Héctor M. Hernández has a degree in biology from the Faculty of Sciences, National University of Mexico, and a PhD from Saint Louis University and the Missouri Botanical Garden, Saint Louis Missouri, USA. He was curator of the National Herbarium (1987-1988), head of the Botany Department (1994-1995) and more recently (1995- 2003) director of the Institute of Biology. Currently, he is senior researcher at this same institution. During the past 15 years, Héctor has been engaged in several research projects aimed at understanding the spatial patterns of cacti in the Chihuahuan Desert region. In particular, his studies have allowed him to detect areas of high cactus diversity in Mexico and to categorize the conservation status of a number of species. The results of some of his research projects were instrumental in the design of a protected area in northern Mexico, especially devoted to conserving cactus habitat.

9 Species 44: July–December 2005 The Cactus and Succulent Specialist Group (CSSG) is a global network of volunteers working towards the conservation and sustainable use of cactus and succulent plants. The Group currently includes among its members individuals with a diverse array of personal and professional profiles, ranging from professional botanists to plant amateurs and nursery owners.

“One of the central goals of the CSSG for the following few years is to advance in the evaluation of the conservation status of cactus and succulent plants. Several group members are currently engaged in Red List assessments, and we hope to make substantial contributions to meeting the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Global Strategy for Plant Conservation Target 2: A preliminary assessment of the conservation status of all known plant species, at national, regional and international levels,” says Héctor. Another short-term goal of the group will be to establish a Code of Conduct for the collection, propagation, and trade of cacti and succulents. A significant number of species, corresponding to the rarest, most geographically restricted and horticulturally desirable species, have been greatly affected by illegal collecting activities linked to international trade. The development of an updated set of ethical guidelines would be extremely important to minimize illegal collecting.