The IUCN SSC Sustainable Use Specialist Group (SUSG) comprises a Global Concepts initiative and several decentralised networks of regional SUSGs (RSUSGs) or sub-groups, made up of thinking practitioners who analyse and compare local use systems through case studies, regional reviews, workshops, and symposiums. The regional groups function under the auspices of IUCN's Species Survival Commission (SSC). Each volunteer group decides its own membership, leadership, activities, and priorities within a global framework.

The Global Concepts group includes many of the leading conceptual thinkers around issues of sustainability, human livelihoods, and the exploitation of natural resources, develops the core concepts within 'sustainable use'.

The SUSG was developed to implement the IUCN Sustainable Use Initiative that was founded in 1995 to enhance and share knowledge of the social and biological factors affecting the sustainable use of wild renewable resources.

Today, SUSG's mission is to promote the conservation of biological diversity and alleviation of poverty by:

• Improving the understanding of the social and biological factors that enhance the sustainability of uses of wild living resources;
• Promoting that understanding to IUCN's members, decision-makers, and others; and
• Assisting IUCN members, partner organisations, and governments in the application of that understanding.

At the 2nd World Conservation Congress in Amman in 2000, the IUCN Sustainable Use Policy Statement, developed by the SUSG in a highly participatory manner, was adopted by IUCN.

SUSG continues to be IUCN's main vehicle for promoting understanding of sustainable use and its work is coordinated from the office of UNEP-WCMC in Cambridge, UK.

SUSG Sub Groups & Contacts

North Africa Chair Dr. Brahim Haddane Coordinator IUCN National Committee PO BOX 4142 12000 Temara, Morocco Tel: +212 37 717 135 or 39 Cell/mobile: 212 6 117 1195 Fax: +212 37 79 9131 or +212 37 717136 E-mail: haddane_brhotmail.com West & Central Africa Group currently not constituted East Africa Chair Eric Bosire P.O. Box 380 Uhuru Gardens Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 02 891035 E-mail: bororioyahoo.com Southern Africa Chair Brian Child child.briangmail.com Central Asia Chair Sardar Naseer A. Tareen Secretariat Jamshaid Ali Khan SUSG - CAsia, 94 Regal Plaza, Third Floor Circular Road, Quetta, Pakistan Tel: +92 081 837237 Fax: +92 8 837238 E-mail: susgqta.paknet.com.pk East Asia Group currently not constituted South Asia Group currently not constituted Europe Chair Professor Robert Kenward Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Benson Lane Crowmarsh Gifford Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK rekeeh.ac.uk Meso America Chair Ms. María José González E-mail: mjgonzalezturbonett.com North America Chair Dr. Lee Foote Department of Renewable Resources University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H1 CANADA Tel: +1 780 492-4020 lee.footeualberta.ca Oceania Chair Dr. Brendan Moyle Brendan Moyle M.Sc., Ph.D. Senior Lecturer, Department of Commerce Massey University (Albany), PB 102 904, Auckland, New Zealand Tel: +64 9 443 9799 ext 9472 Fax: +64 9 441 8177 E-mail: b.j.moylemassey.ac.nz South America (North) Chair Dr Bernando Ortiz South America (South) Chair María Elena Zaccagnini Gestión Ambiental y Manejo de Vida Sivestre en Agroecosistemas INTA-Dirección de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico Alsina 1407 5to. Piso 1088 Buenos Aires Argentina Tel/Fax: 54 11 4383 3856 E-mail: mzaccagarnet.com.ar West Indian Ocean Islands Chair Claudine Ramiarison B.P. 822, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar Tel: +261 20 22 641 06; Fax: +261 20 22 306 93 E-mail:ramiariswanadoo.mg Global Concepts   SUSG Chair Jon Hutton MA, D.Phil c/o UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre United Nations Environment Programme 219 Huntingdon Road Cambridge CB3 0DL UK Tel: + 44 1223 277314 jon.huttonunep-wcmc.org Editor, Sustainable Robin Sharp CB 30 Windermere Avenue London NW6 6LN United Kingdom Email: robinsharpcb.freeserve.co.uk SUSG Web Editor & Assistant Editor, Sustainable Dave Beamont Email: davidbeamonthotmail.com