVEY
GROWING ORCHIDS FROM SEED
RED LIST OF ENDEMIC TREES AND SHRUBS OF ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA

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News

SSC PERSPECTIVE ON AVIAN INFLUENZA

The spread of avian influenza points to the urgent need to tackle the underlying causes of all shared animal-human diseases, rather than reacting exclusively to the current epidemic, says SSC’s Veterinary Specialist Group (VSG). “Much is being done to control the spread of bird flu, but far too little attention is given to the underlying causes of this outbreak. Our modern world is increasing the risk that animal diseases jump over to humanity, and it is only a matter of time before we are hit by the next epidemic if we do not address those issues,” says Dr. William Karesh, co-Chair of the VSG and Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Field Veterinary Program. Full IUCN brief: http://www.iucn.org/en/news/archive/2005/11/avian_influenza.pdf

ASSURING CONSERVATION OF THE LION IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA

The conservation status of the African lion, for many, the very symbol of the continent’s wildlife, is giving cause for serious concern. It was classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2004 due to a continuing decline in population, with current numbers estimated at 23,000-39,000. In West Africa , lions number fewer than 1,500 and meet the criteria for regionally Endangered. The SSC Cat Specialist Group worked with IUCN Regional Offices and a number of partners, including the Wildlife Conservation Society, to bring together biologists, Range State government managers, and other stakeholders in a series of regional lion conservation workshops. The first of these workshops was held in Douala , Cameroon , 2-7 October 2005. Full story: http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/news/african_lion.htm

ESCAPING THE CATS' CLUTCHES GIVES THE ANEGADA IGUANA A GOOD HEADSTART

A grant from the SSC Sir Peter Scott Fund for Conservation Action is helping to continue the early conservation successes in the fight to save the Anegada iguana, listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This impressive one metre-long vegetarian has suffered an 80% population crash since the late 1960s because of extensive habitat degradation from free-ranging cattle and goats, coupled with feral cat predation. Now fewer than 300 lizards remain. Formerly distributed throughout the Puerto Rican island chain, the last remaining population is only found on the tiny island of Anegada in the British Virgin Islands , and the iguana may have disappeared completely if positive action, instigated by the SSC Iguana Specialist Group, had not been taken. Full story: http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/news/SirPeterScottAnegada.htm

GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE TO BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

The Guidelines for Applying the Precautionary Principle to Biodiversity Conservation and Natural Resource Management (NRM) are now available. These Guidelines, currently under review by the IUCN Council, aim to inform and assist decision-makers, policy-makers and managers in interpreting and applying the precautionary principle. They have been developed by the Precautionary Principle Project – a joint initiative of Fauna & Flora International, IUCN/SSC, ResourceAfrica and TRAFFIC and form part of a forthcoming book Biodiversity and the Precautionary Principle: Risk and Uncertainty in Conservation and Sustainable Use, to be published by Earthscan. Access the guidelines in English, French or Spanish at www.pprinciple.net or for more information contact Rosie Cooney (rosie.cooney@fauna-flora.org).

Meetings

SSC AT THE CBD GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR PLANT CONSERVATION CONFERENCE

SSC/Species Programme plans to tackle Target 2 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) were well received at the Global Partnership for Plant Conservation Conference which took place in Dublin , Ireland , 23-25 October. Target 2 calls for a preliminary assessment of the conservation status of all known plant species, at national, regional and international levels by 2010. Less than 3% of the world's known plant species have been assessed for conservation status and Jane Smart, Head of IUCN's Species Programme, unveiled plans for a new approach to Red Listing in order to make more rapid progress. Partner organizations were keen to work jointly to achieve the target. Speakers from leading conservation organizations discussed key conservation challenges and achievements, from the sustainable collection of wild plants for medicinal purposes to community-based projects.

New Publications

ONE WORLD, ONE HEALTH – AFRICANS' INTEGRATED APPROACH TO WILDLIFE, LIVESTOCK, AND HUMAN HEALTH PAYS DIVIDENDS FOR CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Experts from East and Southern Africa have some grass roots ideas for tackling the immense challenges Africa faces at the interface between wildlife, domestic animal and human health — and they hope the West is listening. Around the world, domestic and wild animals are coming into ever-more intimate contact. Without adequate scientific knowledge and planning, the consequences can be detrimental on one or both sides of the proverbial fence. These interactions, often neglected, remain of critical importance to the long-term ecological and socio-political security of national parks and other protected areas and grazing lands worldwide. Whether talking about bovine tuberculosis in South Africa's Kruger National Park, or the brucellosis saga in Yellowstone National Park that is costing U.S. authorities millions of dollars to manage, these issues merit more attention than they have received to date. A new book, Conservation and Development Interventions at the Wildlife/Livestock Interface: Implications for Wildlife, Livestock and Human Health, published by SSC features some of the most innovative conservation thinking in Africa today and provides concrete examples of the significant role animal health plays in both environmental conservation and economic development. Full story:

http://app.iucn.org/webfiles/doc/SSC/SSCwebsite/News/AHEAD121005.pdf

SHARKS STATUS SURVEY

Sharks, Rays, and Chimaeras: The Status of the Chondrichthyan Fishes , compiled by the SSC Shark Specialist Group and the culmination of several years’ work has recently been published. The Status Report goes a long way towards systematically laying out the rationale and need for sustainable management and conservation of chondrichthyan stocks and lays the foundation for a Conservation Action Plan. It can be ordered from the IUCN Bookstore http://www.iucn.org/bookstore/ and will be available on the SSC website in PDF shortly.

GROWING ORCHIDS FROM SEED

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew , has recently published Growing Orchids from Seed, written by SSC Orchid Specialist Group members Phil Seaton and Margaret Ramsay, with a foreword by outgoing OSG Chair, Phillip Cribb. The authors have adopted a low-technology approach to orchid seed culture, suitable for use where sophisticated laboratory facilities are not available. Illustrated with diagrams and photographs in full colour, simple step-by-step instructions covers pollination of orchid flowers, through seed storage, medium preparation and a range of simple seed sowing techniques. Invaluable to professional growers and hobbyists alike, it is to be hoped that the manual will encourage the production and distribution of more seed-raised stock, and thereby reduce collection pressure on wild populations. More information from Phil Seaton (philip@seatonorchids.freeserve.co.uk).

RED LIST OF ENDEMIC TREES AND SHRUBS OF ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA

The Red List of Endemic Trees and Shrubs of Ethiopia and Eritrea, by Jose Luis Vivero, Ensermu Kelbessa and Sebsebe Demissew, has recently been published by the Global Trees Campaign (a joint initiative of Fauna & Flora International and UNEP-WCMC), under the auspices of the IUCN/SSC Global Tree Specialist Group and with support from DEFRA. This is just part of the assessment work that scientists in Ethiopia have been carrying out - they are aiming to evaluate the entire flora of the country, not only the trees and shrubs. In addition they are now collecting information on threats and conservation action needed. All this information will feed into future updates of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. For further information contact Georgina Magin at FFI (georgina.magin@fauna-flora.org).

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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 (alk@iucn.org) or Andrew McMullin (mcmullina@iucn.org); tel: +41 (0)22 999 0153.