IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) E-Bulletin February 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/

Spanish version/Versión español (kindly translated by IUCN Regional Office for South America)

Previous issues: visit the archives

In this issue:

- SAKHALIN WHALE REPORT URGES PRUDENCE
- INSECT PESTS THREATEN ANCIENT PLANTS
- SSC SHARK SPECIALIST GROUP CO-CHAIR AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS CONSERVATION PRIZE
- NEW SSC STEERING COMMITTEE ENDORSED
- FUTURE OF AFRICA'S WETLAND ICONS HANGS IN THE BALANCE
- SECURING VIABLE GROUSE POPULATIONS IN THE WILD - SSC’S GROUSE SPECIALIST GROUP PROFILED
- FIRST GLIMMERS OF HOPE FOR SCOTLAND 'S CAPERCAILLIE
- SSC MEMBERS’ TOOLKIT ONLINE
- NEW PUBLICATION - INSECT DIVERSITY CONSERVATION
- KOREAN PLANT SPECIALIST GROUP
- LATEST IUCN SOUTH AMERICA ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN
- FEBRUARY EDITION OF MEDITERRANEAN NEWS FLASH

SAKHALIN WHALE REPORT URGES PRUDENCE

The Independent Scientific Review Panel, convened by IUCN at the request of the Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd., released its report on 16 February. Chaired by Dr Randall Reeves, Chair of SSC’s Cetacean Specialist Group, the panel evaluated the potential implications of planned oil and gas developments on the Critically Endangered Western Gray Whale, which has a remaining population of only about 100 animals. News release

INSECT PESTS THREATEN ANCIENT PLANTS

Fifty-nine cycad specialists met in Xalapa, Mexico, from January 8-15, identifying two crucial conservation issues during the Cycad SG meeting. First is the spread of an Asian scale insect, Aulacaspis yasumatsui, onto wild cycad populations outside its original range on the Indian subcontinent, which has resulted in significant mortality in cycad collections. It now seems that the scale insect may be spreading to cycad populations in the wild, having been detected in China, Vietnam, the Caribbean, and Guam. The Specialist Group has set up a study group to assess the situation and recommend appropriate actions. The SG has also identified the need for species survival and recovery plans for Critically Endangered species, working with the IUCN Captive Breeding SG and Re-introductions SG, as many populations continue to decline and two species have become Extinct in the Wild within the past two years. For further information contact John Donaldson (email: Donaldson@sanbi.org).

SSC SHARK SPECIALIST GROUP CO-CHAIR AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS CONSERVATION PRIZE

Sarah Fowler, Co-Chair of the SSC’s Shark Specialist Group has been awarded one of the world’s most prestigious conservation prizes, a US$150,000 Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation. She is one of five 2005 Pew Fellows, selected by an international committee for their potential to make significant contributions to protecting the world’s oceans. The award will provide three years of funding for Sarah’s work, bridging the divide between fisheries management and wildlife conservation. Full story

NEW SSC STEERING COMMITTEE ENDORSED

SSC’S new Steering Committee which will serve during the IUCN intersessional period 2005-2008 was endorsed at the 63 rd IUCN Council meeting in February. The Committee, headed by the SSC Chair, represents a balance of regional and thematic perspectives and provides overall direction to the work of the Commission. The new line-up can be seen here.

FUTURE OF AFRICA'S WETLAND ICONS HANGS IN THE BALANCE

The results of the recently completed population and status assessment of the common and pygmy hippopotamus, undertaken in 2004 by the Hippo Subgroup of SSC’s Pigs, Peccaries and Hippos Specialist Group, has highlighted some alarming trends in both species. Full story

SECURING VIABLE GROUSE POPULATIONS IN THE WILD - SSC’S GROUSE SPECIALIST GROUP PROFILED

Grouse have long attracted and fascinated people. Their display behaviour, and particularly the communal mating grounds, or "leks", of the capercaillie, the black grouse, and the prairie grouse, have inspired poetry and folklore in Eurasia as well as North America. Perhaps even more importantly, grouse hunting has played a major role in the subsistence, economy, and culture of local communities. Yet today, three of the 18 species of grouse are threatened with extinction, and three are considered Near-Threatened. Most species of grouse have lost parts of their ranges, and many local populations have become extinct. The SSC Grouse Specialist Group is working hard to secure a future for all grouse species and subspecies - its members are the latest to be profiled on the SSC website.

FIRST GLIMMERS OF HOPE FOR SCOTLAND'S CAPERCAILLIE

After more than 20 years of decline in the closing decades of the 20th century, the results of the third national winter survey of capercaillie numbers in Scotland reveals that numbers are now stable, and may have even increased. The results of the survey, published in the most recent edition of Grouse News, (no.28), the newsletter of SSC’s Grouse Specialist Group, is welcome news for one of Britain ’s most impressive but threatened birds. Significant conservation action (such as habitat management and fence removal) and more favourable weather conditions during the most recent breeding seasons are thought to explain this positive result. Full story

SSC MEMBERS’ TOOLKIT ONLINE

SSC Specialist Groups can now take advantage of a new toolkit designed to help them in critical areas such as decentralisation, communications, and fundraising. The kit builds on the “lessons learned” sections of Species and includes a new page on small grants and funding opportunities. Go here.

NEW PUBLICATION - INSECT DIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Chair of SSC’s Southern African Invertebrate Specialist Group, Professor Michael Samways, has published a global synthesis of insect conservation biology Insect Diversity Conservation. Insects play important roles in terrestrial ecological processes and in maintaining the world as we know it but are poorly known. The book covers subjects such as threats, from invasive alien plants to global climate change, ways in which insects and their habitats are prioritized, mapped, monitored and conserved, restoration, and the role of conventions and social issues.

KOREAN PLANT SPECIALIST GROUP

The KPSG held a very meaningful meeting at the Korea National Arboretum on February 25th, and new members have been recruited from the staff of the Korea National Arboretum. The SG is working on translating the IUCN Re-introduction Guidelines into Korean and have made a new commitment to undertake conservation assessments of the many threatened plants occurring on the Korean Peninsula. The Department of Plant Conservation of the Korea National Arboretum has agreed to support this work, and another meeting is being planned for the end of March. For more information contact the Chair of the Korean Plant SG Kim Yong-Shik (email: yskim1@yumail.ac.kr)

LATEST IUCN SOUTH AMERICA ENDANGERED SPECIES BULLETIN

The 5th Endangered Species E-bulletin produced by IUCN’s Regional Office for South America in Spanish is now available here. This issue is dedicated to the 2004 Global Species Assessment and sharks in the Galapagos.

FEBRUARY EDITION OF MEDITERRANEAN NEWS FLASH

Now available in English, French and Spanish here.

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.