Iucn 2014 014

Species
Species 2013 Annual Report of the Species Survival Commission

ISSUE 55
2013 Annual Report of the

Species Survival Commission
IUCN SSC
• Specialist Group Reports • 2013 Snapshots

• Addressing Critical Conservation Issues
© Chris Lukhaup
Amazing Species: Giant River Prawn
The Giant River Prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, is listed as ‘Least Concern’ on the
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM. It inhabits coastal rivers and estuaries, with a
connection to the sea, and its natural range extends eastwards from eastern Pakistan up
to Borneo and Java. While considered a freshwater species, the larval stage of this prawn
depends on brackish water.
Geographical range
Commercial aquaculture of the Giant River Prawn began in the 1960s in Hawaii, and
Knowledge it now has major economic value as a food source in subtropical and tropical regions.
Experts Although this freshwater prawn is extensively fished, it is not thought that this represents
Action a threat to the population due to its wide natural occurrence.
Get Involved
There are no specific conservation actions in place for the Giant River Prawn, although
many parts of its range are likely to occur in protected areas. There have been widespread
King Penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) in front of glacier, South Georgia Island. © Mary Bomford
reports of frequent aquaculture escapees, some of which have successfully established
as breeding populations. It is not currently known if there have been any negative impacts
of this invasion, but in general it is considered to be a “harmless nonindigenous species”.
The production of the IUCN Red List of

Threatened Species™ is made possible
through the IUCN Red List Partnership.
2013 Snapshots
The Species Survival Commission (SSC) is a science-based network comprising over 9,000 volunteer experts
deployed across more than 130 Specialist Groups, Red List Authorities and Task Forces, all working together
towards achieving the vision of: “A world that values and conserves present levels of biodiversity.”
The SSC works in close association with IUCN’s Global Species Programme (GSP) and provides information to
IUCN on biodiversity conservation, the inherent value of species, their role in ecosystem health and functioning,
the provision of ecosystem services, and their support to human livelihoods. This information is fed into The IUCN
Red List of Threatened Species™.
The unprecedented levels of poaching and illegal wildlife trade over the past few years were met head-on in 2013,
with a number of high profile summits and forums co-organized by the SSC. The first-ever global conference on
the conservation of pangolins was held by the IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, and at the Jubilee Meeting
of the Parties to the 1973 Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears, the five range states of the polar bear
agreed to adopt a resolution encouraging the IUCN SSC Polar Bear Specialist Group to determine how best to
use traditional ecological knowledge, together with scientific approaches and analyses of polar bear population
status for more effective decision-making.
African Elephant Summit provides an independent and science-based review of each

IUCN with the government of Botswana proposal which the countries party to CITES (most countries
organized an African Elephant Summit from in the world) rely on for decision-making. At CITES CoP16, the
2–4 December in Gaborone, Botswana. This seminal decision was made to list the oceanic whitetip shark,
work related to a Resolution on the porbeagle shark, manta rays and scalloped, great and smooth
Conservation of African Elephants that was hammerhead sharks on Appendix II. The meeting also
passed at the IUCN Jeju Congress in 2012. addressed international trade issues relating to elephants,
The goal of the Summit was to raise awareness at the highest rhinos, tortoises and freshwater turtles, pangolins, humphead
political level about the dimensions of the poaching crisis and wrasse, crocodiles, polar bears, snakes, cats, great apes,
the dynamics of the illegal ivory trade, as well as committing marine turtles, antelopes, sturgeons, amphibians and trees
to urgent actions for securing viable elephant populations such as Malagasy ebony and rosewood species. The IUCN
across the continent, halting illegal trade and seeking political, delegation was led by the IUCN Species programme and the
financial, and technical support to implement these urgent meeting was attended by 18 Specialist Group members
actions. It was the first-ever meeting to focus on the dynamics representing many of the species discussed at the meeting.
of the entire ivory value chain. The set of urgent measures For more information, see here.
were drafted prior to the meeting and invited for comment by
a broad range of stakeholders. The measures were
subsequently finalized and agreed upon by key African
Elephant range states at the Summit including Gabon, Kenya, Identifying the World’s Most
Niger and Zambia, ivory transit states Viet Nam, Philippines Climate Change Vulnerable
and Malaysia and ivory destination states, including China and Species
Thailand. For more details on the meeting itself and its Most species at greatest risk from climate
outcomes, please see the Summit page on the IUCN SSC change are not currently conservation priorities,
African Elephant Specialist Group website. finds an IUCN study that introduces a
pioneering method to assess the vulnerability of species to
climate change. Climate change will have far-reaching impacts
on biodiversity, including increasing extinction rates. The
study’s novel approach looks at the unique biological and
CITES CoP16 ecological characteristics that make species more or less
IUCN played a key role at the 16th Conference sensitive or adaptable to climate change whereas
of the Parties meeting for the Convention on conventional methods have focused largely on measuring the
International Trade in Endangered Species amount of change to which species are likely to be exposed.
(CITES CoP16) which took place on 3–14 IUCN will use the approach and results to ensure The IUCN
March 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand. Several Red List continues to provide the best possible assessments
issues of critical importance to species conservation were on of extinction risk, including due to climate change. “The
the agenda, such as proposals to list a number of threatened findings revealed some alarming surprises,” says Wendy
shark and tree species on Appendix II. One of IUCN’s major Foden of IUCN Global Species Programme and leader of the
contributions at the meeting was producing the Analyses of study. “We hadn’t expected that so many species and areas
the Proposals to Amend the CITES Appendices which it has that were not previously considered to be of concern would
undertaken with TRAFFIC since 1987 – the document emerge as highly vulnerable to climate change. Clearly, if we
2 IUCN species Annual Report 2013

simply carry on with conservation as usual, without taking Greater One-horned Rhino over the last two decades, and
climate change into account, we’ll fail to help many of the could easily cause the extinction of the Javan and Sumatran
species and areas that need it most.” Rhinos in the foreseeable future.
The paper was published in June in PLOS ONE and has The Governments of Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia
laid the foundations for a range of other assessments across and Nepal in recognition of the critical situation facing Asian
many more species groups Rhinos, came together for the First Asian Rhino Range States
Meeting on 2–3 October 2013, in Bandar Lampung,
Indonesia. The meeting was hosted by the government of
Indonesia and facilitated by the IUCN SSC. All five states
Plants for People agreed a common action plan with the aim of increasing the
There is growing awareness of how plant populations of Asian Rhino species by at least 3% annually by
species and their habitats, and the benefits that 2020. This agreement, called the Bandar Lampung
healthy ecosystems provide, are linked to Declaration, was reached after two days of negotiations and
people’s livelihoods and well being. However, outlined specific conservation actions necessary to secure a
we need to know more about plant diversity and steady growth rate of all three Asian Rhino species including:
its threats in order to better conserve them, and ensure our improving the biological management and monitoring of the
own survival. species; strengthening the protection of their habitats;
Plants for People (P4P) is a major new initiative to address performing strict anti-poaching operations; introducing
this knowledge gap by assessing the threat status (using The tougher penalties for those that illegally kill Asian Rhinos, and
IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria) of at least 1,500 maintaining the ban in the international trade of all rhino
highest priority species in each of the following groups: crop products. The agreement was reached based on the latest
wild relatives; medicinal plants; timber trees; and palms knowledge on the status and trends of the three species
(6,000 in total). This is a joint initiative of the GSP and SSC. provided by the IUCN SSC Asian Rhino Specialist Group.
The P4P initiative will collaborate with national, regional, and
international specialist organizations working on economically
valuable plants. This information will be used to refine criteria
for determining sites of significance for useful wild plant Third International Congress for
species. Such information will form the basis of conservation Fungal Conservation, Akyaka,
strategies ‘on the ground’ including work to ensure the Turkey
inclusion of significant sites in protected areas and 11–15 November 2013
appropriate ex-situ strategies. In parallel, a policy-influencing For the first time since the first Congress was
strategy will be developed for appropriate policy fora (notably held in 2007, the Third International Congress
the Convention on Biological Diversity) to raise awareness for Fungal Conversation was hosted outside Europe in
amongst governments, NGOs and other relevant institutions. Gökova Bay, Mugla, Turkey on 11–15 November 2013. The five
In its inception year, 6,747 priority crop wild relative, SSC fungi Specialist Groups convened the Congress in partial
medicinal plants, timber and palm species were selected for response to Resolution 033 “Increasing the Attention Given to
IUCN Red List assessments, and species-specific work plans the Conservation of Fungi”. A major advance has been the
for 1,500 plant species were submitted to IUCN by the four launch of the Global Fungal Red List Initiative which should
Specialist Groups. Last year, 3,795 plant species were make it much easier for the mycological community to start
published on The IUCN Red List (55% of these are useful for Red Listing and has been generously funded by the
people). Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.
The Congress looked at three key areas for the protection
of fungi – science, infrastructure and politics, with the main
goal of influencing a global cadre of mycologists and
The First Asian Rhino Range States conservationists to converge on a vision of protecting fungi
Meeting, Bandar Lampung, by: exchanging experiences and opinions; becoming familiar
Indonesia with the existing infrastructure for fungal conservation,
2–3 October 2013 particularly within IUCN, and explore the relevant political
Significant attention has been paid by the issues related to this; review of the scientific work relevant to
international community in recent years to the conservation, particularly in respect of threats to fungi;
plight of the rhinos in Africa, while there has been relatively identification of the challenges facing fungal conservation and
little focus on the three Asian species of rhinoceros, which seek to develop the necessary infrastructure, policies and
occur in much smaller numbers. As of March 2013, there were strategies to deal with them; raise the profile of fungal
over 25,000 rhinos in Africa, compared with only about 3,500 conservation and improve skills in Red Listing, and in
rhinos in Asia. Pressure from illegal hunting of all species of identifying important areas for fungi.
rhino has grown significantly in recent years, linked to a
significant increase in non-traditional use of rhino horn and a
subsequent escalation of its price in Asian markets, especially
in Vietnam and China. A continued increase in illegal hunting
of rhinos and in rhino horn demand could rapidly jeopardize
the improvements that have been achieved in the status of
Snapshots 3
Report of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) Chair
1. Providing overall leadership and direction to the SSC Cetaceans: Barbara Taylor is the new RLA Coordinator,
replacing Bill Perrin.
Appointing SSC Members
One of the major aspects of leading the SSC into a new Chytrids, Zygomycetes, Downy Mildews and Slime Moulds:
quadrennium is the appointment or reappointment of the Tetyana Kryvomaz is now CZDMSMSG Co-Chair alongside
Commission members. A primary feature of memberships of Mayra Camino.
IUCN Commissions is that they expire 90 days after the close
of the IUCN World Conservation Congress, at which time Climate Change: Stephen Williams is now CCSG Co-Chair
members need to be appointed or reappointed for the next alongside James Watson.
quadrennium (in this case 2013–2016). At one level, the
Commission reconstitution process is a huge amount of work Cycads: Patrick Griffith is now CSG Co-Chair alongside John
and it certainly has taken a huge amount of time in the SSC Donaldson and De Wet Bosenberg is the new RLA Coordinator.
Chair’s Office since the IUCN Congress. At another level, the
process provides an opportunity to refresh the Commission, to Freshwater Fish: Following an extensive internal consultation
bring in new leadership, and to ensure that any non-performing process led by Paul Skelton, Richard Sneider has been
parts of the SSC are directly addressed (and if necessary, appointed as the new FFSG Chair, replacing Gordon
people may be asked to step aside to make way for new McGregor Reid who has retired.
appointees).
Freshwater Plants: Melanie Bilz is the new RLA Coordinator.
Deputy Chair and SSC Steering Committee
The Steering Committee is the governing body of the SSC. The Giraffe and Okapi: this new SG was established in March and is
first stage in the reconstitution is the appointment of the SSC led by Co-Chairs Julian Fennessy and Noelle Kumpel, with
Deputy Chair and Steering Committee by the IUCN Council. At David Mallon as RLA Coordinator.
its meeting in Jeju on 15 September 2012, the Council appointed
Jon Paul Rodríguez (Venezuela) as Deputy Chair, together with Hippos: Chris Ransom is the new RLA Coordinator.
19 Steering Committee Members. In early November, Council
appointed seven new Steering Committee members. Madagascar Plants: Vololoniaina Jeannoda is the new SG Chair
and Rakouth Bakolimalala is the new RLA Coordinator.
Chairs of Specialist Groups and Task Forces and
Coordinators of Red List Authorities Marine Fishes: This new RLA, covering all marine fishes for
The second and much more time-consuming stage of the which there is not already an RLA, has been established with
membership reconstitutions is to appoint the Chairs of the SSC Kent Carpenter and Beth Polidoro as the new RLA Coordinators.
Specialist Groups (SGs) and Task Forces (TF), and the
Coordinators of the SSC Red List Authorities (RLAs). All these Mediterranean Plants: Errol Vela is the new RLA Coordinator.
are approved in advance by the SSC Steering Committee, and
the RLA Coordinators are approved in advance by the SSC Molluscs: Several RLA Coordinators have been appointed:
Red List Committee. The great majority of the appointments Louise Allcock (Cephalopods); Howard Peters (Cone Shells);
were approved by the Steering Committee at its meeting just Eike Neubert (European Land Snails); Manuel Lima
before the IUCN Congress, but the remainder have been (Freshwater Bivalves); Monika Böhm (Sampled Red List Index
approved in the subsequent months through email Molluscs): and Mary Seddon (the remaining species).
consultations with the Steering Committee. The finalisation of
each appointment requires each SG and TF Chair, and RLA Re-introductions: Axel Moehrenschlager is now RSG Co-Chair
Coordinator to sign a Letter of Agreement with the SSC Chair. alongside Frédéric Launay.
Several new appointments have been made since the last
report at the end of 2012: Sea Snakes: Arne Rasmussen is the new Co-Chair, replacing
Vimoksalehi Lukoschek who has retired; Arne is serving
Access and Benefit-sharing SG: This new SG, shared with the alongside Kate Sanders.
IUCN World Commission of Environmental Law (WCEL), was
formally established in December 2013 with Tomme Young as Seahorse, Pipefish and Sticklebacks: Stefan Wiswedel is the
Chair. new RLA Coordinator.
Bats: Sergio Solari has been appointed RLA Coordinator for the Small Carnivores: Following an extensive internal consultation
New World (alongside Daniel Hargreaves who is RLA process led by Roland Wirth, José González-Maya and Jan
Coordinator for the Old World). Schipper have been appointed as the new SCSG Co-Chairs,
replacing Jerry Belant who has retired.
Cave Invertebrates: This new SG was established in December
2013 with Louis Deharveng and Tony Whitten as Co-Chairs. Sturgeon: Jörn Gessner is the new RLA Coordinator.

Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus). © Mary Bomford
Task Force on Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Penny Resignations:

Langhammer was appointed to replace Tom Brooks as the As mentioned above, Vimoksalehi Lukoschek, Gordon
SSC Co-Chair later on 15 November 2013, following Tom’s McGregor Reid and Jerry Belant have resigned as Chairs/Co-
appointment as Head of Science and Knowledge in IUCN Chairs of the Sea Snake, Freshwater Fish and Small Carnivore
headquarters, and Stephen Woodley continues as the World SGs respectively. John Albertsen has resigned as Chair of the
Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) Co-Chair. Swan SG. An interim chair will be appointed, while we take
advantage of the International Swan Symposium in 2014 to
Tuna and Billfish: Beth Polidoro is the new RLA Coordinator. confirm a long-term replacement. M. Ahmedullah has resigned
The following processes have also been taking place: as Chair and RLA Coordinator of the Indian Subcontinent Plant
SG. A process will be started to relaunch this SG. I thank
Bryophyte SG: Tomas Hallingbäck has announced his Vimoksalehi, Gordon, Jerry, John and Ahmed for their work as
intention to step down as BSG Chair at the end of the current SSC SG Chairs.
IUCN quadrennium. An internal consultation process is
underway to appoint a Co-Chair and identification of an RLA Specialist Group, Task Force and Red List Authority
Coordinator. Members
The third and final stage in the reconstitution of the SSC for the
On 14 October, the Wolf Specialist Group was merged into the 2013–2016 IUCN quadrennium is the appointment of the SG,
Canid Specialist Group. The Canid Specialist Group will now TF and RLA members. The SG and TF Chairs and the RLA
have a Wolf Working Group within it. Simon thanked Dave Coordinators select their members, and these appointments
Mech, the long-serving Chair of the Wolf Specialist Group, for started early in 2013. Unfortunately, this process was initially
his global leadership of wolf conservation over many years by much slower than intended because of the lack of a new IUCN
awarding him the SSC Chair’s Citation of Excellence. Luigi Commission Portal which was supposed to have been
Boitani and Claudio Sillero played a critical role in the merging completed in early 2012 and which would have made
of the two groups. membership appointments massively easier. This problem has
been affecting all IUCN Commissions, and the Commission
Discussions are still underway to agree the leadership of the Chairs raised the issue with the IUCN Director General. As a
following SGs and RLAs for 2013–2016: Arabian Plant SG and result, the IUCN Secretariat has been working on enhancing
RLA; Butterfly RLA; Central African Plant RLA; Galapagos the new IUCN Union Portal (now operational) so that it can fulfil
Plant RLA; Global Tree RLA; Korean Plant RLA; Marine the functions previously intended for the Commission Portal.
Invertebrate RLA; Medicinal Plant RLA; and Stork, Ibis and
Spoonbill SG. Other SSC Membership Issues
George Archibald, who for many years served as Chair of the
SSC WI Crane Specialist Group, was awarded the Order of
Report of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) Chair 5

Canada. IUCN provided a strong support letter for George’s consider the options for future SSC work on synthetic
nomination. biology, including on de-extinction.
• 23 April – Simon, together with Jane Smart, attended a
Very sadly, Malcolm Coulter, who was Co-Chair of the meeting with Synchronicity Earth in London to discuss
Wetlands International/SSC Storks, Ibises and Spoonbills possible collaboration on a major fundraising event in 2014
Specialist Group, passed away on 2 January 2013. In the to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The IUCN Red List of
coming months we plan to circulate a fuller appreciation of Threatened Species™. There has been an agreement to
Malcolm’s contribution to SSC over many years. Also, on collaborate on a masked ball (the Biophilia Ball) in London
7 June 2013 Denise Brackett, the wife of former SSC Chair for the 50th anniversary. This will take place in late
David Brackett, very sadly passed away. Denise lost her long November 2014.
battle with cancer, and was a constant support to Dave during • 13 May – Simon had the honour of presenting IUCN’s
his eight years as SSC Chair from 1996 to 2008. highest award, the John C. Phillips Medal, to Sir David
Attenborough during a small reception held at the Royal
Travel of the SSC Chair Botanic Gardens, Kew.
In addition to reconstituting the SSC membership and bringing • 24–26 July – Washington DC, Simon had a series of
in new people, Simon Stuart has travelled extensively during important meetings including with AZA (outlined above);
this time period to represent the SSC at important meetings. Conservation International; the GSP Biodiversity Assessment
These include: Unit; senior staff at the Indonesian Embassy in Washington
• 16 January – attendance at the Association of Zoos and DC and others (including WWF-US and International Rhino
Aquariums (AZA) annual directors meeting, New Orleans, Foundation (IRF)) to discuss the forthcoming Asian Rhino
with the aim of building a closer relationship between the Range States Meeting; the US State Department (also with
SSC and North American zoos. On 24 July Simon met IRF and WWF colleagues) to seek their support for high-level
with the AZA senior staff at their office in Silver Spring near political engagement on Indonesian rhinos and to review the
Washington DC, to discuss a new AZA-SSC memorandum overall progress of the collaboration with IUCN of species-
of agreement to outline much closer collaboration in future. related issues, and to focus in particular on collaboration
The MOA was signed on 19 December. AZA has also needed as a result of President Obama’s Executive Order on
recently become a new funding partner of the SSC Chair’s wildlife trafficking. On 26 July Simon took part in the meeting
Office. of the Steering Committee of the SSC-WCPA Task Force on
• 20–22 January – 1st plenary session of the Biodiversity and Protected Areas.
Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity • 19–22 August – Indonesia, to meet with the organising
and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) in Bonn, Germany. IPBES committee for the Asian Rhino Range States Meeting. On
will become an official, but scientifically independent body 22 August he participated in the SSC Indonesia members
charged with conducting biodiversity assessments and meeting in Bogor. Over 100 people attended, and it was
related activities in the future. The SSC is now involved in a agreed to go ahead and form a national grouping of SSC
number of important follow-up items resulting from the Bonn members in the country, with initial priority actions agreed
meeting, in particular the design of the IPBES conceptual on national Red Listing and species conservation planning,
framework. Furthermore, Phil McGowan has recently agreed among other things.
to become the SSC focal point for IPBES. • 23 September – Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
• 9–11 April – “Symposium on Synthetic Biology and (RSPB), UK, to discuss closer and more strategic
Conservation” in Cambridge, UK. As a result of this ground- collaborations with IUCN and the SSC in the future.
breaking meeting, a special session of the SSC Steering • 2–3 October, Asian Rhino Range States Meeting, Bandar,
Committee (and its November 2013 meeting in Mexico) will Lampung, Indonesia.
• 17 October – Meeting with the UK Department of
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), London.
Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis)Endangered. © Dr Sally Aitken DEFRA is the UK State Member of IUCN, so discussions
were held on strengthening cooperation between the UK
and IUCN. Later on the same day, IUCN Director General
Julia Marton-Lefèvre and Simon met with representatives
from the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge and Prince Harry to discuss the possible
support that the Royal Family might be able to give to the
50th anniversary celebrations of The IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species™ in 2014.
• 2–4 November – SSC Steering Committee, Cuernavaca,
Mexico.
• 11 November – Third International Congress on the
Conservation of Fungi, Akyaka, Turkey.
• 21–22 November – A joint workshop in Beijing convened by
the Chinese State Forestry Administration (SFA) and the
SSC on commercial bear farming.
• 24–27 November, IUCN Council Meeting, Gland, Switzerland.
• 27 November – Annual meeting of the European Association
of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) in Edinburgh, speaking on “The

Search Committee. The vacancy announcement was posted
on 15 November 2013.
The 82nd IUCN Council meeting took place in Gland on 24–27

November. On 24 November Simon attended a meeting of the
IUCN Commission Chairs, a review of Commission Chair
performance with the IUCN President and Director General,
and a meeting of the PSTF. The PSTF agreed conditions under
which IUCN engagement with Shell could continue, and also
decided that SSC and the GSP could not seek funds from
Syngenta for the Plants for People, at least until the conclusion
of a process to explore a possible collaboration between IUCN
and Syngenta. These decisions were subsequently ratified by
the whole Council. On 26 November, Simon took part in the
The First Asian Rhino Range States Meeting, Bandar Lampung, Indonesia, FAC meeting at which the 2014 budget was agreed (ratified by
2–3 October 2013.
Council the following day). Among key decisions of the 82nd
Council meeting was an instruction to the head of each
programme unit (global and regional) to prepare a three-year
Benefits to Species Conservation of the SSC/EAZA plan on integrating the work and capacities of Commissions,
Collaboration, and What the Future May Hold”. Members and National Committees, by 30 June 2014 (with
• 2–4 December – African Elephant Summit in Gaborone, implementation to start by January 2015). This could have far-
Botswana. reaching implications for the way in which the IUCN
• 6 December – International Colloquium on Climate Change, Programme is implemented, and the relationship between the
Brasilia followed by attendance at the WCEL Steering Commissions and the Secretariat. Among many other
Committee in Brasilia on 7–8 December at which the new decisions, the 82nd Council meeting also: agreed that IUCN
SSC-WCEL Specialist Group on Access and Benefit- should apply to the Global Environments Facility for
Sharing was formed. accreditation as a Project Agency; and established a Council
• 12–13 December – Simon attended a meeting in London of Climate Change Task Force.
the new collaboration, United for Wildlife (UfW), convened
by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge and Prince Harry to discuss future work on the 3. Promoting the biodiversity assessment work of the SSC
illegal wildlife trade. Simon is representing IUCN on UfW.
The Launch of IUCN Red List Discover
The Red List committee (RLC) also reviewed final plans for the
2. Representing the SSC on the Council of IUCN launch of the new popular interface for The IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species™, which will be called Red List Discover.
Simon Stuart attended the 81st meeting of IUCN Council that The first phase generously funded by the Rolex Corporation,
took place at IUCN headquarters in Switzerland on 27–30 went live on 30 April 2013 – see here. Red List Discover is
January 2013. This meeting focused in particular on appointing targeted to the non-technical user, such as the general public,
the various committees of the Council. Simon has been and provides a new view of The IUCN Red List. We will soon
appointed to represent the Commissions on the Bureau (i.e., be starting the second phase of development to improve the
the Executive Committee) of Council for 2013 and 2014. search functionality e.g., by common names and increased
However, in May he resigned from the Bureau in order to take search speed, and adding more images. Images are key to
up a seat representing the Commissions on the Search making the site as engaging and informative as possible. Our
Committee for the next IUCN Director General. Simon has also aim is to have images available for the majority of species on
been appointed to serve on the Council’s Finance and Audit The IUCN Red List – a huge challenge as currently there are
Committee (FAC) for the 2013–2016 quadrennium. Simon has more than 70,000 species featured (currently 5,000 species
also been appointed to the Council’s Private Sector Task Force have images on The IUCN Red List, though there is currently a
(PSTF) and to the Council’s Task Force on the Implementation major push to add more).
of the 2012 Congress Resolutions.
Amazing Species
The January Council meeting adopted the budget and work In order to promote popular understanding of threatened
plan for 2013, and set in motion a number of important species, IUCN SSC continues to feature an Amazing Species
initiatives, including developing a new “Framework of Action to each week on its website and those of its partners, and has
Strengthen the Union”. This initiative will focus on improving over 21, 000 followers on Twitter and over 33, 000 on
the ways in which the complex structure functions, both in Facebook. The species featured during 2013 are: Iberian Lynx,
terms of institutional efficiency and democracy, and also White-backed Vulture, Lesser Anteater, Chinese Horseshoe-
conservation effectiveness. crab, Desert Warthog, Fly Orchid, Horn Shark, California
Condor, Black-crested Macaque, Sonaghen (a species of
The work of the Search Committee for the IUCN Director salmon), White-bellied Heron, Mountain Gorilla, Galápagos
General (DG) has now started, and this has included Pink Land Iguana, Hirola (a species of antelope), Middleburg
developing the DG job description, the vacancy announcement Cycad, Hooded Grebe, Hooded Vulture, Northern River
and the terms of reference for a search consultant to assist the Terrapin, Sunda Pangolin, Taimen (a species of salmon),

Bengal Tiger, Black-bellied Tree Pangolin, Kanthan Cave
Trapdoor Spider, Roatán Spiny-tailed Iguana, Bornean
Orangutan, Giant Barb (a species of freshwater fish), Bleeding
Toad, Giant Guitarfish, Chapa (a species of land snail), Turtle-
headed Sea Snake, Lo’ulu (a species of palm), Banana Bat,
Saltmarsh Harvest Mouse, Mangrove Finch, Plated Leaf
Chameleon, African Penguin, Giant River Prawn, and Hazel
Dormouse. Rachel Roberts in the SSC Chair’s Office continues
to lead this project and she would hugely welcome
nominations for species to be profiled in the future.
4. Securing additional funding to support the activities

and staff of the SSC Chair’s Office
Long-billed Vulture chicks (Gyps indicus). © Chris Bowden
With the start of the new IUCN quadrennium, it has been
necessary to renegotiate the funding agreements for the SSC
Chair’s Office. The following institutions have made funding organizations have agreed to become funding partners of the
commitments for the four years up until 2016 (with a few SSC Chair’s Office: Zoo Copenhagen; the Association of Zoos
having increased their funding support): Al Ain Zoo; Bristol and Aquariums; Chicago Zoological Society, the Royal
Zoo; Chester Zoo; Environment Agency Abu Dhabi; European Zoological Society of Scotland; and Zoo Leipzig. Simon thanks
Association of Zoos and Aquaria; MAVA Foundation; UNEP Bengt Holst, Kris Vehrs, Jim Maddy, Stuart Strahl, Chris West
World Conservation Monitoring Centre; Wildlife Conservation and Jörg Junhold for agreeing to provide this new support.
Society; World Association of Zoos and Aquariums; and Finally, UNEP-WCMC agreed to reduce some administrative
Zoological Society of London. Simon thanks Razan Khalifa Al costs, and special thanks are due to Jon Hutton and Tim
Mubarak, Frédéric Launay, Lynda Mansson, Paule Gros, Johnson. As a result of this recent fundraising progress and
Ghanim Al Hajeri, Mark Craig, Ralph Armond, David Field, some saving elsewhere, the funding shortfall for the current
Jonathan Baillie, John Robinson, Gerald Dick, Jon Hutton, IUCN quadrennium has been reduced to £160,000. The
Bryan Carroll, Lesley Dickie, and Mark Pilgrim for their ongoing current fundraising push is continuing, but the progress has
generous support to the SSC. been encouraging.
However, at the beginning of the year, there was still a

significant funding shortfall for the Chair’s Office for the 5. Assisting in the adoption of The IUCN Red List Index
quadrennium, in the order of £390,000. As a result, Simon has (RLI) as an agreed indicator for measuring progress
been actively working to recruit new funding partners, and towards globally agreed targets, such as the United
there has been considerable recent success. First, Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and
Conservation International has now agreed to extend funding the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets
up to the end of June 2014, and huge thanks are due to Russ
Mittermeier for this continued generosity. Second, five new The completion of the reassessment of conifers now makes it
possible to calculate the first RLI trend for conifers. Conifers
therefore join birds, mammals, amphibians, corals and cycads
Burmese Python (Python bivittatus) Vulnerable. © Mark Auliya
as the groups with global RLI trends (all downwards). As
mentioned above, conifers have deteriorated in their status
since the first assessment in 1998, though the exact RLI will
not be calculated for a few more months.
Other Activities Relating to the Use of Species
The IUCN SSC Guiding Principles on Trophy Hunting as a Tool

for Creating Conservation Incentives were translated into
Chinese, German, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish, with
translation into other languages underway.
Simon Stuart took part in the TRAFFIC International Trustees

Annual General Meeting on 13 February, at which the 2012
accounts were formally approved.
On 12 September 2013 a new conservation partnership,

United for Wildlife (UfW) was formed, convened by the Royal
Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and
Prince Harry. The members of UfW are; Conservation
International, Fauna and Flora International, IUCN, The Nature
Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Society, WWF and the

Zoological Society of London. Simon Stuart is representing five SSC fungi Specialist Groups convened the Third
IUCN in the UfW meetings. The main foci of UfW are to International Congress for Fungal Conservation in Gökova Bay,
develop collaborative initiatives to address the illegal wildlife Mugla, Turkey on 11–15 November, in partial response to
trade, and to bring a new generation of younger people into Resolution 033 “Increasing the Attention Given to the
the conservation movement. Simon Stuart attended a UfW Conservation of Fungi”. A major advance has been the launch of
workshop in London on 12-13 December with the intention of the Global Fungal Red List Initiative which should make it much
identifying some key activities that the UfW partners could do easier for the mycological community to start red listing. The
jointly that would make a significant advance in controlling the Global Fungal Red List Initiative has been generously funded by
illegal wildlife trade. The meeting considered a background the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.
report, prepared by TRAFFIC, on illegal trade in elephants,
rhinos, big cats and pangolins. The results of the workshop are Serious cuts in the SSC Commission Operations Fund mean
being pulled together, and it is hoped that the UfW will agree that it is no longer possible for the SSC Sub-Committees,
on a small number of joint activities on the illegal wildlife trade which come under the SSC Steering Committee, to meet
during 2014. These were announced at the UfW symposium annually. The Freshwater, Invertebrate, Marine and Plant
which took place in London on 11–12 February 2014. Conservation Sub-Committees are all designed to strengthen
the SSC’s work in these areas. The Marine Conservation Sub-
In December 2013 the SSC Boa and Python SG signed a Committee met in December 2013, but the others will not
Letter of Intent with the Kering Group and the International meet until later in 2014. However, all of the sub-committees are
Trade Centre (ITC) of the United Nations to form the Python busy working on the priorities that were developed during the
Conservation Partnership: a programme of work for the previous IUCN quadrennium, and which are in the 2013-2016
sustainable sourcing of python skins from Southeast Asia. Species Strategic Plan.
There is a growing body of work between the ITC and other
SSC Specialist Groups looking at sustainable sources of
wildlife products, including with the South American Camelid 7. Promoting a process within the SSC to develop a
Specialist Group and Crocodile Specialist Group. ITC is also mechanism for measuring the impact of conservation
working with the Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist on species more effectively than is currently possible
Group (SULi) to develop an analytical framework for evaluating
whether or not sustainable sourcing can work for both A meeting was held at the SSC Chair’s Office in Bath on 11–12
conservation and livelihoods. February 2013, to continue the work on developing a new
mechanism to measure the impact of conservation on species.
This work has been significantly delayed because of numerous
6. Enhancing the work of SSC on plants, fungi, competing priorities, but progress is being made. The
invertebrates and on marine, freshwater and arid-land methodology itself is now completed and has been tested by
ecosystems its application to all of the world’s 200+ ungulate species. The
details of the application of the methodology have now been
Most of the activities to enhance SSC’s work on these species checked with SSC Specialist Groups and work will soon start
are already reported on above. As is clear from these reports, on a scientific publication, which will describe the methodology
there is a significant and growing body of work on plants, and its application to ungulates.
invertebrates, and on marine, freshwater and arid-land species
(especially reptiles).
8. Conclusion
Progress on fungi is much slower, although the five SSC fungi
Specialist Groups have received a grant from the Mohamed bin The SSC’s Newsletter Species will be produced once a year
Zayed Species Conservation Fund to get started on red listing, from now on and will essentially now be this annual report
working in close collaboration with The IUCN Red List Unit. The representing the work of the SSC, including of all of its
Specialist Groups, Task Forces, Red List Authorities, Sub-
Committees and Working Groups and presenting an overview
Pelagic Thresher Shark (Alopias pelagicus) Vulnerable. © Bo Mancao
of the SSC’s activities and accomplishments.
Once again, Simon Stuart wishes to thank all of the donors

to his office, as well as the SSC Members and GSP staff, too
numerous to mention, and in particular the excellent staff in
his office: Mike Hoffmann (Senior Scientific Officer); Rachel
Roberts (Network Coordination Officer); Jeremy Harris
(Development Director); and Jennifer Luedtke (Assistant to
the Chair).
Simon N. Stuart
Chair, IUCN Species Survival Commission

Report of the Global Species Programme Director
This document reports work carried out by the Global Species

Programme, working jointly with SSC as well as with Members
and partners. It does not cover all the work carried out jointly
with SSC however – this is included in the report from the SSC
Chair. It also reflects progress of other work carried out by the
Secretariat including by the Global Director, Biodiversity
Conservation Group who has an overall responsibility for
knowledge products and leads on the CBD related work, and
Tom Brooks, Head, Science and Knowledge who leads on the
scientific aspects of the knowledge products.
Valuing and conserving nature
IUCN Red List taxonomic and geographic coverage is Mozambican botanists pressing plants collected from the Rovumo Centre of
expanded (Taxonomic coverage of The IUCN Red List is Endemism, northeast Mozambique and southeast Tanzania.
expanded so that it better informs biodiversity
conservation)
Plants: Plants for People (P4P):

The Plants for People project, funded by the MAVA The GSP/CI BAU is also working closely with the Chairs of the
Foundation, will assess the conservation status of the most Crop Wild Relative Specialist Group and Conservation
economically important plants. Working closely with four International staff, to try and identify opportunities for
specialist groups, Crop Wild Relatives, Global Trees, Medicinal assessing these important species within Latin America. It is
Plants and Palms, we aim to assess 6,000 plant species. This hoped that through IUCN Red List assessments and capacity
will be a substantial contribution to the IUCN’s Strategic Plan, building through workshops, more global conservation
helping to expand the taxonomic coverage of The IUCN Red attention will be directed towards these priority plant species.
List and improve the information to better inform and guide
conservation actions. IUCN Red List updates: There have been two updates to
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ since the SSC
In the last four months, significant progress has been made in Steering Committee last met in September 2012. The 2012.2
this ambitious and challenging project. An inception meeting update was released on the 17 October 2012 to coincide with
was held, involving 12 participants from the SSC and its CoP11 of the CBD held in Hyderabad, India. The 2013.1
Specialist Groups (SGs), IUCN Red List Partners and Global update was released on 2 July 2013. During this period, the
Species Programme staff. The objective of this meeting was to number of species assessed has increased from 63,837
officially start the P4P project, clarify collaboration and start (19,817 threatened) to 70,289 (20,930 threatened). The 2013.2
developing a work plan involving the IUCN SSC Plant SGs, update was released on 26 November 2013, with a total of
Global Species Programme units and IUCN Red List Partners. 71,576 species assessed (21,286 threatened).
Each Specialist Group has developed methodologies to select
the priority plant species to be assessed and have generated a While each update has included many reassessments of
preliminary priority species list (Table 1). A plant data import species, the main focus in 2013 has been on the addition of
interface is being developed by P4P in collaboration with RBG new species groups to The IUCN Red List, particularly groups
Kew, which will allow for the importation of IUCN Red List identified under Key Result 1 of the Species Strategic Plan.
assessments held in other external (partner) databases, such This has included 452 reptile assessments (around 42% of the
as those held at RBG Kew, SANBI in South Africa and the described reptiles are now assessed), 763 freshwater shrimps
different assessment initiatives in Brazil. The Project (a comprehensive assessment), 632 marine cone snails (a
Coordinator, Dr Barbara Goettsch, was recruited and she has comprehensive assessment), 371 commercially exploited sea
held meetings with all the Chairs of the P4P SG’s. cucumbers, 139 dragonflies, the first batches of the dung
Table 1. Summary of criteria used by each Specialist Group to prioritize plant species to assess.
Specialist Group Priority criteria New assessments Re-assessments Total
Crop Wild Relatives Gene pool concept priority setting 1,322 169 1,491
Medicinal Plants Internationally traded species guided by key policy targets 843 1,157 2,000
Global Trees Most important commercial timbers 843 822 1,665
Palms Global assessment 1,348 243 1,591

Forty-four botanists were trained as Red List Assessors, including the Chair
of the Global Tree SG, the IUCN SSC Plant Network Support Officer and a
member of the IUCN SSC Palm SG, as well as regional experts from
Indonesia (not in this photo).
beetles (315 species) done under the Sampled Red List Index
(SRLI) approach, 137 European bumblebees, 59
grasshoppers, 84 Aloe species from northeast Africa, 290
plants from East Africa, 801 monocots done under the SRLI Erica verticillata – classified as Extinct in the Wild; currently the subject of a
restoration project in South Africa. © SANBI
approach, and 1,477 cacti species – the first global
assessment of a large plant family (the results of this
assessment will be announced in 2014). The IUCN Red List
now has 19,468 plant taxa assessed (21,284 if the regional mapped all 270 freshwater turtles to the global catchment layer
assessments are included). While the focus of the two (HydroBASINS) – in collaboration with the IUCN SSC Tortoise
updates in 2013 was on invertebrates (1,440 species and Freshwater Turtles SG; drawn up the first global checklist
assessed) and plants (3,419 species assessed, including 529 of aquatic and wetland plants (30,000 species names,
reassessments of conifers), assessments and reassessments completed by Richard Lansdown, Chair of the newly
of vertebrates were also not neglected as assessments for Freshwater Plants SG), and; mobilised the Africa spatial
412 amphibians, 691 birds, 723 fish, and 610 reptiles were database of odonata (110,000 records, completed by Jens
published during the year. Kipping of the IUCN SSC Dragonfly Specialist Group) for
submission to GBIF. All these assessments were made
IUCN Red List assessments of timber trees in Africa: possible under the Biofresh project. The West Asia freshwater
• “Red listing of tropical timber species: assessment, policy biodiversity assessment has also made excellent progress with
and practice in Central Africa” involving the Forest around 500 species assessed at a successful workshop in
Programme – this is being led by the PACO Forest Program Jordan, in collaboration with the Royal Society for the
and involves the IUCN Forest Programme. The focus is on Conservation of Nature Jordan (an IUCN Member).
timber species in Central Africa (but doing evaluations at the
global scale). There is some engagement with the Global Bumblebees: BAU continues to collaborate with the
Trees SG. This work will use forestry concession data (the Bumblebee Specialist Group as part of a global assessment
problem in using the data from herbaria is that botanists just for all bumblebee species. Data have been collected for South
don’t collect enough large tree specimens to produce American and Central American species, and are currently
accurate evaluations). being reviewed.
• IUCN Red listing project of timber species in DRC:
“Elaboration de la Liste Rouge des essences ligneuses en Marine Biodiversity Unit (MBU): Our major taxonomic
RDC”: involving the Global Trees SG: A second phase expansion was the addition of the sea cucumbers to The IUCN
involving the Central African Red List Authority could be Red List of Threatened Species™; out of the 371 species, 246
linked with the above project. This is a national timber (or 66%) were Data Deficient, 112 (30%) were designated
species red listing project administrated by the PACO. Least Concern, and 18 (4%) were in the threatened categories,
with ten Vulnerable and eight Endangered.
Freshwater Biodiversity Unit (FBU): IUCN Red List
assessments: We have now completed a comprehensive Amphibians: BAU: 80 assessments submitted for IUCN Red
global assessment of all 763 freshwater shrimps (in List version 2013.1, and 332 assessments submitted for IUCN
collaboration with the IUCN SSC Crabs and Crayfish SG); Red List version 2013.2 (the latter comprised primarily of Least
Report of the Global Species Programme Director 11

Concern amphibian updates), as well as an ongoing review of Reassessments of all the world’s amphibians, birds and
62 assessments made locally for Cuban species, to ensure mammals are underway to enable the next IUCN Red List Index
their compatibility with the global IUCN Red List and the data point to be calculated. A number of the reassessment and
participation of the Amphibian RLA. assessment projects are starting to use online discussion
forums to help speed up the process and reduce the costs of
holding expensive workshops; these forums are reported on
More IUCN Red List Assessments are prepared at elsewhere. Each update of The IUCN Red List includes these
national and, where appropriate, at regional scales reassessments as they are completed, rather than being held
(The ongoing development of national and regional back as in the past, to be published altogether at one time. The
Red Lists is catalysed) 2013.1 update included many conifer reassessments,
completing the second complete reassessment of all conifer
The IUCN Global Species Programme is working on regional species. The calculation of the Red List Index is underway and
assessment projects in Europe (involving GSP staff in the RLU, this will be published in 2014. Initial results show that there are
MBU, HQ and at the Brussels office) and in the Mediterranean significant declines in this taxonomic group with the proportion
(in collaboration with colleagues in the IUCN Centre for threatened having increased from 30 to 34% since 1998, partly
Mediterranean Cooperation in Malaga, Spain). Marine regional as a result of the emergence of new diseases.
assessments are being conducted by the MBU and are
reported on elsewhere.
The IUCN Red List is a scientifically rigorous tool for
Europe: IUCN is currently producing European Red Lists for conservation (The IUCN Red List contains the necessary
pollinators (2,000 bees), 300 priority medicinal plants, 1,200 information to make it a reliable tool for informing
marine fishes and 520 birds (in collaboration with BirdLife). In biodiversity conservation)
the last two updates, 253 bee assessments were published
(67 global) as well as 99 plant assessments (only three global). A number of the key documents supporting The IUCN Red List
The focus on medicinal plants and pollinators underscores the process have been revised or updated since September 2012.
value of The IUCN Red List in providing vital information on Many of these changes were required to ensure that all
factors that inform the state of human well-being. documents conformed with ‘The Rules of Procedure: IUCN
Red List Assessment Process 2013–2016’, which were
Country factsheets showcasing the proportion of species that approved by the SSC Steering Committee. The IUCN Red List
are threatened at the European level were developed for the 27 Categories and Criteria booklet was republished with revised
EU Member States, based on the results of the European Red Annexes (in all three official languages); the Guidelines for
Lists completed so far. These factsheets were useful in Using The IUCN Red List Categories version 10.1 was released
promoting the use of the European Red List data and inform in September 2013 (this key document is being translated into
governments about their responsibility to take action to protect French and Spanish); the Guidelines for Application of IUCN
European threatened species. Red List Criteria at Regional levels ver. 4 was finalized and
published (in all three official languages); the ‘Documentation
Mediterranean: Red List work in the Mediterranean is still Standards and Consistency Checks for IUCN Red List
very much in the initial phases of data compilation. Work is Assessments and Species Accounts’ has been completely
underway on a diverse range of taxonomic groups including: revised and updated and the draft of version 2.0 is available.
1,420 endemic plants (mostly monocots) which will be a All the key documents about The IUCN Red List processes
significant contribution to The IUCN Red List once completed, and policies concerning use of the data, etc. are now
222 dung beetles, 550 saproxylic beetles, and 164 anthozoans available through a new Key Documents page on The IUCN
(not just corals but also sea anemones and other related Red List website.
species). A workshop involving 30 experts was held in Malaga
in February 2013 to assess 468 butterflies. Work to finalize
these assessments is underway. In addition, 500 species of
Yvonne Sadovy, Co-Chair of the IUCN SSC Grouper and Wrasse Specialist
freshwater fishes, molluscs and aquatic plants from the Group, studying the Near Threatened Camouflage Grouper (Epinephelus
Eastern Mediterranean were assessed during a workshop held polyphekadion) in a spawning aggregation. © Eric Clua.
in Jordan in April, 2013.
Marine Biodiversity Unit: Four regional workshops were

completed or will be completed in 2013, including fishes of the
Caribbean, Eastern Central Atlantic, European, and Persian
Gulf, to assess approximately 1,620 species. The Caribbean
and Eastern Central Atlantic initiatives are nearly complete: out
of a combined total of over 2,600 species, less than 500
remain unevaluated. The European and Persian Gulf initiatives
represent geographic expansions of the MBU in 2013.
IUCN Red List Index (Wide use of the Red List Index
(RLI) as an indicator for monitoring trends in the status
of species groups is developed and promoted)

Former SSC Network Support Officer Andrew Rodrigues potential partnerships in Panama, Colombia, northern Central
completed a consultation for updating The IUCN Red List America, the Caribbean and the Philippines.
Documentation Standards for plants. Network support staff
worked to update the Terms of Reference for IUCN SSC Red BAU supported the re-structuring of the IUCN SSC Amphibian
List Authorities. A short report investigating how Specialist Red List Authority (RLA into regional working groups, led by
Groups incorporate indigenous and traditional knowledge into Tier I RLA members, which are taking stewardship of
IUCN Red List assessments was compiled, and this assessments in their respective regions. In support of the new
information was shared with Rosie Cooney, Chair of the structure, we have collectively trained five interns and seven
Sustainable Use and Livelihoods SG. Amphibian RLA members in the tools of The IUCN Red List
trade. Much of this training took place remotely.
IUCN Red Listing capacity built through expanded However, a two-day training workshop in Sydney, Australia and
training programmes (Capacity developed to ensure a five-day workshop in Chengdu, China also took place, as did
that The IUCN Red List Criteria are applied rigorously a one-day IUCN Red List training workshop in the context of
and consistently to increase the credibility of The IUCN the Brazilian Congress of Herpetology (22–26 July 2013),
Red List) attended by 20 participants inclusive of researchers,
professors, students and government representatives.
A three-day IUCN Red List Trainer certificate course is
now in place; targeting people with proven red listing skills and MBU: Two Old Dominion University Red List Trainings were
who are responsible for managing IUCN Red List assessment held this year, with a total of nine participants from Old
projects. A Training Trainers workshop was held in June 2013 Dominion University and one from Brown University. An
to finalize the course content. Thirty one people are now international training program is scheduled for 21 participants
certified IUCN Red List Trainers. from seven countries, including the United Arab Emirates,
Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iran, Jordan, and the United States.
Red List Assessor Training Workshops: Fourteen Red List
training workshops and sessions have been held since Sept.
2012, providing training for a range of ongoing assessment The IUCN Red List is underpinned by cutting-edge
projects, SSC Specialist Groups, national Red List projects, information management technologies (The information
and Red List Partners. A total of 282 people were trained. technology infrastructure to support Species Strategic
Plan objectives is enhanced)
Online Red List Training Course: The online IUCN Red List
course, Assessing Species’ Extinction Risk Using IUCN Red A number of developments involving SIS or the handling of
List Methodology, was released in stages on TNC’s spatial data are underway or close to completion which will
Conservation Training website during the course of the year. greatly enhance the assessment process and handling of all
The course covers a range of topics including The IUCN Red the data collected. These include:
List Categories and Criteria, supporting Information for
assessments, SIS, and regional assessments. An exam was • SIS bug fixing and feature improvements to facilitate the
released at the end of the year. assessment process based on requests from the Red List
Technical Working Group (RLTWG).
IUCN Red List Website: Training Pages: • Publication workflow being used by the Red List Unit to
The IUCN Red List website has been updated to include a manage the submission and publishing of assessments, this
more focused series of separate web pages explaining all will soon be made available to all users to track progress of
aspects of IUCN Red List Training, see this link. submissions to publication.
• Integrity checker has been re-worked and the new version is
IUCN Red Listing capacity built through expanded training in final testing, and the rules for what needs to be checked
programmes – Olivier Hasinger trained to be a Red List are being entered in the system.
assessor. Red List training was given to the Otter SG, provided • The Use and Trade modules have been changed following
an information session on mammal IUCN Red List re- feedback from the RLTWG. A few minor changes still need
assessments to SSC attendees of the International to be made before full migration to the new modules.
Mammalogical Congress and shared best practices and • A significant change in 2013 was the merger of the Birdlife
lessons learned for Specialist Group operations to the Small SIS and IUCN SIS versions. Now there is one SIS database
Carnivore SG. The SSC Chair’s office (Rachel Roberts) led for both institutions, which save time and money on system
much of the work behind SSC Specialist Group Chair and Red updates, and this will also make the process of publishing
List Coordinator re-appointments in 2013; including updating new releases to the website more efficient and faster.
key documents such as the “Guidelines for Specialist Group • Improvements in the handling of spatial data implemented
Chairs” and “Welcome to the SSC document”. during 2013 now make it possible to update the Map
Browser and the main IUCN Red List website almost at the
Amphibians: BAU continues to guide RLA members and same time. The systems for managing and displaying point
supervise interns as they undertake their respective species data (from specimens and observations) are under
assessments. Our first two institutional partnerships have development.
recently been established: with the Chengdu Institute of • Work has started to build the functionality to import data
Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CIB) and with from external databases (e.g. at Kew, SANBI, etc.) into SIS.
CONABIO of Mexico. We are actively discussing other • Implementation of an online mapping tool (initially for

freshwater species) is currently being tested; this tool is The IUCN Red List is recognized as a global brand (The
integrated with SIS. Red List developed as a global brand)
• Progress on publishing the RL accounts as citable
documents (DOI) has been made: we have met with Promotion of the use of The IUCN Red List scale through the
potential providers and are preparing a brief with (costing + Zoo, Aquaria and Botanic garden networks continues with
technical requirements) for the virtual RLC meeting. more than 15 more organizations asking to use the scale on
• Many ESRI GIS licenses have been provided to the SSC their signage and/or website, including Wildlife Reserves
Specialist Groups. Singapore which alone has around 1.7 million visitors per year.
The scale and buttons are now available in nine languages.
The IUCN Red List is used effectively to inform policy Amazing Species continues with our weekly species feature.
and action (The IUCN Red List data and information is Additional effort has been made in the last quarter to push this
increasingly used to inform policy and action in private product out to our partners, members and through the Zoo,
and public sector) Aquaria and Botanic Garden network.
The European Red Lists are being used in the EU mid-term The IUCN Red List website is constantly being modified and
review of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to measure progress improved. Some of the key changes implemented during the
towards achieving EU targets (the review started in 2013 and reporting period include:
will be completed by 2014). The European Red Lists are used
by the EU financing instrument of the environment (LIFE • The launching of The IUCN Red List Discover sub-site aimed
Programme) to guide the allocation of funds. The Malaga office at the general public.
provided technical support to the Moroccan Authorities to • Changes to The IUCN Red List website to increase the
develop their new legislation on protected species (especially amount of information being displayed on the species pages
related to those species included on The IUCN Red List). and the layouts of the displays especially for the classification
schemes; an ongoing process.
IUCN SSC expertise and knowledge contributed to the 16th • The ability to do searches for regional assessments from the
CITES Conference of Parties. At this meeting, major decisions main page; this requires further refinements.
were taken by the Parties, many of which relied on information • The Map Browser is now able to display maps of freshwater
supplied by IUCN SSC. This included updates on the status of species which are mapped using catchments (a different
wild elephant and rhino populations. In conjunction with approach to how species are mapped in the terrestrial and
TRAFFIC, IUCN SSC analysed the proposals from Parties to marine ecosystems).
amend the appendices and published a detailed, objective • Improvements were made to The IUCN Red List web
evaluation that was widely used to inform decision-making. services (APIs), to allow external systems to easily extract
These objective assessments were supported by the presence and use IUCN Red List data (including spatial data), as well
of a number of SSC Specialist Group chairs during the as enabling initiatives like the Amphibian, Reptile and
meeting, who made key interventions during debate and Mammal assessment discussion forums to work.
organized relevant side events (e.g. on pangolin trade). • The spatial data at species level can now be downloaded,
through a validation process, and this now needs to be
Marine Biodiversity Unit: Results are driving new US extended to all data which is downloadable from the website.
government regulations for protecting and promoting recovery • The pages on The IUCN Red List website are being reviewed
of threatened coral species. Largely based on our 2008 global and updated, as much as the content management system
IUCN Red List assessments of reef-building corals, NOAA has allows, making it easier to navigate.
proposed the addition of 66 reef-building coral species to the
Endangered Species Act and reclassifying Elkhorn and As part of the Amphibian RLA restructuring process, a new
Staghorn corals as endangered, released in December 2013. Amphibian Assessment Forum platform, has been developed
in collaboration with the Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG) and
IUCN Red List information was contributed to CBD meetings in iNaturalist, and supported via the Biodiversity Assessment Unit
relation to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. (BAU) to help facilitate and expedite the amphibian
reassessment process; a logo has been developed for the RLA
The Biodiversity Conservation Group is working on a project (with the kind support of ASG Secretariat).
that will increase the visibility, uptake and use of The IUCN Red
List of Threatened Species™; a 30 page booklet titled
‘Knowledge Products: a user manual for business’. Funded by The IUCN Red List is sufficiently and sustainably
the World Business Council on Sustainable development financed (Funds secured to ensure the sustainability of
through the IUCN Business and Biodiversity Programme, the the Red List)
purpose of this manual is to promote more and better use of
biodiversity information by business to inform environmental 300,000 Euros was raised for CITES CoP16 work, which
risk related to biodiversity impact. It will feature, in a non- enabled us to contribute IUCN Red List data and other expert
technical, clear and business friendly language, The IUCN Red knowledge to the meeting. Staff worked with some Specialist
List of Threatened Species™, World Database on Protected Groups regarding online donation strategies (e.g. African
Areas, Key Biodiversity Areas, and the Red List of Ecosystems. Elephant SG). Network support staff circulated various funding
This booklet will be a new WBCSD manual, launched at the opportunities to SSC Specialist Groups as a part of Chair
end of 2013. updates and supported them in fundraising initiatives.

The Amphibian RLA central coordination team met at the biodiversity outcomes. This would mean that knowledge from
IUCN SSC Chair’s office in Bath, UK, on 11–14 June 2013 to The IUCN Red Lists of Species and Ecosystems and from Key
develop an Amphibian RLA strategy and discuss the budget Biodiversity Areas would be included as well.
requirements for updating amphibian assessments. A new
budget focusing on the cost of individual assessments was
subsequently developed and will be used as the basis for a Population-level Monitoring and Analysis (Monitoring
pay-per-assessment campaign. The new Amphibian SG programmes established for selected species and
website can be accessed here. groups of species)
MBU: The core support of the Thomas W. Haas Foundation The Monitoring Framework for the SOS project portfolio is
remains essential to our success. Additionally, initiatives in the currently being rolled out. While SOS will not directly implement
Persian Gulf, West Africa, Europe, Gulf of Mexico, and or set up monitoring programmes for all the Critically
Oceania have been funded in cooperation with Qatar National Endangered species it supports, it will be able to capture and
Research Fund, Qatar University, Qatar Natural History collate data received from SOS grantees (when these are
Museum, IUCN West African Marine Programme and EC collected) and make these available for further use/analysis.
funding and Harte Institute. GSP has also provided support
coming from the US Voluntary Contribution and from Agence Currently the SOS Secretariat requests its grantees to indicate
Française de Développement. the proportion (estimated %) of the global population of each
target threatened species their projects are supporting.
A number of proposals have been submitted to various donors
including the European Commission and the MacArthur
Foundation with whom advanced discussions are taking place. Invasive Species (Measures to manage invasive species
greatly enhanced through focused efforts involving
Note that despite some excellent fundraising results (some of knowledge, policy and action)
which is mentioned in this report) The IUCN Red List funding is
far from sustainable. Discussion with the World Bank has been Invasive Species Initiative: ISI has been supporting the
initiated to see if they could be persuaded to regard the Invasive Species Specialist Group in many aspects of data
knowledge products mobilized through IUCN as global public storage and dissemination concerning invasive species and
goods. Jointly with UNEP WCMC we have made an approach especially, in formalizing a framework for understanding
to the Joint Research Committee of the European Union with a pathways of invasion and ways to address these to reduce or
view to establishing a partnership with that body which could block new biological invasions. However, much of the
lead to the mobilisation of more resources. Initiative’s work involves the development of capacity for the
establishment and implementation of invasive species
The Biodiversity Conservation Group and the IUCN Science strategies in developing countries.
and Knowledge Programme are working on the project Costing
the flagship knowledge products mobilized through IUCN. The
purpose of this project is to assess costs to date in Integrating IUCN Knowledge Products (IUCN’s key
development and maintenance, and estimated costs for biodiversity knowledge products (e.g. Red List and
complete coverage, of each of the six flagship knowledge WDPA) fully integrated to allow interoperability and to
products mobilized through IUCN. This project, which key maximize efficient use)
output will be a scientific report, will be completed by early
2014. This project is key to deliver the future vision of The intersections between IUCN Red List data and protected
Knowledge Products mobilized through IUCN, including The areas are done on a regular basis to keep the integration
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™, and to move towards between The IUCN Red List and Protected Planet via the Map
ensuring sustainable funding. Browser, as up-to-date as possible.
Work on linking The IUCN Red List to the Global Invasive

Strategic oversight is provided to The IUCN Red List Species Database (GISD) is ongoing. More than half of the
(Strategic oversight for delivering the Red List provided GISD species now have entries in SIS, allowing them to be
by Red List Committee) selected as named invasives under the threats classification
scheme and this coding in turn provides the link between the
Ongoing with significant engagement by GSP. two systems. The integration will be fully implemented once
the new GISD database and website is released.
Measuring Conservation Success (New methods for

measuring and categorising the success of conservation Species Conservation Strategies, Action Plans and
in place) Tools (Conservation action for species improved
through application of IUCN species specific
Work initiated WCC-2012-Res-041 called for “Development of conservation strategies and action plans and other
objective criteria for a Green List of species, ecosystems and relevant tools)
protected areas”. The work has progressed most with respect
to Protected Areas, but efforts are being made to ensure that GSP staff participated in the Species Conservation Planning
Green Listing considers both management effectiveness and Sub-Committee meeting that took place August 20–22.

Setting global standards for the identification of sites of utilize the European and Global IUCN Red List data sets. A
biodiversity conservation significance (Global standard number of key publications will be submitted early 2014.
for defining and identifying “key biodiversity areas”
developed and adopted) Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, freshwater KBAs: We held
our first two KBA workshops (Bosnia for the Balkans Region;
Following the recommendations resulting from the high-level Morocco for the Northern Africa region) to obtain stakeholder
“Framing” meeting held in Cambridge in 2012, several input to validate sites of proposed freshwater KBAs.
technical workshops have been organized this year: Approximately 150 new sites have been identified. Once
• The Criteria and Delineation workshop (11–15 March 2013, processing is completed these new KBAs will be represented
Front Royal, USA – 40 participants) was dedicated to define the in the World Biodiversity Database which has now been
criteria of the new KBA standard, building on existing criteria modified (under Biofresh) to accept and display freshwater
and to agree on key considerations for delineating KBAs. data sets. Many members of the SSC Specialists Groups
• The Threshold workshop (2–5 December 2013, Rome, Italy provided excellent input at these workshops.
– about 30 participants) established thresholds for measures
of biodiversity significance, in other words at defining how FBU is also involved in the drafting of the CEPF ecosystem
“key” a site needs to be for it to be considered a “Key Profile for the West Africa Guinea Forest Hotspot in
Biodiversity Area”. collaboration with IUCN PACO.
• The Governance workshop (6–9 November 2013, Brasilia,
Brazil – about 40 participants) focused on the governance Invasive Species Initiative: Criteria for KBAs: ISI is involved in
mechanisms of this new standard. a process to identify and describe KBAs for the extensive lake
• A Joint Marine Working Group has been created in and catchment of Lake Victoria in East Africa and its catchment
collaboration with the Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative in five countries in order to then assess the various levels of
(GOBI) to strengthen the synergies between the identification threat to such KBAs from invading species – and then to
of EBSAs and the KBA process. In particular, Key develop solutions for their better management of these threats.
Biodiversity Areas could provide a list of potential sites to be At the same time, ISI is assisting the Lake Victoria Basin
considered for the Ecologically and Biologically Significant Commission to streamline monitoring systems for the all-
Areas (EBSAs) adopted by the Convention on Biological pervading water hyacinth invasion and also to assess the water
Diversity. A workshop was organized during the International hyacinth extent and impacts across continental African states
Marine Protected Areas Congress 3 (IMPAC3), in Marseille, (on behalf of UNEP) and to suggest lasting means of
France, on 22 October 2013, to look at marine Key management of this alien water weed – inside and out of KBAs.
Biodiversity Areas challenges, in particular with regards to
large mobile marine species.
• Interviews were conducted with various stakeholders and Re-introductions (Information and advice service in
end-users (such as the World Bank, donors, NGOs, place to support species reintroductions)
Indigenous people and local communities, etc.) on their
needs and use of the KBA methodology. GSP assisted the Reintroduction Specialist Group in
• Finally, regional presentations and consultations have been communicating their work and distributing the new
organized during existing regional events, such as the Reintroduction Guidelines.
“Biodiversity without Boundaries”, in Baltimore (USA) on 17
April 2013.
Conservation Breeding, and links to ex-situ community
The results of these technical workshops will be integrated into (Advice and facilitation in place to support ex-situ
a draft methodology that will be available for comment next species recovery programmes)
year, before being launched in November 2014 at the World
Parks Congress, Sydney (Australia). A newsletter is sent out Dena Cator participated in the CBSG Strategic Committee
periodically and the website has been updated. For more Meeting that took place in April. GSP regularly interacts with
information, please contact [email protected]. the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) which is
Applying IUCN standard for identification of sites of Release of Wood Bison from transport crates – Russia. © IUCN SSC
global biodiversity conservation significance Reintroduction Specialist Group
(Biodiversity conservation action improved through the
application of consolidated standards)
Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, BIOFRESH project:

FBU continues to lead Work Package “Informing Policy for
Conservation Planning” providing input to the European
Science Policy Interface relating to: i) Freshwater KBAs as
input to systematic conservation planning for “efficient” site
networks for freshwater species; ii) gap analyses in relation
to Protected Areas; iii) predicted species range shifts under
climate change scenarios, and iv) optimal site networks for
maximising Ecosystem Service provisions. These analyses

an IUCN member and partner, exchanging information relating Red List Discover: In April 2013 the Discover sub-site was
to the work of the SSC Specialist Groups. launched on The IUCN Red List website with the objective of
engaging the non-scientific user. The second phase of
development to improve search functionality is underway.
Global and regional policy for biodiversity conservation
(Global and regional policy mechanisms influenced to More than 14 international press releases (including the two
enhance the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation) IUCN Red List updates) plus regular stories on key species
work have been posted on the Species website. All were
Invasive Species Initiative: A main activity for ISI is the supported by social media. Network support staff assisted
continuing provision of capacity enhancement for developing various Specialist Groups with press stories, publications and
country governments to fulfil their responsibilities to the CBD in other types of communication relating to IUCN Red List
relation to Invasive Species – by assisting the achievement of assessments and conservation work as well as newsletters,
Aichi target 9 through the development of National Invasive Species Programme and Specialist Group websites, etc. Claire
Species Strategies and Action Plans, species specific Santer compiles and circulates the SSC e-bulletin to all SSC
strategies and management regimes for their worst invasions. members each month.
The Initiative is simultaneously contributing to the on-going
debates of the Inter-agency Invasive Species Liaison Group, to Social media presence has strengthened throughout 2013 with
harmonize approaches of the CBD and the various other more than 31,000 followers on Facebook at the beginning of
conventions and international organisations with March 2014 (an increase of 25,000 since end Dec 2012) and
responsibilities for preventing biological invasions. more than 19,300 followers on Twitter (an increase of 8,000
since end Dec 2012).
The GSP (Dena Cator) co-managed the Analyses of the
Proposal to Amend the CITES Appendices project for CITES The IUCN Red List celebrates its 50th birthday in 2014. The
CoP16. She was also the coordinator for the IUCN delegation strategy for communications and fundraising is now being
at CITES CoP16 which included technical input (e.g. implemented, with the key campaign objectives being to raise
contribution of IUCN Red List data and IUCN expertise) as well awareness of The IUCN Red List and secure additional funding
as delegation logistics (e.g. providing support to participating for IUCN Red List work – assessments, re-assessments and
SSC Specialist Groups). core maintenance.
The GSP contributed information to CBD meetings and the Freshwater biodiversity: Three key FBU publications for the
Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. year include: i) Application of The IUCN Red List data (FW
fishes) to the world’s Zoos and Aquaria; ii) Global patterns of
freshwater species diversity, threat and cross-taxon
Policy and action at national and cross-boundary levels congruence (in collaboration with ZSL); and iii) BioMatrix –
(Actions and policies for species and sites implemented METADATA Contemporary distributions of freshwater
at the national level) biodiversity – a report for BioFresh.
Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, TWAP (Transboundary Marine Biodiversity Unit (MBU): In 2013, results from two
Waters Assessment Programme) project: The FBU is workshops were published in peer-reviewed journals: a
participating in an innovative partnership with the IUCN Global summary of the conservation status of bonefishes and tarpons
Water Programme to contribute species threat and spatial data and an exploration of the factors contributing to the extreme
to the TWAP, a multi-partner project funded by the Global marine biodiversity in the Coral Triangle. Two additional
Environment Facility. This is an exciting opportunity to apply manuscripts have been submitted and six more are at various
IUCN Red List data to conservation monitoring and decision stages of preparation.
making in transboundary river basins. See this link.
Friends of Target 12: Conservation works but conservation
Invasive Species Initiative: is working to revise and update effort needs to be scaled up given the fact that current efforts
invasive species prevention and management strategies (and are insufficient to offset the main drivers of biodiversity loss.
later policies) for both freshwater and terrestrial invasive species Friends of Target 12 is an emerging partnership which aims to
in SADC (Southern Africa Development Community involving 15 build synergies to achieve this.
countries including two Indian Ocean island states) and
simultaneously encouraging cross-border cooperation between Friends of Target 12 was established at CBD COP11. Its goal is
neighbouring states within SADC to cooperate on the to support CBD Parties and others to achieve Aichi Target 12
management of biological invasions – especially where several by providing practical guidance and raising awareness of
countries’ borders meet. GSP was involved in coordinating initiatives and programmes that contribute to the implementation
strategic input / interventions for various national / species – of the activities needed to stem the tide of species’ extinctions.
level issues (e.g. bear bile farming in Asia, pygmy sloths in Parties who would like to join this initiative need to:
Panama, proposed zoo closures in Costa Rica). 1. summarize how their species conservation work contributes
to the achievement of target 12;
2. explain how they are supporting their government/s to
Communicating species conservation (The effectiveness implement and achieve target 12;
of IUCN’s species conservation work enhanced through 3. read and accept the partnership proposal;
strategic and targeted communications) 4. send logo and appoint focal point;

5. make a commitment; and Friends of Target 12 is supported by the Convention on
6. share some success stories on species conservation (not Biological Diversity and a response to the convention’s call for
compulsory). Biodiversity Champions.
The partnership comprises 25 environmental organizations,

conventions, funding organizations and governmental Fostering conservation on land and in water
agencies. To know more about Friends of Target 12 please (Conservation supported through existing and novel
visit this link. funding mechanisms)
Activities of the partnership, working with the CBD Secretariat During 2013, SOS – Save Our Species has continued to
and with Parties, may include: support, or has started funding, a total of 54 projects focusing
• Synthesize and share experience, initiatives, guidelines and on threatened species conservation in more than 30 countries
recommendations to enable countries to achieve Target 12 and more than 30 additional ones expected to be funded by
• Promote synergies (at national, regional or global level) early 2014.
between organizations and institutions working on species
conservation including governments, NGOs, convention With a total amount of USD 6 million already committed to 54
secretariats and business to achieve Target 12 projects around the world and another USD 3 million expected
• Promote the integration of species action plans, strategies to be allocated by early 2014, SOS is well on route to meet the
and activities into National Biodiversity Strategies and Action expected targets set in the IUCN Species Strategic Plan
Plans (NBSAPs) 2013–2016.
• Identify important issues related to species conservation
that might be addressed via decisions of the CBD or A total of more than 100 threatened species are benefitting
other conventions from the two types of grant that SOS offers.
• Support the Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (BIP) to
develop indicators and methods to monitor progress Public outreach and marketing activities have proceeded well
towards the achievement of Target 12 during 2013 with quarterly issues of the SOS newsletter – “A
• Develop shared strategies for collaborative efforts to achieve Call from the Wild” – being sent to about 10,000 subscribers, a
Target 12 including capacity building and tool development. new social media campaign being launched and reaching
Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) – Near Threatened. This species has been successfully bred through a project led by the Saint Louis Zoo, the
Missouri Department of Conservation, Arkansas Fish & Game Commission and US Fish and Wildlife Service. © Brian Gratwicke

more than 25,000 followers through Facebook and Twitter. A them in terms of biodiversity, livelihoods, ecosystem services
photographic exhibition was organized in Geneva to promote and policy, and work with stakeholders to develop and
SOS and IUCN. implement action plans. This builds directly on the Integrated
Wetland Assessment Toolkit previously developed by the FBU.
Fundraising efforts have intensified in order to ensure the SOS See this link.
fund will continue to operate after 2015 once its initial five-year
funding will have been all committed.
Biodiversity and climate change understanding (Impacts
While strictly speaking not falling under SOS, a new initiative of climate change on species and the response of
called the “Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme” species to climate change documented, analysed and
based on the same structure and principles directing SOS, better understood)
commences in 2014.
Climate Change Unit (CCU): In 2013 the CCU has
successfully developed and applied their new Species
Special initiatives to tackle major conservation crises Vulnerability to Climate Change Assessment Framework,
(Focused attention brought to resolving major crises in including to global amphibians, birds and reef-forming corals,
biodiversity conservation) as well as to a number of other taxa at a regional level. This
marks an important step towards showing how IUCN Red List
GSP worked with the African Elephant Specialist Group on the information and information on species vulnerability to climate
organization of the African Elephant Summit that was held in change can be mutually informative when developing
Gaborone, Botswana in December 2013. conservation and adaptation strategies. New assessments
have begun in 2013, including consideration of new taxa and
We have been supporting the Amphibian Survival Alliance, application of refined methods, and many more are anticipated
Action Asia (now known as ASAP), bear farming and action on for 2014.
Asian rhinos.
Much of the CCU’s time in 2013 has been devoted to assisting
Staff have engaged with the Mangrove SG and work to development of the new SSC Climate Change Specialist
increase linkages with the ARO Mangroves For the Future. Group, whose diverse aims include, among others,
development and implementation of best practice guidelines
for assessing species vulnerability to climate change.
Understanding and communicating sustainable use
(Greater common understanding achieved of the theory
and practice of sustainable use of biodiversity, and key Biodiversity and climate change policy (Biodiversity
linkages to human livelihoods) considerations taken into account in public and private
sector adaptation and mitigation policies and practices
GSP has been working with the Sustainable Use and at global and regional levels)
Livelihoods Specialist Group, for example to explore
indigenous / local community contributions to IUCN Red List CCU: In recognition that species assessments can and should
assessments and trade / use information being captured in form the biodiversity knowledge-basis of climate change
IUCN Red List assessments. adaptation and mitigation, in 2013 the CCU has also been
developing a system to inform national-level stakeholders and
Staff have been liaising with the International Trade Centre decision makers of the ways that our results can be used to
which does joint work with SSC Specialist Groups (e.g. on inform adaptation policies and practices. To date, this has
Asian snake trade). been trialled at workshops in Sierra Leone and The Gambia,
and further workshops considering the species of Mali, Chad
and Togo took place in November. CCU has also worked with
Enabling and implementing strategies for sustainable the SSC Climate Change Specialist Group in engaging with
use (The use of living natural resources is sustainable policymakers and planners at multiple levels.
and recognized as a positive tool for achieving long-
term conservation)
Maintaining genetic diversity of wild relatives of crops
The GSP has engaged considerably with the Sustainable Use and domesticated animals (The long-term supply of food
and Livelihoods Specialist Group. resources secured through the conservation of wild
relatives of crops (CWR) and domesticated animals)
Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, HighARCS project: The last Discussions have taken place with the Crop Wild Relative SG
year of this EC-funded four-year project is focusing on the with a view to establishing links for in-situ conservation of CWR
implementation and monitoring of action plans at five sites and on-farm management of crop landraces and IUCN Key
across Asia, which are all aiming to improve the sustainable Biodiversity Areas.
use and conservation of aquatic resources and biodiversity.
The major output of the project is an online Wetland
Resources Action Planning (WRAP) toolkit which will provide Other updates:
the practical guidance, processes and tools needed to better
understand the issues related to aquatic biodiversity; value SSC Membership registration and the IUCN Union Portal:

Claire Santer, SSC Membership, Administrative and • Group managers (e.g. SSC SG chairs) will be able to
Communications Assistant in GSP, has completed registration communicate with group members
of all 8,000 SSC members, recording details in the IUCN • Group members will be able to post documents for
Constituency Relations Management system (CRM). All discussion
Specialist Group Chairs submit details of their members, • Group members will be able to create sub groups on
which must be checked to avoid creating duplicates before specific topics or tasks
uploading to the CRM. This takes a substantial amount of time • Content of Group spaces will be visible to all portal users by
and effort but we are confident that the SSC records are now default, but it will be possible to flag groups, documents or
in good shape. information as private and therefore visible to group
members only.
The Union Portal enables communication among all members
of the IUCN family. Only persons linked within the CRM to an Every SSC Specialist Group, Task Force, RLA, Committee and
official IUCN group will have access. It allows one to see which Sub Committee will have a group space. The roll out to SSC
groups a person is connected (e.g., Commission Group, IUCN groups is being managed by Claire Santer.
office, IUCN Member organisation) via a directory, and to
search for both people and documents according to a set of
100 pre-determined key words. Dr Jane Smart
Global Director, Biodiversity Conservation Group
Other useful functions include: Director, Global Species Programme
• Individual members will be able to update personal contact
information online

Addressing Critical Conservation Issues
The SSC has continued to focus on numerous urgent handle day-to-day decisions, and an Internal Accountability
conservation issues around the world. During this reporting Team (of which Simon was a member) to handle more strategic
period, much of the focus has been on follow-ups to decisions, were formed. Tanzania initially agreed to be the host
Resolutions and Recommendations from the IUCN World country and the AES was scheduled for 4–6 November 2013.
Conservation Congress in Jeju, in September 2012. There has However, for various reasons it proved impossible to proceed
been follow-up on most of the c. 45 species-related with the meeting in Tanzania, but the Government of Botswana
Resolutions and Recommendations, but the SSC Chair’s subsequently stepped in and hosted the AES on 2–4
Office has been particularly involved in the following: December in Gaborone. Following two days of discussions and
negotiations, a set of strong, Urgent Measures (see Appendix 1)
Resolution 017 – Enhancing the usefulness of The IUCN were unanimously agreed by delegates representing the 30
Red List of Threatened Species™ countries present at the AES. These countries represented
The implementation of this resolution is covered in section 3 every step along the illegal ivory trade value chain from
(Promoting the Biodiversity Assessment Work of the SSC) producer to transit to consumer countries. In effect, the Urgent
below. Most notably, the Red List Strategic Plan 2013–2020 Measures have secured a higher-level political commitment
has been adopted. Mike Hoffmann, Chair of the Red List (generally at the ministerial level) to implementing the CITES
Committee, ably led the process to reach agreement on this COP16 decisions on the African elephant (see section 9 below).
critically important document. Huge thanks are needed for Diane Skinner and Holly Dublin for
the work they did to make the AES a success. In addition, to
Resolution 018 – Support for the development and direct work on the AES, much effort has gone into building
implementation of national and regional red lists partnerships with other initiatives addressing illegal wildlife
Work is progressing very well on the formation of a National trade. In particular, this has involved partnering with the UK
Red List Alliance which will create a new network of national Government and Royal Family in their Illegal Wildlife Trade
red list practitioners from around the world. Mike Hoffmann Initiative (Richard Jenkins and Simon Hedges represented
and Simon Stuart have been working with Jonathan Baillie and IUCN at the first meeting of this initiative in London on 21 May).
Katherine Secoy from the SSC National Red List Working The London High Level Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade
Group (NRLWG) and ZSL, to finalize the Memorandum of took place on 13 February 2014. Consultations also took place
Understanding for the new Alliance. It is expected that the with the Government of India on their International Elephant
NRLWG, which will become the governing body of the Congress (E: 50-50), which was planned to take place in New
Alliance, will in future be elected by the Alliance members. This Delhi on 14–19 November 2013, but was postponed at short
promises to be a very exciting new initiative. notice. On a closely-related matter, following inputs from the
SSC African and Asian Elephant Specialist Groups, the IUCN
Resolution 022 – Supporting regional initiatives to Director General sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Thailand
conserve mammal diversity in West and Central Africa on 28 February requesting immediate action to close down the
Funding has been secured for the situation analysis called for loophole which allowed this country to become a major trading
in this resolution (which has been expanded to include all route for illegal ivory. Steps taken by the Thai Government
terrestrial and freshwater vertebrates, not just mammals). A subsequently suggest that pressure from IUCN and other con-
call for tenders has been issued, and 13 were received. After servation groups has been taken seriously, and this has been
reviewing the tenders, contracts have been issued for four helped by decisions taken by the CITES Standing Committee
consultants, each with distinctive roles in the project: David regarding ivory trade in Thailand (see section 9 below).
Mallon; Phil McGowan; Fabrice Hibert and Nathalie van Vliet.
Work is now underway and letters have been sent from the
IUCN Director General to all IUCN Members in the region to African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) Vulnerable. © Ian White
encourage participation in the situation analysis. Likewise,

Simon has written to SSC members about this project. This
project is being overseen by Mike Hoffmann and it will be
completed during 2014.
Resolution 025 – Conservation of African elephants

Preparations for the IUCN African Elephant Summit (AES) in
December 2013 were a major focus during the latter part of the
year. Several side meetings were held during CITES COP16 in
Bangkok in March to plan the AES and to clarify how it relates
to other current initiatives focusing on illegal wildlife trade.
Following the CITES COP, the management and decision-
making process for the AES were agreed within IUCN. Holly
Dublin and Ali Kaka served as the AES Co-Leaders, with Diane
Skinner as the AES Coordinator. A Core Coordination Team to
Addressing Critical Conservation Issues 21

Resolution 028 – Conservation of the East Asian- chemicals on biodiversity, under the leadership of Jeroen van
Australasian Flyway and its threatened water birds, with der Sluijs. The aim is to complete the integrated assessment
particular reference to the Yellow Sea by mid-2014, though time is probably slipping somewhat
Since the adoption of Resolution 28, there have been a number because of the complex nature of this work. However, work is
of very positive steps forward. First, plans are progressing well proceeding well. Meetings of the Task Force to work on the
to advance national government-led workshops which will integrated assessment took place in Louvain-la-Neuve,
discuss possible steps forward in implementing the Resolution Belgium, on 15–19 April, in Tokyo on 8–12 June, and in
nationally. A national forum on integrated coastal zone planning Legnaro, Italy, on 4–8 November 2013. Simon Stuart, together
of the Chinese Yellow Sea, was originally planned to be held in with CEM Chair Piet Wit, has been taking part in conversations
Beijing on 18–19 November, but is now postponed until early with the steering committee of the Task Force to agree with
2014. Plans for a meeting in Pyongyang in April (where, among peer review process for the integrated assessment.
others, it is also hoped to encourage DPRK to join the Ramsar
Convention and East Asia Australasia Flyway Partnership) have Recommendation 138 – Conservation of rhinoceros
been postponed due to ongoing political tensions in the region. species in Africa and Asia
It is further hoped that a national meeting in the Republic of Numerous activities have taken place to implement this
Korea can be arranged with the new ministerial leadership, and Recommendation, including at CITES COP16 (see section 9
further that the Republic of Korea would take the lead in below). The SSC African Rhino Specialist Group held a
supporting follow-up of a CBD CoP11 decision on ecosystem meeting in Nanyuki, Kenya, on 16–23 February. Following this,
restoration. Indeed, the new framework agreement between new statistics on the status of African rhinos were released.
IUCN and the Republic of Korea has a funding allocation to White Rhinos have increased to 20,405 and Black Rhinos to
help support the implementation of this resolution. Meanwhile, 5,055, but the rate of increase has slowed drastically because
Princeton University has initiated a two-year post-doc study of a rapid increase in poaching with at least 745 animals
focused on providing an economic perspective of where costs illegally killed in 2012, and animals now being lost at the rate of
are borne and where benefits accrue resulting from land-use one every 11 hours. IUCN SSC convened the Sumatran Rhino
change (with study sites in Thailand, China and potentially Crisis Summit, which took place in Singapore on 31 March to
South Korea). This provides a possible platform on which IUCN 4 April and which was attended by over 100 people, with large
could piggy-back the ecosystem services study called for in representation from the two main range states, Indonesia and
Resolution 28 (operative paragraph 1a) to investigate “…the Malaysia. A report of the meeting was prepared as well as a
benefits of ecosystem services provided by intertidal wetlands, two-year Sumatran Rhino Emergency Plan. The Crisis Summit
especially tidal flats and associated habitats, in East Asia with was followed up by the Asian Rhino Range States Meeting,
particular reference to the Yellow Sea, in relation to the called by the Government of Indonesia, and held in Bandar
benefits arising from the reclamation (land claim) or conversion Lampung on 2–3 October. The Indonesian Minister of Forestry
of such habitats”. requested IUCN SSC’s assistance in organising this meeting
and Simon Stuart served as the facilitator. The meeting
Resolution 041 – Development of objective criteria for a brought the five Asian range countries (Bhutan, India,
Green List of species, ecosystems and protected areas Indonesia, Malaysia and Nepal) together and was very
On 7 March, Simon Stuart and Mike Hoffmann held a small successful, concluding in the adoption of the Bandar
meeting in the margins of CITES COP16 in Bangkok to start to Lampung Declaration, which includes the Sumatran Rhino
plan out a process to implement the species component of this Emergency Plan.
Resolution. The meeting in Bangkok also started the work of
mapping out funding needs and identifying people to lead the Recommendation 139 – Bear farming in Asia, with
process. On 11 April, Simon held discussions with someone in particular reference to the conservation of wild
Cambridge, UK, who, it is hoped, will agree to lead the species populations
side of the Green List initiative. The next step is to clarify if the In September, the Chinese State Forestry Administration (SFA)
species, ecosystem and protected area components of the accepted a proposal from IUCN SSC to hold a planning
Green List will relate to each other. Tom Brooks, IUCN Head of workshop in Beijing to design the situation analysis, called for
Science and Knowledge, convened a meeting in Gland to in Recommendation 139. Funds were secured for this planning
clarify this aspect, and a report was produced, which was workshop which was held on 21–22 November 2013, chaired
discussed at the SSC Steering Committee at its meeting in by Dr Wang Weishing, Divisional Director, Department of
Mexico on 2–4 November (see Meeting of SSC Steering Wildlife Conservation, SFA. The IUCN delegation at the
Committee in this section above). As reported above, the SSC workshop consisted of six people: Dave Garshelis, Co-Chair
Steering Committee proposed that an IUCN-wide scoping SSC Bear Specialist Group (BSG); Rosie Cooney, Chair
workshop take place on Green Listing, and it has now been CEESP SSC Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group
agreed to hold this on 23–24 April 2014 in Mexico. (SULi); Bill McShea, Co-Chair SSC Deer Specialist Group;
Alejandro Nadal, Chair CEESP TEMTI; Lorraine Scotson, Co-
Resolution 137 – Support for a comprehensive scientific Chair BSG Sun Bear Expert Team; and Simon Stuart. The
review of the impact on global biodiversity of systemic meeting agreed that the goal of the situation was: to determine
pesticides by the joint task force of the IUCN Species the relationship between bear farming and the status and
Survival Commission (SSC) and the IUCN Commission trends of wild bear populations. Three objectives were agreed:
on Ecosystem Management (CEM) 1) to produce an interim report summarising progress and
The work of the SSC-CEM Task Force on Systemic Pesticides insights in time for the next IUCN WCC in 2016; 2) to
has continued with the objective of producing a definitive, implement a medium-term research initiative to address the
objective integrated assessment of the impacts of these central research question; and 3) to establish a framework for

stakeholders, including Plantlife International and the SSC Cat
Specialist Group, working with the IUCN Office South-eastern
Europe, have been tracking the implementation of
Recommendation 150 – Protecting Mavrovo National Park
Macedonia (FYR). This site is still threatened by planned large
dams, and there have been meetings with the European Bank
for Reconstruction and Development, a potential investor in
these dams, on the reasons why it is important to safeguard
this remarkable site. The SSC/Wetlands International Crane
Specialist Group is continuing to track the implementation of
Recommendation 154 – Conservation of Poyang Lake,
People’s Republic of China.
Work has continued on developing SSC policies and

guidelines. The SSC Wildlife Health Specialist Group (WHSG)
has led on the development of new IUCN Guidelines for
Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) Vulnerable. © Michelle Bender Disease Risk Analysis, working with the Conservation
Breeding, Invasive Species and Reintroduction Specialist
Groups. The Guidelines were reviewed by the wider SSC, and
long term monitoring of Chinese black bear populations and after the incorporation of changes, the final version was
poaching impacts on them. It was also agreed that achieving adopted by the SSC Steering Committee in early June 2013.
the above goal would require distinguishing between the three Richard Jakob-Hoff from Auckland Zoo, New Zealand, led the
possible relationships between the legal and illegal trade: process to develop these Guidelines. Accompanying these
positive, neutral and negative. For each of these, there is one Guidelines is a Disease Risk Manual on which the WHSG is
or more hypotheses regarding the way the legal trade affects also leading. Both the Guidelines and the Manual are being
the illegal trade (and thereby wild bear poaching and published in collaboration with the World Organisation for
conservation) as follows: Animal Health (OIE), which is generously covering the
• Bear farming is positive for wild bears production costs.
– Availability of legal bile removes a proportion of potential
customers from the pool that would buy wild bile at current At the same time, the SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist
prices Group is close to completing its work on the new revised
• Bear farming is neutral for wild bears Guidelines on Ex-Situ Management. These have now been
– Consumers of farmed and wild bile are separate market reviewed by the SSC membership, and the Steering
sectors and if farmed sources were not available those Committee will review and adopt the final version soon. For
consumers would no longer buy bear bile some time it has been recognized that the IUCN Guidelines for
• Bear farming is negative for wild bears the Placement of Confiscated Animals, which were approved
– Legal bile increase risk of laundering wild bile in 2000, need to be updated but until now no-one has come
– Availability of legal bile makes it easier for sellers of illegal forward to head up this process. However, Neil Madison from
bile to find buyers Bristol Zoo, UK, has agreed to lead the process to revise the
– Availability of legal bile makes buying wild bile more 2000 Guidelines, and work will start on this shortly. A new
acceptable process has been launched to develop IUCN Guidelines for
– Availability of legal bile means that legal users, after using Minimizing Negative Impacts of Guano Harvesting. This
legal product, are more likely to be interested in trying wild process is being led by Ryan Richards. There are also plans to
bile develop a Policy on Intentional Genetic Manipulations of Wild
– Availability of legal bile enables marketing of legal product, Species, but these are still at an early stage.
which increases demand for both legal and illegal.
As usual, interventions have been made on pressing
Work is now progressing to establish two Working Groups to conservation issues as they arise, including the following:
implement the situation analysis: 1) Bear Breeding and Bile • On 28 May, at the request of the SSC Iguana Specialist
Product Trade; and 2) Evaluation of the trend of Wild Bear Group, the Director General wrote to the Minister of Water,
Populations. Each Working Group will be composed of Land, Environment and Climate Change in Jamaica to
participants nominated by SFA and IUCN. Dave Garshelis is express concern and offer assistance with regard to the
the overall lead for IUCN. In addition to agreeing the illegal collecting of wood for charcoal within the range of the
composition of the Working Groups, there now needs to be a Critically Endangered Jamaican Iguana. Unfortunately this
major push on fund-raising to initiate work on the situation letter does not appear to have had the desired effect, and
analysis. threats to the site of the Jamaican Iguana are growing, and
so consideration is being given to making a high-level
Follow-up has taken place on many other Resolutions from the intervention on this topic.
Jeju Congress. For example, the SSC Horseshoe Crab • On 25 June, at the request of the SSC Antelope Specialist
Specialist Group is working with government agencies to Group, the Director General wrote to H.E. José Eduardo dos
prevent the importation of Asian horseshoe crabs as bait to Santos, president of the Republic of Angola, concerning
the United States, thus partially addressing Resolution 030 – urgent measures to save the Giant Sable (which is the
The Conservation of Asian Horseshoe Crabs. A number of national animal of Angola) from extinction.

• On 17 July, at the request of IUCN NGO Members in the part of Gunung Kanthan, Malaysia, the only known site for
Philippines and BirdLife International, the Director General the Critically Endangered Kanthan Cave Trapdoor Spider. A
wrote to the Chairman of the Palawan Council for holding response has been received from Lafarge.
Sustainable Development concerning the impacts of the • On 18 November, at the request of local civil society
proposed Rasa Island Power Plant on the Critically organizations, Simon Stuart, the WCPA Chair for Europe,
Endangered Philippines Cockatoo. This letter was effective and the IUCN Regional Director for Southeast Europe
and it was agreed to move the power plant away from the wrote to the Prime Minister and Minister of Environment of
flight path of the cockatoos. the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzogovina)
• On 21 August, at the request of the SSC Anoline Lizard, concerning plans to establish micro-hydropower in Sutjeska
Iguana and Sustainable Use and Livelihood Specialist National Park.
Groups, Simon Stuart and the Director General wrote to the
Ministro de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales in the Several more interventions are currently underway, or in
Dominican Republic concerning the destruction of natural preparation, including on: bats and wind turbines in Europe;
habitat in the Loma Charco Azul Biological Reserve, home the European Mink; the proposed Don Sahong Hydropower
to the Critically Endangered Ricord’s Rock Iguana, a Project on the Mekong in Laos; and the draft Aceh Spatial
remarkable new Anolis lizard (recently discovered) and Plan in Sumatra, Indonesia. The SSC Vulture Specialist Group
several other important species. This letter was effective. and the IUCN Eastern and Southern African Regional Office
The habitat destruction was stopped and measures are (ESARO) prepared a joint statement on vulture poisoning in
being taken to strengthen the protection of the Loma Charco Africa for promotion among the various regional ministerial fora
Azul Biological Reserve. in Africa. This is now being expanded into a broader statement
• On 26 September, at the request of the SSC Anteater, Sloth on the impacts of poisons on wildlife in Africa.
and Armadillo Specialist Group and the IUCN National
Committee in Panama, Simon Stuart and the Director Meanwhile, several SSC Specialist Groups have been involved
General wrote to the Administrador General of the Autoridad in important intergovernmental meetings. Justin Cooke from
Nacional del Ambiente (ANAM) in Panama concerning the the Cetacean SG represented IUCN once again at the annual
conservation of the Critically Endangered Pygmy Sloth. meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International
• Also on 26 September, at the request of IUCN Members in Whaling Commission in Korea on 3–15 June 2013. The Chair
the Mediterranean and the SSC Shark Specialist Group, of the South American Camelid SG, Gabriela Lichtenstein,
Simon Stuart and the Director General wrote to the Ministre attended the 30th Technical Meeting of the Convention for the
de l’Equipement et de l’Environnement and the Ministre de Conservation and Management of Vicuña in Ecuador in
l’Agriculture in Tunisia concerning the conservation of the October 2013. On 3–6 December 2013, Dag Vongraven (Chair
Endangered Great White Shark on its breeding grounds in of the Polar Bear SG) and Dena Cator from the GSP attended
Tunisian waters. the Meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the
• On 16 October, at the request of the emerging SSC Cave International Agreement on Polar Bears in Moscow. In each of
Invertebrates Specialist Group, Simon Stuart and the these meetings the SSC Specialist Groups played a critical
Director General wrote to the Chief Minister of the State of role in advising the governments on scientific and technical
Perak, Malaysia, and to the Chairman and CEO of Lafarge to issues relating to the conservation and management of
express strong concerns of plans to quarry the remaining these species.
Critically Endangered Philippine Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia). © Global Environment Facility

Expanding the work of the SSC to maximize its impact in reducing biodiversity loss, with a particular focus on
addressing extinction crises in large Asian animals (Asian Species Action Partnership) and in amphibians
(Amphibian Survival Alliance)
Asian Species Action Partnership The ASAP “Secretariat” will comprize the following positions
Agreement has now been reached on the name of the initiative (current individuals): Technical Coordinator (Will Duckworth),
to address the extinction crisis in large Asian animals, which Development Coordinator (Madhu Rao) and SSC Network
up until now has been called “Action Asia” on an interim basis. Coordination Officer (Rachel Roberts).
It is now called the “Asian Species Action Partnership” (ASAP).
The implementation of ASAP is very much in fulfilment of The main Programme Areas of Work for ASAP were
Resolution 027 “Conservation of tropical Asia’s threatened identified as follows:
species”, adopted by the IUCN World Conservation Congress • Developing Species Action Checklists that list concisely (two
in Jeju, Korea, in September 2013. Simon Stuart facilitated a pages maximum) all the essential and urgent activities for
major ASAP planning meeting in Bangkok on 9 March. ASAP’s each ASAP-eligible species, led by IUCN SSC Specialist
goal and objectives were agreed as follows: Groups and Red List Authorities, as appropriate.
• Identifying opportunities for actions for each species
Goal: As a matter of urgency, reverse the declines in the wild (‘bundled’ for multiple species where appropriate), typically
of Critically Endangered freshwater and land vertebrates in mitigation of threats (such as site-specific habitat protection,
South-east Asia. harvest regulation and other ways of securing critical sites),
and where this may not be practicable, ex-situ action; and
Objectives: supporting actions where necessary such as surveys,
• To identify and catalyse urgent actions to reduce immediate capacity building as relevant, and gaining higher-level
threats causing the decline of ASAP-eligible species; political leverage to influence policy and shape interventions.
• To catalyse a range of recovery activities for ASAP-eligible • Brokering ASAP-eligible species needs with opportunities.
species by strengthening ongoing conservation action and An important activity for ASAP is to represent a ‘match-
promoting new initiatives; making’ entity to ensure linkages of ASAP-eligible species
• To improve the enabling environment for effective needs with sources of financial and technical support.
conservation of ASAP-eligible species by raising their profile; • Generating a monitoring/report card on status of ASAP-
• To encourage collection and distribution of information eligible species providing focused, concrete and current
essential to conservation action for ASAP-eligible species. information every two years.
• Developing an internal and external strategy to clarify
Governance and Structure communication mechanisms internally across the ASAP
ASAP will be structured as described below and will consist of partnership, and externally to raise awareness with NGOs,
(the names of each constituent are provisional): donors, research institutions, and making links to relevant
Multilateral Environmental Agreements (such as the CBD
A “Steering Committee”, constituted of people each through the NBSAP revision process). The communications
representing member institutions, will represent the primary strategy will outline the messages, the recipients of each,
decision-making body, setting strategic priorities in relation to and mechanisms of transmission, e.g., press releases as
ASAP’s goal and objectives. The SSC Chair (Simon Stuart) will appropriate, use of social media (Facebook page, Twitter,
chair this Steering Committee. Member institutions will mostly highlighting species on the Amazing Species website).
be non-governmental implementing bodies, for now defined as • Developing web-based access to all relevant written
those present at any of the Jeju, Bangkok, Aceh or Singapore information on ASAP-eligible species, by setting up an
meetings of ASAP. Steering Committee members will also ASAP webpage on the IUCN website and assisting in
include a representative of (and elected by) the IUCN SSC directing interested parties to both written and unwritten
Specialist Groups and Red List Authorities which contain information.
ASAP-eligible species, and, probably, of the donors that were
present at the meetings. The following is a list of ASAP Results and work plan for the
first year of operation:
A “Scientific Advisory Committee” consisting of IUCN SSC • Development of Species Action Checklists for all ASAP-
Specialist Group representatives, and other specialist eligible species;
associations, as appropriate will advise on methodologies, • Identification of priority actions for ASAP-eligible species
updates to the ASAP-eligible species list, core programmatic (‘bundled’ as groups, where appropriate);
priorities, emerging issues, and other aspects of technical • Plans to match species needs with technical, financial and
guidance as necessary. political opportunities;
• Accessible collation of all relevant written information on
A “Friends of ASAP” group has been proposed to be ASAP-eligible species;
primarily comprized of the organisations implementing • Development of a communications strategy;
conservation action for ASAP-eligible species. Membership to • Progress towards the installation of paid programme officers
this group will be open to NGOs, government agencies, in each Specialist Group without one so far, but containing
academic institutions, zoos and all others (for example ASAP-eligible species: Deer SG, Asian Wild Cattle SG, Pig
corporate entities). SG, Bat SG and Small Mammal SG.

Presently, there are 154 species on The IUCN Red List of Conservation Programmes and James Lewis as Operations
Threatened Species™ that meet all the four ASAP criteria for Director. A planning meeting took place in London on 24
eligibility: (1) Critically Endangered (2) vertebrates occurring January which was attended by Simon Stuart and several
regularly throughout their lifecycle in (3) South-east Asia in (4) others. Several new organisations are coming into the ASA
land or freshwater habitats. The 154 ASAP-eligible species are partnership, including Global Wildlife Conservation, World
not split evenly across classes: 49 fish; seven amphibians; 21 Land Trust USA, and Synchronicity Earth. Ongoing work
reptiles; 42 birds; 35 mammals (note that The IUCN Red List consists of completing the strategy, business plan, fundraising
assessments for fish and reptiles are not completed in the and clarifying the partnership between the ASA and the SSC
region, and so the number of ASAP-eligible species will Amphibian Specialist Group. The higher-level parts of the ASA
increase in these two classes). ASAP-eligible species are also Strategy are nearing completion and are summarized below:
spread unevenly across Southeast Asian countries as follows:
Indonesia 59; Philippines 41; Vietnam 29; Lao PDR 21; Vision: By 2020, the extinction of known threatened species
Thailand 21; Malaysia 19; Cambodia 18; Myanmar 14; Brunei of amphibians has been prevented and their conservation
Darussalam four; Singapore four; and Timor Leste three. Most status, particularly of those most in decline, has been
of the 154 ASAP-eligible species are confined to South-east improved and sustained.
Asia (125 species naturally so, a further four by recent
extinction of all extralimital populations) and therefore their Mission: The Amphibian Survival Alliance protects amphibians
extinction can be averted only by action in the region. A further and their habitats through dynamic partnerships worldwide.
21 of the 154 species also occur elsewhere, but have an
important part of their global population in South-east Asia, Goals:
and four are presently of only marginal occurrence in South- • Establish a Broad Set of Community Wide Priorities
east Asia. Clearly the priority countries for ASAP are Indonesia, • Build Public Support for Amphibian Conservation
the Philippines and Vietnam. • Create a Collaborative Environment for Scientists and
Conservationists to Work Towards Common Goals
The SSC’s partnership on ASAP with the European • Build Capacity across the Community to Better Impact
Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) is continuing during Amphibian Conservation.
2013. The focus of this partnership is the EAZA–IUCN SSC
Southeast Asia Campaign which is an information and Under each of the goals, a set of objectives and progress
fundraising campaign. There has been an excellent response indicators are being developed. At the same time, Simon has
from EAZA zoos to the idea of ASAP and to its urgency. This been working extensively with Don Church and James Lewis
two-year campaign formally came to a close at the EAZA to prepare a new constitution for the ASA. It is hoped that
annual conference on 27 September 2013. As a result of the this will be completed early in 2014. Significant work is also
campaign, in addition to the awareness raised among the being done to develop a new ASA website and to start
European zoo-going public, funds have been raised and innovative fundraising campaigns through the site. This will
allocated to the following projects: include fundraising for updating the assessments on The
• Saving the Saola and Other Endangered Animals of the IUCN Red List.
Annamite Mountains, Vietnam/Laos
• Protecting the Hukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Myanmar In 2013 the ASA has already raised funds to support the
(including focus on Western Hoolock Gibbon) implementation of three new reserves for amphibians (and
• Strengthening Protection and Monitoring of Sumatran other species) in Ecuador, Brazil, and Borneo. The
Rhinos in Way Kambas National Park, Indonesia announcement of these new reserves will be rolled out in the
• Biodiversity conservation of the Mekong River Basin, Laos coming months. The ASA is also at work to develop new
(including focus on Mekong Giant Catfish) projects on Palawan, Philippines, Sumatra and elsewhere.
• Rufous-headed hornbill conservation research and
management project, Philippines
• Conservation of the Mesangat Wetland, East Kalimantan,
Indonesia (including focus on Tomistoma and Siamese
Craugastor laevissimus (Endangered) from Cusuco National Park, Honduras,
Crocodile). Central America. © Andrew Snyder
Will Duckworth has led the SSC’s input into the campaign, and
has worked very closely with EAZA staff, and also with Gary
Batters from the Zoological Society of East Anglia.
Amphibian Survival Alliance
The implementation of the Amphibian Survival Alliance (ASA) is

very much in fulfilment of Resolution 020 “Further steps to
combat the amphibian crisis”, adopted by the IUCN World
Conservation Congress in Jeju, Korea, in September 2013. As
stated in the previous report, large changes are taking place
with the ASA. Don Church is now serving as the Executive
Director with Jaime Garcia Moreno as the Director of

Report of the IUCN SSC Specialist Groups, Task Forces,
Red List Authorities
African Elephant Specialist Group The AfESG wishes to express its sincere gratitude to the
The mission of the IUCN SSC African Elephant Specialist following donors for their continued support. USFWS-African
Group is to promote the long-term conservation of Africa’s Elephant Conservation Fund, DEFRA, CITES MIKE,
elephants throughout their range. Bundesamt für Naturschutz, Tusk Trust and Save The
Starting a new quadrennium, AfESG Membership was Elephants, International Elephant Fund and the International
reviewed. Forty-two Members were reappointed and 11 new Elephant Fund for Conservation.
Members were added, bringing the total to 53. We continue to
update the African Elephant Database with new survey data. In Dr Holly Dublin
March 2012, a provisional 2013 update was released, and that Chair, African Elephant Specialist Group
has been updated this year. Use of the new online interface
has increased.
The AfESG Chair and Programme Officer participated in African Rhino Specialist Group
CITES CoP16 where they presented the provisional African The mission of the African Rhino Specialist Group (AfRSG) is
Elephant Status Update, and launched a report ’Elephants In to promote the development and long-term maintenance of
the Dust’, along with partners CITES MIKE and TRAFFIC. A viable populations of the various sub-species of African rhinos
number of new Decisions and Resolutions were adopted at in the wild.
CoP16. The new Resolution on the African Elephant Action A mandated joint AfRSG/AsRSG/TRAFFIC report, as well
Plan and the African Elephant Fund acknowledged AfESG’s as an updated AfRSG report was submitted to CITES CoP16
role in its development, and the AfESG’s reporting mandate to (a number of recommendations were subsequently
the CITES Standing Committee was renewed. incorporated as CITES CoP16 Decisions). This report was
The AfESG is working on digitizing the African Elephant presented in plenary and formed part of the Secretariat report
Library (AEL) in order to expand the reach of this important on rhinos to CoP16. We commented on a draft CITES Rhino
resource that holds over 5,000 references. A short-term Working Group document for COP16, and a background
Information Management Assistant has been hired to perform presentation was given at the CITES Rhinoceros Enforcement
this task for the next six months. Two issues of Pachyderm, the Task Force meeting. Informed technical comments were
journal of the African elephant and African and Asian rhino provided as part of the joint IUCN/TRAFFIC CoP16 analyses
specialist groups were published covering the period July– process.
December 2012 and January–June 2013. AfESG is currently In February, the biennial AfRSG meeting was held in Kenya
working on the July–December 2013 issue. and was attended by over 50 delegates. The continental status
As outlined in Resolution WCC-2012-RES-025-EN, of African rhinos was updated; representations and advice was
adopted at IUCN’s World Conservation Congress in 2012 in given to the EAZA rhino Taxon Advisory Group. The AfRSG
Jeju, IUCN and the AfESG have been working to convene a provided inputs and support to the Asian Rhino Specialist
high-level meeting on elephant poaching and the illegal ivory Group (AsRSG) and in March 2013, we participated in the Asian
trade. The AfESG, together with the Government of Botswana Development Bank ‘Combating Wildlife Crime’ conference in
and the IUCN Secretariat, convened the ‘African Elephant Thailand. There was participation in the Rhino and Elephant
Summit’ from 2–4 December 2013. Security Group/INTERPOL ECWG meeting in Swaziland, and a
The AfESG has received funding from CITES MIKE III to Southern African Wildlife Enforcement Network meeting in
facilitate the development of ivory supply chain analytical Gaborone, Botswana. There was also a roundtable debate with
methods in 2014. This will bring together the AED, CITES MIKE the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and the
and ETIS data in an analytical framework that will allow better Environment, US State Department. We participated in the
understanding of the dynamics of the illegal ivory supply chain. Sumatran Rhino Crisis Summit in April 2013.
The AfESG will continue supporting CITES MIKE’s technical Presentations were given at rhino conferences at Thoiry,
meetings and updating the AED, as well as our continued work France, in April 2013, and at the Symposium of Contemporary
on the AEL and Pachyderm. Conservation Practice in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, in
November 2013. The AfRSG co-authored a paper that was
African Elephant. © Hoare and Brown
presented at the US Rhino conference, and we co-authored
two ‘Evidence on Demand’ documents for the UK Department
for International Development (DFID) as well as comments on
agenda/outputs of the London Conference on Illegal Wildlife
Trade (IWT) meeting in Jan 2014. The AfRSG advised on
population estimation and monitoring, and on technical
aspects associated with intelligence software/analysis and
rhino DNA profiling and its application.
The AfRSG facilitated the revision of South Africa’s black
(signed by Minister of Environment and gazetted under
NEMBA) and white rhino (in progress) conservation plans;
Zimbabwe’s revised rhino policy and management framework
Specialist Groups, Task Forces and Red List Authorities 27

was also formally approved by the Minister of Environment.
The revised Botswana plan is nearing completion. A review of
black and white rhino Red Listing status is in progress.
The AfRSG provided support to RESG/Interpol on
intelligence databases and analytical tools, and sharing of
expert witness arguments and information that can be used in
aggravation of sentences. The AfRSG also provided evidence
at an International “substance detector” fraud trial at the Old
Bailey, London.
Throughout the year, we provided inputs and responses to
a huge range of rhino related queries, such as the Dallas
trophy hunt issue, as well as promoting International Year of
the Rhino. Considerable inputs were made in developing
potential wildlife bonds documentation for the pending inter-
Aquatic Tenrec (Limnogale mergulus). © P.J. Stephenson
government meeting in London in February 2014.
To facilitate the spread of information on rhino related
issues amongst range states and civil society, numerous Afrotheria Specialist Group
presentations were given to governments (including the South Our mission, which was defined when the group was
African Parliamentary Portfolio Committee), conservation established in 2001, is to facilitate the conservation of hyraxes,
authorities, NGOs, and scientific forums; there were expert the aardvark, elephant-shrews or sengis, golden-moles,
inputs into the SADC Rhino Management Group meeting tenrecs, and their habitats by providing sound scientific advice
(RMG) held in November 2013; numerous press releases and and guidance to conservationists, governments, and other
interviews were given, and the AfRSG Chair reports in interested groups. We are continually working to raise public
Pachyderm, the Journal of the African Elephant, African Rhino awareness of Afrotheria conservation, as well as developing
and Asian Rhino Specialist Groups. research and conservation programmes. During 2013, we re-
The AfRSG wishes to thank the USFWS Rhino and Tiger assembled our membership for the next quadrennium (which
Fund; Save the Rhino International; International Rhino Fund; now comprises 38 specialists); thanking six members for their
DEFRA; WWF-ARP, Endangered Wildlife Trust and WWF-SA. past service and welcoming 11 new members, including a new
hyrax Section Co-ordinator (we have a co-ordinator for each of
Dr Michael H. Knight our taxonomic groups).
Chair, African Rhino Specialist Group Our Section Co-ordinators have designed a new group
logo, which has been used in the update and re-design of our
website; including the home page, conservation page, and
White Rhino, Botswana. © Dr Michael H. Knight
hyrax section. We promoted the conservation of some of our
more threatened species, including a giant sengi
(Rhynchocyon sp.) in the Zoological Society of London’s
‘Priceless or Worthless?’ initiative, and Juliana’s golden mole
(Neamblysomus julianae) in the Arkive project ‘Conservation in
action – 10 species on the road to recovery’.
Although much of our efforts have focused on education
goals (producing our yearly newsletter, new logo, website
updates, nominating threatened species for special attention,
etc.), this has not over-shadowed one of our major functions;
providing expert advice, including updating The IUCN Red
List. Under the guidance of a new Red List Co-ordinator and
our five Section Co-ordinators, we expect to meet the 2014
deadline for re-assessing our nearly 80 species of
Afrotheria. The results are pending for some research/
conservation grants recently submitted and supported by
our group.
Galen B. Rathbun
Chair, Afrotheria Specialist Group
Amphibian Specialist Group

The Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG) strives to conserve
biological diversity by stimulating, developing, and executing
practical programs to conserve amphibians and their habitats
around the world.
2013 has been a year of significant change for the ASG,
evolving to a group focused on providing scientific advice as
well as developing and maintaining priority setting tools. A

Variable Harlequin Frog (Atelopus varius). © Robin Moore Anolis lyra. © Luke Mahler
major focus has been on the reassessment of approximately To date, ALSG activities have focused primarily on
4,500 amphibians on The IUCN Red List, which were last conducting and reviewing IUCN Red List assessments for the
assessed in 2004. ~300 species of anoline lizards that had not been assessed
Working closely with the Amphibian Survival Alliance (ASA) prior to the formation of the ALSG. In 2013, our members
we have been establishing national and regional teams that made progress in assessing species from Central America and
are responsible for a subset of amphibians. Where possible South America. For anoline lizard species occurring in Central
these teams are based within institutions, thereby receiving America, draft assessments were completed for 79 species
institutional support. Through our partnership in the ASA, we and re-assessments completed for 11 species. These were
are taking steps to build global support for the use of The assembled during the ‘2012 Central American Squamate Red
IUCN Red List as a tool that can be used to plan conservation List Workshop’, organized by NatureServe and IUCN in Costa
actions and to assess levels of success. Rica. Final versions of the assessments will be submitted to
In addition to the Red List work, the ASG has formed 13 The IUCN Red List for publication in 2014; the completion of
working groups to help develop priority actions to be these will mark the halfway milestone towards our goal of
implemented through the Alliance. The Working Groups cover achieving assessments for all of the approximately 400 known
all strategic elements of the IUCN strategic plan and a range anoline lizard species.
of partners are currently implementing actions based on these Central American assessments resulted in the identification
priorities. Together with the ASA, we supported Biodiversa of well over a dozen species of high conservation concern, and
first policy brief with recommendations for the EU on the need diagnosed an urgent need for anoline lizard conservation in
to monitor wildlife diseases and are actively working towards a Honduras, which has recently suffered extensive deforestation.
number of Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Also in 2013, the ALSG started to conduct Red List
Communication and education are both key to the ASG assessments for all un-assessed species from South America.
and successful amphibian conservation efforts. Over the next In October, three ALSG members participated in the South
three years the ASG will be launching a comprehensive American Squamate Red List Workshop held in Medellín,
communications strategy in partnership with the Alliance; Colombia, and organized by the Asociación Colombiana de
utilizing a range of tools to deliver the amphibian conservation Herpetología, NatureServe and IUCN. During this workshop,
story. A range of publications, both traditional and digital, complete draft assessments were produced for the 75 anole
along with a variety of online videos and interactive tools will species that occur in Colombia.
be utilized to communicate this message. While focused primarily on the Red List assessment
The IUCN SSC ASG wishes to thank all of its members process, the ALSG, along with SSC Chair, Simon Stuart,
around the world, who donate their time and expertise to Director General, Julia Marton-Lefèvre, and the Iguana and
furthering the work of the group and the Amphibian Survival Sustainable Use and Livelihood Specialist Groups, wrote a
Alliance. Their continued support has enabled the smooth letter to the Ministro del Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales
operation of the ASG and the successful implementation of in the Dominican Republic concerning the destruction of
critical amphibian conservation, research and education habitat within the Loma Charco Azul Biological Reserve, a
projects around the world. recently established reserve which contains the only known
population of a remarkable new species of giant Anolis lizard.
Dr Phil Bishop and Dr Claude Gascon The ministry was responsive to this letter and habitat
Co-chairs, Amphibian Specialist Group destruction within this reserve has been stopped.
D. Luke Mahler and María del Rosario Castañeda

Anoline Lizard Specialist Group Co-chairs, Anoline Lizard Specialist Group
The mission of the Anoline Lizard Specialist Group (ALSG) is to
assess and monitor the conservation status of all species of
anole lizards; to identify factors that place anoles at risk of Anteater, Sloth and Armadillo Specialist
extinction, and to develop effective strategies to ensure the Group
long-term maintenance of healthy populations of these species The mission of our Specialist Group is to promote the long-
in the wild. term conservation of the 31 extant species of xenarthrans

(anteaters, sloths and armadillos) and their habitats. Our active Meeting and held a course on xenarthrans in Suriname. These
group of committed specialists currently consists of 21 events allowed us to interact with many people committed to
members from eight countries. In 2013 we increased the the conservation of sloths and motivate many students to
number of captive care specialists to strengthen the ex-situ initiate studies on xenarthrans.
component of Xenarthra conservation. We have also We wish to thank Conservation International, the San
incorporated two specialists working with the Critically Antonio Zoological Society, and the Greater Sac AAZK
Endangered pygmy sloth (Bradypus pygmaeus), one of our (American Association of Zoo Keepers) Chapter – Sacramento,
priority species. CA for their generous financial support.
This year we have re-assessed the conservation status of
all 31 species of Xenarthra for the 2015 Global Mammal Dr Mariella Superina
Reassessment. Although we are still working on this update, Chair, Anteater, Sloth and Armadillo Specialist Group
we anticipate that the majority of species will remain in the
same threat category, with the exception of Dasypus pilosus
that should be recategorized from Vulnerable to Data Deficient Antelope Specialist Group
due to the lack of information on this species, and of Dasypus The mission of the Antelope Specialist Group (ASG) is to
sabanicola that should be changed from Least Concern to conserve the world’s antelope diversity. There is an ongoing
Near Threatened based on new information. review and update of status summaries and threat
In coordination with the SSC office and the Director assessments for all threatened antelopes.
General of IUCN, our Specialist Group has intervened to halt A number of events were facilitated by the ASG, including a
plans for exporting pygmy sloths for a captive breeding Western Giant Eland conservation strategy workshop in Saly
program, because of the impact of removing animals from the Portudal, Senegal, 28–31 January 2013; the restoration of
extremely small wild population on the island of Escudo de Goitered Gazelle to the Caucasus, Baku Azerbaijan, 2–6 April
Veraguas, Panama. Furthermore, our Specialist Group has 2013; a Mountain Bongo conservation workshop in Dubai,
played a fundamental role in setting up an independent UAE on May 2013; a CMS Saiga Antelope technical workshop
advisory committee for the conservation of this charismatic in Astana, Kazakhstan on 18 June 2013, and a Dama Gazelle
species and for including the species in CITES Appendix II. conservation workshop in Edinburgh, UK, 19–21 November
One of our Vulnerable species, the Brazilian three-banded 2013.
armadillo (Tolypeutes tricinctus), will be the official mascot of We attended a number of high profile meetings including
the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which will take place in Brazil. Our the ‘16th session of the Conference of the Parties’ (CoP16)
Specialist Group has teamed up with the Brazilian NGO of CITES in Bangkok, Thailand, 3–14 March 2013; the ‘13th
Associação Caatinga to increase awareness for the annual meeting of the Sahelo-Saharan Interest Group’ (SSIG)
conservation problems of three-banded armadillos and in Agadir, Morocco, 2–3 May 2013, and the ‘EAZA Antelope
coordinate the scientific projects aimed at the long-term and Giraffe TAG’ meeting in Edinburgh, UK, 27–28 September
conservation of this wonderful species. 2013.
We have continued raising public awareness for xenarthrans In September 2013, we advised the Forestry and Wildlife
and their conservation problems through regular updates of our Department in Eritrea, Asmara on Antelope priorities and
Facebook page and our website www.xenarthrans.org, which is planning.
available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Our peer- In 2013, ASG received a grant for the ‘Dama Gazelle
reviewed Newsletter Edentata is increasingly being recognized Workshop’; from the USFWS ‘Ranching for Restoration’
as an important means to publish conservation-relevant data on programme managed by the US based NGO, Conservation
xenarthrans. Our Specialist Group has also provided scientific Force.
advice to conservationists, governments, and other interested The latest issue of our newsletter Gnusletter (Volume 31
groups, and has assisted other Specialist Groups with their Red Number 1 May 2013) is available here.
List assessments.
Finally, in April 2013, in collaboration with Green Heritage Dr Philippe Chardonnet and Dr David Mallon
Fund Suriname, we organized the Second International Sloth Co-chairs, Antelope Specialist Group
Brazilian Three-banded Armadillo (Tolypeutes tricinctus). © Adriana More than 100 Giant Elands in a hunting block in northern Cameroon.
Bocchiglieri © Jean-Paul Arabeyre

Arctic Plant Specialist Group Canadian team and the Russian team in order to develop a
The Arctic Plant SG is comprised of members from eight Arctic common legend.
States (Canada, Denmark [including Greenland and the Faroe In addition to the Vladivostok workshop, we convened the
Islands], Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russian Federation, CBVM North America workshop in Anchorage, Alaska on 27–
Sweden, and United States of America). Our mission is to 30 September 2013. This involved a review of North American
assess boreal and Arctic floristic and vegetational (plant pilot projects; integrating legends from Alaska and Canada,
community) biodiversity. Members worked on the plant and a review of the linkage of vegetation classification and the
components of the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment (ABA) CBVM legend. A summary report of the meeting is being
(Meltofte, ed. 2013). The team prepared: 1) an assessment prepared. In February 2014, we will convene a CBVM – Eurasia
based on a review of over 300 scientific publications in the field workshop in Helsinki, Finland.
of floristics of vascular plants, bryophytes and algae; 2)
reviewed status and trends in Arctic biodiversity of these Stephen S. Talbot
plants; and 3) prepared a list of 20 rare endemic Arctic Chair, Arctic Plant Specialist Group
vascular plant species that may be threatened by extinction.
Another major activity is the development of the Arctic
Vegetation Archive (AVA), which will provide a foundation for Asian Elephant Specialist Group
Pan-Arctic biodiversity studies. This activity will provide a The goals of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG) are
database of all published plot-based Arctic plant communities. to promote and facilitate the long-term conservation of the
We published a concept report on the project and held CAFF Asian Elephant across its range. Group members work with
Flora Group/International Arctic Vegetation Database meetings government and other partners to address the primary threats
on 12–15 April, 2013 in Krakow, Poland. The workshop brought to Asian Elephants, which are habitat loss, fragmentation, and
a few key participants from the Arctic countries together to degradation; human–elephant conflict; illegal killing; and the
address the issue of assembling the available vegetation plot genetic and demographic problems faced by small isolated
(relevé) data into a single database. This database is needed populations.
to develop a circumpolar Arctic vegetation classification that In 2013, AsESG members played a significant role at CITES
would be useful and relevant to a wide variety of Arctic issues, CoP16 in Bangkok by helping to get the issue of the illegal trade
including modeling of climate and land-use change, resource in live elephants onto the CITES agenda and assisting with the
management, biodiversity studies, inventorying vegetation at national ivory action plans process. We will continue to push for
Arctic observatories, and Arctic education. A major goal is to action on live trade as well as the increasing threat posed to
harmonize the North American and European approaches to Asian Elephants by the illegal ivory trade at the CITES Standing
vegetation classification in the Arctic. Committee Meeting in July 2014.
During the Krakow workshop, floristic specialists also made AsESG members also helped with preparations for the
final selections of vascular Arctic plants to be proposed to the E-50:50 Congress in India (although unfortunately that
IUCN for Red Listing. The final candidate list includes 126 Congress was postponed by the Government of India) and the
species. Following the publication of the Pan-Arctic checklist of London Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade, which is to be held
lichens and lichenicolous fungi, we added further information for in February 2014. AsESG members contributed to the 10-year
each lichen species such as the preferential habitat of each National Elephant Conservation Action Plan (NECAP) for
species. During 2014 we plan to make the lichen checklist into a Peninsular Malaysia, which was launched by the Government
searchable database available on the CAFF homepage. of Malaysia in late 2013. Significant time was also spent
We continued our work on a Circumboreal Vegetation Map compiling data for the IUCN African/Asian Elephant Database.
(CBVM), and participated in a symposium, ‘The East Asian We continued to publish the AsESG’s journal, Gajah, which
Flora and its role in the formation of the world’s vegetation’, is available in both hard copy form and as PDFs (both as whole
held in Vladivostok, Russia, in 23–27 September 2012, and issues and individual articles) from the AsESG website.
held a workshop to: 1) share views of participants regarding Production and dissemination of Gajah is facilitated by the
the organisation of the legend for the CBVM project (CBVM); sterling work of our volunteer Editor, Editorial Board, and
and 2) compare concepts and their application between the Webmaster.
Saxifraga nathorstii. © Kristine Westergaard Asian Elephant. © Ajay A Desai

In 2014, we hope to complete a Conservation Strategy for populations and preventing extinction is not enough, the aim is
Asian Elephants and hire a full-time Program Officer. We to bring about the recovery of these species. The governments
continue to facilitate and promote the inclusion of range and of Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Nepal recognize the
population data in the IUCN African/Asian Elephant Database, critical situation facing Asian Rhinos; the Sumatran Rhinoceros
and continue working with the CITES Monitoring the Illegal faces extinction unless decisive and urgent measures are
Killing of Elephants (MIKE) program and the Elephant Trade taken, as outlined above. The Javan Rhinoceros could easily
Information System (ETIS). be wiped out in a single catastrophe, and the remarkable gains
made in the conservation of the Greater One-horned
Simon Hedges and Ajay Desai Rhinoceros could easily be lost if the current trend in the illicit
Co-chairs, Asian Elephant Specialist Group trade in high-value wildlife products continues. These species
are of remarkable cultural heritage to the people of Asia. The
governments of Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Nepal
Asian Rhino Specialist Group (AsRSG) have all agreed to the 2010–2020 Strategic Plan for
The mission of the Asian Rhino Specialist Group is to foster Biodiversity, and have commited to giving a very high priority
conservation and management of three species of Asian to implementing all the actions outlined in the Bandar
rhinos and their habitats. The AsRSG worked closely with Lampung Declaration, which includes collaborating with each
TRAFFIC to prepare the document on African and Asian other and the international community; with the intention that
Rhinoceroses – Status, Conservation and Trade for the CITES by 2020 at the latest, the populations of all three Asian
CoP 16 held in Bangkok from 5–14 March 2013. This is a Rhinoceros species will be growing by at least 3% annually.
report from the IUCN SSC African and Asian Rhino Specialist The Chair of the AsRSG would like to thank the members
Groups and TRAFFIC, to the CITES Secretariat in pursuant to of the AsRSG for their support and cooperation in 2013, and
Resolution Conf. 9.14 (Rev. CoP15). donors including the WWF-AREAS Programme, International
AsRSG assisted the IUCN SSC Chair’s office in holding the Rhino Foundation, Aaranyak and Yayasan Badak Indonesia.
‘Sumatran Rhino Crisis Summit’ in Singapore from 1–4 April
2013, to assess the current state of the Sumatran Rhino in Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar
range countries; now only confined to Sumatra in Indonesia Chair, Asian Rhino Specialist Group
and Sabah, Malaysia. Over 100 participants from around the
world attended this summit; the Indonesian and Malaysian
delegation included high level officials from their respective Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group (AWCSG)
ministries, including the Sabah Wildlife Department of The mission of the group is the promotion and long-term
Malaysia. The meeting expressed concern at the fast decline conservation of the Asian wild cattle species and their habitats
of Sumatran Rhino populations in range countries, and by means of information-sharing, identification of conservation
emphasized the need for time-bound strategies and actions to priorities and facilitation/delivery of these priority actions
recover the species from the verge of possible extinction. A through collaborative conservation work.
group of African rhino experts from South Africa, Zimbabwe, In September of this year, WWF-Greater Mekong camera-
Swaziland and Tanzania also attended this summit and shared trapped a saola in central Vietnam, the first wild photograph of
African experience with the participants. The IUCN SSC was the species in almost 15 years.
represented by Mark Stanley Price and Rachel Roberts. An The Saola Working Group held its 3rd meeting titled
emergency plan for Sumatran Rhinoceros is in preparation, to ‘Conservation through Collaboration’. Thirty-four participants
usher a new era of hope for the dwindling and Critically from 24 institutions joined the meeting on 3–7 June 2013, in
Endangered Sumatran Rhinoceros in Indonesia and Malaysia. Vientiane, Lao PDR. Topics discussed at the meeting included;
The AsRSG assisted the Ministry of Forestry of Republic of information sharing on current Saola status and conservation
Indonesia and the IUCN SSC Chair’s office in holding the first efforts; improving protection at key Saola sites; detection of
Rhino Range State Meeting in Lampung, Indonesia on 2–3 Saola and how to do it; captive management of saola.
October 2013. The populations of the Greater One-horned, The Indonesian National Conservation Strategy and Action
Javan, and Sumatran Rhinos will each be managed for an Plan for Banteng was published by the Ministry of Forestry,
annual growth rate of at least 3%. In other words, maintaining following a workshop coordinated by the AWCSG. This ten
Greater One-horned Rhino. © Bibhab Talukdar Wild Buffalo – Central India. © Kishore-Rithie, Satpuda Foundation

year plan outlines ambitious targets to enhance Banteng Bat Specialist Group
populations by 2022, and some actions are already underway. The membership of the BSG was updated by webmaster
A Status Review and Recovery Programme for Wild Buffalo Allyson Walsh, with 190 members of 114 countries, an average
in Central India has been drafted by Specialist Group of less than two members per country. New Red List Focal
members, following a workshop in Nagpur, Maharashtra, Points were appointed during the year; Sergio Solari for the
central India, co-facilitated by AWCSG. New World and Dan Hargeaves for the Old World.
Thanks to the following for supporting the Saola workshop: The main priority of the group remains filling the
CEPF, Copenhagen Zoo, Leipzig Zoo, San Diego Zoo, Natural ‘conservation void’ – stimulating the formation of bat
History Museum of Denmark, ZGAP, ZooParc Beauval, Global conservation organisations in countries where none exist and
Wildlife Conservation, WCS, Fauna and Flora International. building their capacity where they do. To this end, the Co-
Also, thanks go to these organisations for supporting the chairs attended a ‘Bat Summit’ organized by Bat Conservation
Central India Wild buffalo workshop, which resulted in the draft International in Naivasha, Kenya in February 2013, with
Recovery Plan: Government of Maharashtra, Satpuda representatives from 22 countries of sub-Saharan Africa;
Foundation, Wildlife Trust of India, Givskud Zoo, Denmark and which led to the establishment of Bat Conservation Africa.
IUCN Strategic Conservation Planning Task Force. RELCOM, a federation of bat conservation NGOs in Central
and South America and the Caribbean, established by Rodrigo
Dr James Burton Medellin in 2007 during the ‘14th International Bat Research
Chair, Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group Conference’, which he organized in Merida, Mexico, has
further increased its membership to 22 countries; updated its
website, integrated the network of AICOMs, Areas of
Australasian Marsupial and Monotreme Importance for the Conservation of Bats in Latin America, and
Specialist Group is preparing its first Latin American Congress on ‘Bat Research
The primary activity of the AMMSG is to provide evaluations of and Conservation’ in August 2014.
the conservation status of the marsupials and monotremes of In an attempt to accelerate progress in revising The Old
Australia, New Guinea and nearby West Pacific islands. The World Fruit Bat Action Plan, lead authors for species accounts
main activity of 2013 was the commencement of a major review are being identified rather than seeking information from all
of conservation status of all species, as part of the Global those who have published on a particular species.
Mammal Reassessment scheduled for completion in 2015. Rodrigo Medellin contributed to a symposium on Global
Two members of the AMMSG, John Woinarski and Andrew Bat Conservation at the ‘International Bat Research
Burbidge, have been leading the production of a new Action Conference’ in Costa Rica in August, and questioned the
Plan for Australian mammals. This is now in proof stage for suitability of the current Red List criteria for bats, requiring a
publication by CSIRO Publishing, and covers the marsupials review of how and whether the criteria can be applied to bats.
and monotremes of the Australian continent and its islands. As Paul Racey contributed to a workshop organized by The
a result of this, we have provided an updated taxonomy of South East Asian Bat Conservation Research Unit (SEABCRU)
Australia’s marsupials and monotremes; the Action Plan will in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (12–21 October) for students and
also provide the basis for Red List revisions of the Australian researchers of flying foxes which involved methods of
species in 2014. Our other main goal for 2014 is to begin the monitoring large colonies of Pteropus.
extension of this work to New Guinean species, for completion Paul Racey visited the Seychelles in March to discuss with
in 2015. government officials, legal protection for ‘the rarest bat in the
We note with pleasure that Andrew Burbidge, one of the world’ – the Seychelles sheath-tailed bat Coleura seychellensis
authors of the Action Plan, was made an Officer of the Order (about 60 individuals remain), and to teach a workshop on
of Australia for his distinguished lifelong service to the monitoring and conservation of this species, as part of the
environment and conservation biology in Australia. Darwin Initiative project on EDGE (Evolutionarily Distinct and
Globally Endangered) species.
Professor Chris Johnson
Chair, Australasian Marsupial and Monotreme Specialist Professor Paul A. Racey and Dr Rodrigo A. Medellin
Group Co-chairs, Bat Specialist Group
Mountain Pygmy Possum. © Dr Linda Broome Coleura seychellensis. © Justin Gerlach

Bear Specialist Group between the market for farmed bear bile and the exploitation
The Bear Specialist Group strives for a world that values and of wild bears in China.
conserves bears in their natural habitats. We have purview
over the seven species of terrestrial bears (i.e., all except polar Dr David L. Garshelis and Mr Robert Steinmetz
bears), five of which are globally threatened. The seven Co-chairs, Bear Specialist Group
species live in 61 countries on four continents. We have 190
members representing all but six range countries.
The Bear SG has been working to update species Bird Red List Authority – BirdLife
distribution maps for four species; this process is nearing International
completion. However, in some areas, the presence of bears BirdLife International is the world’s largest nature conservation
remains unknown, so we have been starting to investigate Partnership, currently numbering 120 Partners worldwide. The
these on the ground. Our first survey was for sloth bears BirdLife Partnership strives to conserve birds, their habitats
(Melursus ursinus) in Bhutan. So far, it appears that sloth and global biodiversity, working with people towards
bears are only occasional vagrants in this country, so we are sustainability in the use of natural resources. Our Commitment
investigating why that is so (i.e., a recent change or is to prevent extinctions in the wild; to maintain and where
historically rare?). possible improve the conservation status of all bird species; to
We are also well along on new red-listings for the bears. conserve the sites and habitats important for birds and other
Illegal killing of bears combined with habitat conversion and biodiversity; to sustain the vital ecological systems that
degradation are causing widespread population declines. The underpin human livelihoods, and enrich the quality of people’s
steepest losses are for sun bears (Helarctos malayanus), lives, and in the process, BirdLife will empower people and
which are expected to decline by 40% over the next 30 years. contribute to the alleviation of poverty, and strive to ensure
For brown bears (Ursus arctos), we are distinguishing sustainability in the use of natural resources.
population isolates and applying red-listing criteria to these. The latest IUCN Red List update in November 2013
We are gaining information on population trends from various included status changes for 46 birds and updates to c.75
sources, including “by-catch” camera trapping data (e.g., from Critically Endangered birds, plus revisions to c.1,000 bird
tiger surveys) and from sign surveys. We are in the process of assessments. The number of Critically Endangered birds has
writing a sign survey manual for bears. hit a new high, but a few notable successes including down-
Our main direct conservation project has been an effort to listing of Black-footed and Black-browed Albatrosses to Near
reduce commercial poaching of Asiatic black bears (U. Threatened. Extensive revisions to the taxonomy of non-
thibetanus). This species is heavily exploited for gall bladders passerine birds are to be implemented in 2014, and major
(bile) and paws. Bear farming was instituted to produce revisions to range maps for non-passerines will also be
enough bile to flood the market, but it may be drawing in more published in 2014.
users that eventually buy wild bile. The Bear SG organized a 12,000 Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) have
motion for The IUCN World Conservation Congress, at its 5th now been identified, in some 200 countries and territories. The
session in Jeju, Republic of Korea, which resulted in adoption Preventing Extinctions Programme has taken action for over
of Recommendation WCC-2012-Rec-139: Bear farming in 500 (40%) of the world’s threatened bird species since 2008; 46
Asia, with particular reference to the conservation of wild Species Guardians have so far been appointed to take action for
populations. This document recognized that bear farming 59 Critically Endangered and 11 Endangered species.
significantly increased the availability of bear bile to meet the Following a comprehensive assessment in 2012, we have
needs of Traditional Chinese Medicine patients, but observed updated the Red List Index for birds, which feeds into several
“that evidence of a cause-and-effect relationship between CBD 2020 targets and UNMDG indicators. We continued the
increased supply and use of farmed bear bile and the co-development of the Species Information Service with IUCN,
exploitation of wild bear populations is lacking.” As a follow- and continued to participate in Red List Committee and Red
up, the Bear SG joined with other IUCN members to work with List Technical Working Group meetings.
the Chinese government to conduct a scientifically rigorous We made a number of contributions to published research
situation analysis to better understand the relationship (if any) on threats, including climate change (Foden et al. 2013,
Populations of Black-footed Albatross are now thought to be stable or
increasing, resulting in the species being down-listed on The IUCN Red List.
Grizzly Bear. © Ivan Seryodkin © Ben Lascelles

Hannah et al. 2013) and crop expansion (Phalan et al. 2013); Red List assessment of European bison. The subgroup laid
and on solutions including climate change adaptation (Garnett out a process for accomplishing this task; Prof. Kajetan
et al. 2013) and protected area coverage of key sites (Le Saout Perzanowski and Wanda Olech (Red List Authority) will lead
et al. 2013), plus various others currently in preparation. the effort. In Europe, the legal status of the wisent is not
BirdLife wishes to acknowledge and thank its Founder universal; in some countries it is a protected species as
Patrons, the Aage V. Jensen Charity Foundation and all property of the State, and in other countries all wisents (even
BirdLife Species Champions. from free ranging herds) belong to private owners or other
entities and are subject to veterinary regulations for cattle.
Andy Symes There is a need to elaborate and propose a more universal
Chair, Bird Red List Authority legal status of the wisent, which could serve the conservation
of the species at the global level. The wisent would maintain its
status as an endangered species, and protection measures
Bison Specialist Group may include a limitation on commercial use. Funds obtained in
The Bison Specialist Group consists of two units, one for this way would be designated for the conservation of wisent
European bison and one for North American bison. The populations. More details are under discussion between BSG
European Bison Specialist Group concentrates on feasibility members and other people involved in species protection
work aimed at expanding the range of the species and and breeding.
improving its conservation status. The purpose of the North
American Bison Specialist Group (NABSG) is to contribute to Mr Keith Aune (North America) and Dr Wanda Olech
the development of comprehensive and viable strategies and (Europe)
management actions to improve conservation, and achieve Co-chairs, Bison Specialist Group
ecological restoration of plains bison and wood bison where
feasible, throughout the original range of each subspecies.
We renewed the membership list for the North American Boa and Python Specialist Group (BPSG)
Bison Specialist Group (NABSG). The NABSG is a network of The BPSG was established in 2011; its mission is to provide
people involved in bison conservation and recovery, and who expert opinion and scientific advice applicable to the
are able to contribute scientific knowledge, effectively influence conservation of boas and pythons to IUCN and other
bison conservation, or engage in conservation projects. There conservation organizations, government and non-government
are now 80 registered members and numerous collaborators agencies.
spanning the range of the species from Mexico to Alaska. The 2013 was a very active year; the trade in SE Asian python
NABSG hosted an internet dialogue in August–September skins continues to hold our attention and occupy much of our
about what defines a wild bison. We compiled the input from time. Different members are contributing to several CITES
each of the participants to identify key principles for a definition related initiatives. A significant event was the Sixteenth Meeting
of ‘wild’ bison. A discussion about this issue is planned for the of the Conference of the Parties to CITES held in Bangkok
next NABSG meeting in Montana in 2015, in conjunction with during March. Concerning snakes, several Decisions that will
our biennial American Bison Society Conference. On 26 influence the python trade in South East Asia were discussed
September 2013, we hosted the first IUCN face to face and adopted. Daniel Natusch was appointed to represent the
meeting since the Vermejo meeting in 2005. The meeting was BPSG as part of the IUCN delegation. We participated both at
attended by 45 members and a vigorous discussion was held the UNCTAD/CITES Round Table (March, Bangkok) and the
about the definition of ‘wild’ bison and the pending IUCN Red UNCTAD/CITES Meeting (October, Geneva) on the Traceability
List assessment for bison. At the IUCN meeting a subgroup System for Managing International Trade of Python Skins. We
was formed to work on The IUCN Red List assessment of provided peer review to the report that will be published by
North American Bison. The subgroup laid out a process for UNCTAD/CITES on the subject. An assessment of large-scale
accomplishing this task. Dr Cormack Gates (Red List commercial python-breeding systems in Southeast Asia
Authority) and Keith Aune (NABSG Chair) will lead the effort. undertaken by the BPSG in 2012 was updated with information
Our annual conference was held in Poland on from China and it will be published as a Species Survival
5–6 September; a subgroup was formed to work on The IUCN Commission Occasional Paper in March 2014.
European Bison. © Piotr Wawrzyniak Cuban Boa (Epicrates angulifer). © Peter Tolson

During November, we signed the Python Conservation
Partnership (PCP) with the luxury brand Kering (owner of
Gucci) and the International Trade Centre (ITC). This is a three-
year initiative which aims to contribute to the improved
sustainability of the python trade and help facilitate industry-
wide change. This partnership was the result of a year of
conversations with our partners, and two meetings held in
Florence (July) and Geneva (October), as well as different
missions to visit CITES authorities in China, Indonesia,
Malaysia and Vietnam.
Thanks to the initiative of two BPSG members, the
Inaugural Meeting of the Caribbean and Latin American Boid
Group was held at the Universidad Interamericana de Puerto
Rico in Arecibo during early August. As a result of this meeting,
the membership of the BPSG will increase to about 90
members and we expect to increase our capacity for future
Red List assessments. Red List assessments continue under
the monitoring of Mark Auliya, our RLA Coordinator. We
continue compiling and editing our newsletter Serpens twice a
year, and updating the BPSG’s Facebook page thanks to
Jessica Lyons.
We would like to acknowledge Fundación Biodiversidad
– Argentina for providing us with an executive office and to the
Office Vétérinaire Federal of Switzerland for funding our year
running costs.
Tomás Waller
Chair, Boa and Python Specialist Group
Alstroemeria caryophyllaea jacq. © Marco Octavio O. Pellegrini
Brazil Plant Red List Authority

During 2013, we concluded the assessment of 4,617 taxa (58 needs updating. To date, there are 43,788 plant species in our
of them are subspecies or varieties of plants). From this total, flora, and according to GSPC’s target 2; all species must be
2,118 species were assessed as threatened and an official assessed, so we have a long way to go! We hope to raise the
document was delivered to the Ministry of Environment. For necessary funds to support more capacity building, research
The IUCN Red List, it is also relevant to mention that of these and conservation strategies. We also hope to increase
4,617 taxa, 3,341 are global assessments (i.e. endemics) and collaboration between conservation organizations and the
1,276 are national assessments (not endemics or unknown if public. We continue the assessment of flora species; updating
endemic or not). Of the definite endemics, 1,816 are previously concluded assessments, planning conservation
threatened. We are collaborating with the Ministry of actions for all threatened species, as well as identifying priority
Environment in order to improve and discuss some of the areas for flora conservation in Brazil.
existing legal documents regarding flora conservation in Brazil.
We have developed a system for flora extinction risk Dr Gustavo Martinelli
assessment and threatened species data compiling, where Brazil Plant Red List Authority Coordinator
specialists can contribute online.
We published the first Brazilian Flora Red Book. This is the
first time that Brazil has used the IUCN system to rigorously Bryophyte
assess plant species. We launched the CNCFlora website and Specialist Group
Facebook page, and started using social media to improve The mission and key
communication with researchers and the public. Working as objective of our Specialist
consultants, we assisted Brazilian states and other countries Group has been to highlight
with the implementation of Red Listing processes and flora the importance of
conservation strategies. We also organized scientific recognising bryophytes in
expeditions to remote places, which involved data gathering all areas of nature
for many threatened species. Action plans continue to be conservation. This is
developed for threatened species. essential, since bryophytes
Looking forward, we need to improve support among (mosses, liverworts and
specialists and conservation organizations to assess the
extremely high number of Brazilian species. The low budget Sorapilla papuana – a moss we
and lack of consistent support from Brazilian authorities and suspected to be Extinct in
global organizations prevents us from achieving this task. Laws Australia as it had not been seen
for 150 years, but it was recently
protecting threatened species, especially the ones with re-discovered in Queensland.
economic value do exist, but are not always enforced, so this © Bill Malcolm

hornworts) are very often Endangered, however, usually
forgotten and neglected. Our Specialist Group currently
comprises 26 members in 22 countries.
In March, we had a European Red List workshop in
Sweden, where we updated all country distributional
information. For the first time, the latest Red Data Book of
Brazilian Flora contains bryophytes, it can be downloaded
here. Two students in Brazil are working on action planning for
the conservation of four endemic species of Sphagnum and
other biologists are doing surveys in the Atlantic South East of
Brazil. As part of her conservation efforts in Panama, our
member Dr Noris Salazar has published and distributed an
educational poster on bryophytes (The Mosses. Minute
lanterns of the Forest) to schools and universities. This was
done with financial support from the Women’s Committee of
Smithsonian Institution and Phase II of the Panamanian
Atlantic Biological Corridor (CBMAP II) of the National Bombus alpinus. © Pierre Rasmont
Authority of the Environment (ANAM). Our member in

Venezuela, Dr Y. León-Vargas, has finished the web page of newsletter Bumblebee Conservator was introduced, edited by
the Venezuelan Red List of Bryophytes. This includes some Ed Spevak (Saint Louis Zoo).
important inventories of bryophytes in the Coastal Cordillera The first regional Red List assessments were completed for
and the Parámo region. Europe with support from IUCN and assessments for 10
At present, Dr J. A. Harpel is preparing summary status species are published on The IUCN Red List: Bombus alpinus,
reports for two of the rare bryophytes in Canada. She is also B. inexspectatus, B. lapponicus, B. magnus, B. mendax, B.
working with the Bureau of Land Management, Salem mucidus, B. perezi, B. pereziellus, B. pyrenaeus, and B.
District’s botanist to publish a book on the rare bryophytes of reinigiellus. In North America, all draft assessments are nearly
Oregon (US). This book will feature short fact sheets on each ready for review and one species (B. franklini) is published on
species, accompanied by a set of colour photos revealing the The IUCN Red List. In South America, draft assessments are
morphology of each species. nearing completion for at least half of the species. In
Dr Benito C. Tan (Singapore/USA) attended the ASEAN Mesoamerica, intensive field surveys continue.
meeting in the Philippines at the end of November, where he In Asia, the faunas are larger and their taxonomy and
made a suggestion to host a workshop on the biodiversity and distribution is less well known, so much more remains to be
conservation of non-flowering plant groups in SE Asia. This done. In North Asia, bumblebee distributions are being
workshop will be held in Bogor, Indonesia in 2014, funded by mapped with first versions of maps to go online at the end of
the Japanese Ministry of Environment. He will be the resource the year, although field surveys and quantification of
person at the workshop, teaching the biodiversity and populations continues. In West Asia, field surveys are being
conservation of bryophytes in SE Asia for a total of 20 extended to new areas in Iran. In East Asia, with half of the
representatives of SE Asian countries, who are park officers world’s species, field surveys have extended into remote and
and biology teachers. rarely visited areas such as the Kunlun mountains, and the first
Dr David Meagher (our representative in Australia) reported guide with keys and distribution maps to the bumblebees of
that for 2013, several species newly recorded in Victoria were North China (78 species) has been produced. An international
added to the advisory list of rare and threatened bryophytes workshop for Regional Coordinators of the BBSG is planned
used by land managers for planning purposes in that state. A and funding is being sought.
draft list of nationally Endangered bryophytes has been In Russia, the second edition of the Red Book of Tomsk
prepared for discussion and will be published in the next issue Oblast was published, which included four bumblebee
of the Australasian Bryological Newsletter (June 2014). Raising species: B. confusus, B. modestus, B. muscorum and B.
the public’s awareness of bryophytes continues to be a focus patagiatus.
of conservation-related work. An expedition to find Sorapilla In Canada, B. affinis had previously been listed as
papuana, one of the rarest bryophytes in Australia, was Endangered (largely based on IUCN criteria) federally and
successful and was widely reported in Australian media. A field provincially. Three other species are now under assessment:
guide to the mosses of the dry forests of South-eastern B. bohemicus, B. occidentalis, and B. terricola. In the US, a
Australia is scheduled to be published in February 2014. This petition for protection of B. affinis under the ESA has been
project was undertaken by Friends of Box-Ironbark Forests submitted by the Xerces Society.
and was led by Dr Cassia Read.
Paul Williams
Tomas Hallingbäck Chair, Bumblebee Specialist Group
Chair, Bryophyte Specialist Group
Bustard Specialist Group

Bumblebee Specialist Group The mission of the Bustard Specialist Group is to advise
Our aim is to foster the conservation of bumblebees (c. 250 on, support and contribute to the conservation of the three
species) and their habitats around the world. The group highly threatened bustards in the Indian subcontinent and
consists currently of 75 members from 22 countries. Our Cambodia. The Bustard Specialist Group currently comprises

16 members. The size of the group is deliberately kept small Butterfly Specialist Group
at this stage, as the Chair indicated that in the first years of Our aim is to foster the conservation of butterflies and moths
incumbency the focus should be on two Critically Endangered and their habitats around the world. Our Specialist Group
and one Endangered species in tropical/subtropical Asia; comprises a membership of 150 and a thirteen member
namely Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), Bengal steering committee from seven geographic regions.
Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis) and Lesser Florican The Butterfly Specialist Group (BSG) was formed in late
(Sypheotides indicus), although this region also hosts the 2010; the group developed a survey of butterfly conservation
severely threatened Asian Houbara (Chlamydotis macqueenii). needs, and currently over 161 people from 39 countries have
Members selected to date all have experience relevant to these completed the survey (the full survey is accessible here). We
species. Expansion of the group is anticipated in due course. then developed a listserv from these participants and there has
There are many threats to Asian bustards, including rapid been good dialogue on a number of butterfly conservation
conversion of grassland and traditional farmland to intensive issues and sharing of research ideas and studies. Several
agricultural production, although in some places also agricultural countries are working on assessments of their butterfly fauna.
abandonment (landscapes reverting to scrub); overgrazing and The BSG Chair has also focused attention on monarch
increasing habitat fragmentation and disturbance; declines butterflies and has been engaged at the highest levels with the
in habitat suitability through the proliferation of fences, wind- government in Mexico and the United States to improve policies
turbines and roads; widespread expansion of suspended for habitat conservation. The BSG was also a co-sponsor in the
cabling across landscapes (see photograph below); subsistence recent workshop on imperiled checkerspot butterflies on the
off-take of adults, juveniles and eggs; sport-hunting and west coast of the US. This workshop included scientists, agency
mismanagement of protected areas. staff from the US and Canada and NGO staff.
Throughout the year, informal advice was provided to The Xerces Society has funded four students since the
the Indian government and Indian conservation biologists inception of the BSG through our DeWind Award. Two of these
on bustard-related issues, particularly in the lead-in to a awards went to students of Butterfly SG members. ‘Land Use
major government meeting to be held in Delhi, where it will Abandonment in Eastern Mediterranean – effects on butterfly
be decided whether to proceed with captive breeding for the and moth communities’ and ‘Consequences of selective-
Great Indian Bustard. Research was conducted by members herbicide use on butterfly populations: evaluating the
of the group on the practicalities of this move and a model magnitude and persistence of negative herbicidal effects on
created for K-selected species, which may prove useful to the demography of a lycaenid’ (Glaucopsyche lygdamus –
other groups, seeking to assess the probable outcomes of ex- Columbia).
situ intervention. We supported WCS Cambodia and BirdLife The progress of the Butterfly SG has been slower than we
Cambodia in the conservation of the Tonle Sap floodplain would like for a variety of reasons; we have yet to develop a
for the dwindling population of Bengal Florican (subspecies coordinated plan for the SG, communications have been
blandini). This included a review of the new action plan for difficult as it is across all time zones and all of the participants
the species and providing evidence on land use change and are busy with their own work. Funding is also a limiting factor in
population decline. Some members of the group also form what we can accomplish. We have convened a meeting
part of an initiative to assess the status, ecological needs and associated with the Butterfly Conservation Symposium in the
migration patterns of a population of Asian Houbara, breeding UK in April 2014. Most of the steering committee members will
in the Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan, some individuals of which be in attendance. The goals of this meeting will be to develop a
winter in Pakistan. The Chair gave the Second Ravi Sankaran draft needs and opportunity based plan that will allow us to
Memorial Lecture at the Bangalore Student Conference direct resources and technical assistance to areas with the
on Conservation Science on 25 September 2013, with the greatest need and highest potential for our efforts to make a
subject ‘Inglorious Bustards’ (a review of bustard biology and meaningful impact; identify an RLA for the group, and discuss
conservation). how we might fund activities – including coordination.
Professor Nigel Collar Scott Hoffman Black

Chair, Bustard Specialist Group Chair, Butterfly Specialist Group
Asian Houbara. © Andy Swash (WorldWildlifeImages.com) / EBBCC Taylors Checkerspot. © Dana Ross

Cactus and Succulent Plant Specialist Group List, confirm the highly threatened conservation status of the
The goals of the Cactus and Succulent Plant Specialist Group Cactaceae.
(CSSG) are; to support field studies in order to understand the
biology and conservation status of succulent plants; to Dr Héctor M. Hernández
encourage the creation of protected area networks in order to Chair, Cactus and Succulent Plant Specialist Group
maximize in-situ protection for succulent plant species; to
support ex-situ protection of Critically Endangered species; to
support national legislation and effective trade controls for all Canid Specialist Group (CSG)
wild succulent plant species threatened by exploitation for The CSG is the world’s chief body of scientific and practical
international commerce, and to promote education on the expertise on the status and conservation of all canid species.
value of succulent plants and the need for their conservation Our mission is to promote the long-term conservation of all
and sustainable use. wild Canidae species throughout their ranges. Many wild
Over the past few years, one of our main priorities has canids antagonise with human interests, often resulting in
been our involvement in the Global Cactus Assessment, a persecution. Our challenge is to increase tolerance and
major project with the aim of evaluating all 1,500 species mitigate conflict to enable rare and threatened species to
belonging to the cactus family under The IUCN Red List survive. The group currently consists of 85 members from 39
Criteria. The project has now been completed, with the countries, and with expertise in many more. All CSG members
successful participation of many members of our Specialist are actively involved in canid conservation and research, and
Group. Several regional workshops were organized in different serve as honorary advisers, bringing with them the experience
countries throughout the distribution range of the family. and the knowledge gained in their professional careers. The
Members of the CSSG, along with a large contingent of CSG is housed by WildCRU at Tubney House, University of
regional experts, including professional botanists, ecologists, Oxford. The Chairs’ position at WildCRU is funded by The
conservation biologists and plant amateurs, assessed the Born Free Foundation. The Forestry Bureau of the Council of
totality of species in the family. The project counted on the Agriculture, Republic of China (Taiwan), has kindly provided
generous support of several governmental and academic two small grants to support CSG activities.
institutions; including CONABIO, CONANP, Conservation The main activities of the CSG include the compilation,
International, Chester Zoo and the Desert Botanical Garden, synthesis and dissemination of canid related information
INE, Jardin Exotique de Monaco, UNAM, and the University of through strategic planning and resulting Action Plans. The
Sheffield. The results, soon to be published on The IUCN Red most prolific (and satisfying) role of our Specialist Group has
been networking people with similar interests in canid
conservation and disseminating relevant data and information.
E. platyacanthus – Zacatecas, Mexico. © HMHM The most frustrating has been our inability to raise financial
resources to support important projects. Our main
dissemination channels include Canid Biology and
Conservation, an electronic, peer-reviewed journal, and
Canids-L, a mailing list exclusively devoted to Canid biology
and conservation with 800+ current members. We maintain a
database of current canid research and conservation projects,
which will be accessible through our new website shortly.
The CSG continues to oversee the implementation of a
conservation strategy for Ethiopian wolves prepared in 2011,
one of the first such strategies following the planning
guidelines developed by a dedicated SSC Task Force. The
Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme – established by the
CSG in partnership with the Ethiopian government, the
University of Oxford and donors, to protect the rarest of all wild
Ethiopian Wolf (Canis simensis). © Brent Huffman / UltimateUngulate

canids – is the main implementing body of this strategy, which
includes a 10-year National Action Plan. Jointly with the Cat
Specialist Group, the CSG has spearheaded the development
of regional conservation strategies for African wild dogs and
cheetah, since these two species have similar ecological
requirements and face similar threats. Under each regional
strategy we support range countries to prepare their own
national action plans, ably assisted by regional coordinators
recruited by the sponsors of the initiative; the Zoological
Society of London and the Wildlife Conservation Society.
We are in the process of reassessing all canid species for
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™, with a planned
completion date of 2015. To facilitate the process for a
number of reassessments, we are piloting an online forum
prepared by the SSC, onto which the draft reassessments
have been posted. During 2014 we plan to undertake
Argali Ram. © Rich Reading
assessments on Arctic foxes, dholes, maned wolves and all
the South American foxes, with the view to reassess the
remaining species in 2015.
Our priority is fine-tuning our global network of canid Continuing activities include analyses of long-term data on
experts using a working group approach, and promoting the both live and hunter-harvested animals, and evaluation of the
implementation of Canid Action Plan projects and actions. We conservation status of different species.
would like to see more bottom-up initiatives and dynamism
amongst the CSG membership. Prof. Marco Festa-Bianchet
Chair, Caprinae Specialist Group
Dr Claudio Sillero-Zubiri
Chair, Canid Specialist Group
Carnivorous Plant Specialist Group
The Carnivorous Plant Specialist Group (CPSG) currently has
Caprinae Specialist Group a membership of six (including Patron). Our mission is to help
The Caprinae Specialist Group seeks to promote the ensure that that the conservation status of all carnivorous
conservation of mountain ungulates and their habitat. plants are adequately and accurately documented; to assist in
Ongoing concerns include habitat degradation, competition raising public awareness and encourage initiation of
and disease transmission from domestic livestock and appropriate conservation measures, and to ensure that The
poaching. Many of our efforts are focused on Asia, which has IUCN Red List is updated as quickly as possible, commencing
both the largest number of species and the greatest with those taxa that are currently listed as Data Deficient and
conservation problems. For example, several group members which have been identified by experts within the CPSG as
participated in workshops that led to an international Argali being most in need of conservation action.
action plan currently under review. In addition, mountain- An externally funded project was undertaken by the
adapted species face an increasing threat from global CPSG in 2013, with the aim of conducting research to gather
warming; for example, declines in body size in alpine chamois data to facilitate IUCN Red List assessments of 19 Nepenthes
appear related to warming temperatures in the Alps, although pitcher plant species; all of which were considered threatened
data on alpine ibex suggest an opposite relationship between in the wild, and for which adequate, up to date information
body size and temperature; we clearly still have a lot to learn about their conservation status was lacking. Of the 19 species
about the complex effects of climate change. intended for survey, 13 had not been assessed previously.
Our group has also long been interested in the potential Five field expeditions were undertaken to various parts of
biological and economic consequences of trophy hunting. Southeast Asia during 2013, including Sumatra (two
Many caprinae species are highly sought after by trophy expeditions), New Guinea, Palawan, Luzon, and Sulawesi.
hunters. For example, to hunt some species of wild sheep, The project delivered significantly better outcomes than
hunters, often foreigners, are willing to pay several tens of originally anticipated; a total of 28 Nepenthes species were
thousands of dollars. This creates both an opportunity to surveyed, with 26 receiving new or revised Red List
generate funds for conservation and a concern about possible assessments. All data was entered into the Species
artificial selection. Several of our group members are involved Information Service, along with distribution maps and
in research on the biological consequences of selective supporting documentation and was reviewed by the end of
hunting. We also made a substantial contribution to the recent 2013. This project has resulted in new, complete Red List
publication IUCN Guiding Principles on Trophy Hunting as a assessments for more than 15% of all Nepenthes species and
Tool for Creating Conservation Incentives. This publication sets has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of Data
forth the condition required to make a trophy hunting program Deficient and therefore Not Evaluated species. This stands us
ecologically and evolutionarily sustainable, as well as a positive in good stead to attain our goal of revising the Red List
contribution to conservation. It builds upon our long-standing assessments for all Nepenthes species in the next few years.
position statement on trophy hunting and has already been One unexpected outcome of these survey expeditions was
used by conservation agencies to distinguish trophy hunting the discovery of one, as yet undescribed species of
operations that do and do not contribute to conservation. Nepenthes.

developing capacity in felid conservation; providing services
to members and partners; assuring the financial resources for
the Cat Specialist Group.
2013 was a very busy year; amongst other things, we
reconstituted the Cat SG for the quadrennium 2013–16; we
finalized reports and prepared publications on leopard
surveys in Nakhchivan and north-western Iran, as part of the
implementation of the Regional Conservation Strategy for the
Leopard in the Caucasus Ecoregion. We assessed the
progress of the reintroduction project of Persian Leopards into
the Northern Caucasus; the first two litters were born in the
conservation breeding centre of Sochi in 2013. We
participated in the One Plan workshop for the Arabian Sand
Cat that included a status assessment and the development
of an in-situ and ex-situ action plan. We facilitated a workshop
to develop a National Action Plan for the Critically Endangered
Arabian Leopard in Oman. We attended a meeting of the
Iberlince Life partners (GOs from Portugal, Andalucia,
Extremadura, Castilla la Mancha, and NGOs WWF Spain,
CBD Habitat, IberLinx) to discuss future release sites for the
Critically Endangered Iberian Lynx. This gave the opportunity
to meet the new partners, especial¬ly the delegations from
the environmental agencies of Portugal and the Spanish
provinces. We also attended the third meeting of the Species
Conservation Planning Sub-Committee in Oxford, and
attended the EAZA Felid TAG Meeting at Zoo Leipzig to
strengthen the partnership between the ex-situ and in-situ
community for cats. We initiated capacity development on the
Balkans for the implementation of the Regional Conservation
Strategy for Critically Endangered Balkan Lynx. We are
working with the Cat Classification Task Force to revise the
current taxonomy of the Felidae.
Upper pitcher of Nepenthes rigidifolia. © Chíen C. Lee
We are currently working on renewing the Cat Specialist
Group website, and we continue to publish two regular issues
of Cat News; Special Issues on Non-Panthera felids in south-
The work this year has brought to light for the first time east Asia and Cats in Iran are underway.
the extreme plight of some of the species surveyed. One such We would like to thank the following individuals and
example is Nepenthes rigidifolia; discovered and described in organisations for their partnership and support: Friends of the
2004, this species is Critically Endangered, with less than 12 Cat Group, Wild Cat Club, Panthera, MAVA Foundation,
mature plants remaining in habitat at only a single known Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Zoo Leipzig,
locality. Of all carnivorous plants, Nepenthes rigidifolia may be Forestry Bureau of the Taiwan Council of Agriculture, Parrotia
the most at risk at present and faces almost certain Extinction Stiftung, Fondation Gérard Pierre, Nakuso Stiftung, tierschutz.
within the next few years, unless urgent measures are taken ch-Stiftung, Erlenmeyer Stiftung, Fondation Pierre et Nouky
to protect the remaining plants and establish an ex-situ Bataillard, Swiss-Slovak Cooperation Programme, Zoo Al Ain,
breeding programme.
The CPSG wishes to express its gratitude to the
Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi, without whose generous Arabian Leopard. © Hadi Al Hikmani
support, the field surveys necessary for the work undertaken
this year would not have been possible.
Robert Cantley
Chair, Carnivorous Plant Specialist Group
Cat Specialist Group

The Cat Specialist Group coordinates and supports the
activities of currently 203 leading scientists, nature
conservation officers and wildlife managers who help to
conserve the 37 cat species in 57 countries. The main
objectives of the Chair of the group include; maintaining the
network of cat experts and partners; assessing continuously
the status and conservation needs of the 37 cat species;
supporting governments with strategic conservation planning;

Earth Watch, Innflow AG, Stämpfli Publikationen AG, and Cave Invertebrate Specialist Group
especially Patrick Meier, Peter Stämpfli, and Jean-Claude and Our mission is to stimulate the conservation of all cave
Annemarie Tschumper. invertebrates, focusing on those not yet covered by other
Specialist Groups such as millipedes, woodlice, springtails,
Dr Christine Breitenmoser and Dr Urs Breitenmoser terrestrial crabs, and spiders which all face very similar threats.
Co-chairs, Cat Specialist Group Many of the species covered by the Group are currently
unknown, undescribed, unprotected, and unassessed for The
IUCN Red List. A search of The IUCN Red List 2012 using
Caucasus Plant Red List Authority ‘cave’ as the keyword, ‘Caves and Subterranean Habitats (non-
The mission of the Caucasus Plant RLA is to assess extinction aquatic)’ as the habitat, and ‘Arthropods’ as the taxonomic
risk of the Caucasus plants and develop strategies for their group resulted in just 10 species – the number of Critically
conservation. Endangered species we predict will be found in single caves.
The major achievement of the Caucasus Plant RLA in Being a partially habitat-defined group there is a degree of
2013 was publication of the Regional Plant Conservation overlap with a few existing Specialist Groups but we intend to
Strategy for the Caucasus region Caucasus Plant Initiative by make that a positive influence. Our membership is currently
Missouri Botanical Garden’s Centre for Conservation and being formed.
Sustainable Development, in collaboration with BGCI. The Having been established only in December 2013,
Strategy can be downloaded here. The document was comprehensive IUCN Red List assessments will not begin until
developed as a result of the project ‘Coordination and 2014. However, during the period of its establishment, a ‘living
Development of Plant Red List Assessments for the Caucasus fossil’ spider (Liphistius kanthan) which is threatened by a
Biodiversity Hotspot’ which was implemented by the IUCN limestone quarry in Malaysia was listed as Critically
Species Survival Commission in collaboration with Missouri Endangered. The IUCN Director General wrote to the CEO of
Botanical Garden, USA, the WWF Caucasus Programme Lafarge and the Malaysian State Chief Minister, expressing
Office, and botanists from six countries of the Caucasus concern over the threat posed to the spider by their quarrying.
(Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Russia, and Turkey) from Follow-up has been led by the Co-Chair. As yet, no research in
2006 to 2010. Targets of the Regional Strategy correspond to the context of the Specialist Group has yet been conducted.
those of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) A wide range of outreach activities are planned for 2014;
2011–2020. The document illustrates the relevance of the the hash tag #caveinvert has been used on Twitter and will be
Caucasus Plant Initiative (CPI) targets to the targets and used by members tweeting their news.
actions in the revised and updated Ecoregion Conservation The Co-chairs have been working together for the
Plan (ECP) for the Caucasus. Whenever possible, the CPI conservation of cave-adapted fauna for nearly two decades,
should be considered together with ECP in plant conservation primarily in SE Asia, Louis from the National Museum of
and sustainable use planning. Natural History, and Tony initially from the World Bank and now
At present the major output of the above project: Schatz, from Fauna and Flora International.
G., Shulkina, T. and Solomon, J. (eds.) Red List of the
Endemic Plants of the Caucasus Region; Missouri Botanical Tony Whitten and Louis Deharveng
Garden Press, Saint Louis, USA, is in press. Information on Co-chairs, Cave Invertebrate Specialist Group
this publication was presented by Prof. Dr George
Nakhutsrishvili at the Plant Life of South West Asia conference
at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh from 1–5 July 2013. Cetacean Specialist Group
The mission of the Cetacean Specialist Group (CSG) has long
Prof. Dr George Nakhutsrishvilli been and remains to promote and facilitate the conservation of
Caucasus Plant Red List Authority Coordinator cetaceans (88 species currently recognized) worldwide. It seeks
Paeonia mlokosewitschii Lomakin. © Sh. Sikharulidze and L. Asieshvili Kanthan Cave Trapdoor Spider (Liphistius kanthan). © Bjorn Olesen

to be a catalyst, clearinghouse and facilitator for cetacean- economics, bycatch and education were intended to improve
related research and conservation action. The advice it provides capacity in the region and better acquaint outside experts with
relates mainly to the status of populations, abundance, trends, local perspectives.
current or potential threats, and the efficacy of protection Several CSG members were involved in the documentation
and mitigation. Emphasis is placed on recovery of Critically of a mass stranding of melon-headed whales in Madagascar in
Endangered and Endangered species, subspecies and 2008 and later in the work of an independent panel to review
subpopulations. Two cetacean species and 16 subpopulations and analyze the possible causes. The widely publicized report
are currently listed as CR; seven species and 10 subspecies or of the panel, released in September 2013, concludes that this
subpopulations, as EN. The CSG also stresses the importance event was triggered primarily by acoustic stimuli, specifically a
of preventing declines in the first place. Most of the group’s multi-beam echosounder system operated by a survey vessel
work centres on regions where capacity is limited and cetacean working for an oil and gas company. This finding has major
populations are either poorly known or not being monitored implications because of the common use of high-frequency
closely by governments or by the International Whaling mapping sonar systems by vessels from the military, the
Commission (IWC). hydrocarbon industry and various other marine industries.
A major change over the past year has been the retirement Another important development in 2013 was the creation of
of Bill Perrin after decades of outstanding accomplishment as an IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Area
a scientist and conservationist. Bill chaired the CSG from Task Force (MMPATF), co-chaired by two CSG members. The
1984–1991 and spearheaded the group’s Red List objectives of this Task Force are to promote effective spatial
assessments until the summer of 2013, when he handed over solutions and best practices, bolster capacity in areas of need,
this responsibility to Barb Taylor, another long time CSG disseminate modern tools and methods, assist implementation
member. We have begun planning and fundraising for the of global MPA targets and agreements, and enhance
required updating of cetacean species assessments over the opportunities for cooperation.
next year or so. In the meantime, progress has been made In recent years, major grants in support of field and lab
towards assessing newly recognized species such as the projects on at-risk cetaceans have been received from the
Bolivian Dolphin (in progress along with a new assessment of SOS coalition and the International Whaling Commission’s
its congener the Amazon dolphin or boto) and the two, rather Small Cetacean Conservation Research Fund.
than one species of Finless Porpoise (both Vulnerable). The More information on these and other activities of the CSG
Yangtze River subspecies, the world’s only freshwater is available here.
porpoise population, was listed as CR in 2013.
The Critically Endangered Vaquita, a porpoise endemic to Dr Randall Reeves
the northern Gulf of California, has been a focus of CSG Chair, Cetacean Specialist Group
activities for many years. Mexico’s new president established
an Advisory Commission of the Presidency of Mexico for the
Recovery of the Vaquita soon after taking office in December Chameleon Specialist Group
2012. Four CSG members constitute the scientific component The mission of the Chameleon Specialist Group is to improve
of this commission and they have been deeply involved in its the conservation status and sustainable use of wild
work throughout the past year. A ban on shrimp gillnetting, a chameleons. The group has 13 members, based in Cameroon,
major vaquita bycatch threat, along with a shift to vaquita-safe South Africa, Madagascar, Europe and North America.
trawling gear is to be implemented within the next three years, IUCN Red List assessments for 64 chameleon species
but it remains to be seen if this will be effective. from East Africa have been submitted for review, and
In March 2013 the CSG helped organize and conduct the assessments of a further seven species from Madagascar are
Third Southeast Asian Marine Mammal Symposium and underway. We anticipate completing the Global Chameleon
Workshop in Langkawi, Malaysia. This event provided assessment in 2014.
opportunities to share new information and data on national In 2013, we developed a Species Conservation Strategy for
and regional conservation problems as well as identify gaps the Critically Endangered Belalanda Chameleon in
and ways to fill them. Workshop sessions on marine protected Madagascar, and contributed to the assessments of
areas (MPAs), strandings, acoustics, small-scale fishery Chamaeleo, Trioceros and Kinyongia chameleon species
Vaquita. © Thomas Jefferson Trioceros cristatus. © Gonwouo Nono L.

included in the Significant Trade Review for the CITES Animals plants in China, financially supported by the Ministry of
Committee in 2014. Environmental Protection (MEP). The Red List of China Higher
The Chameleon Specialist Group Facebook page has over Plants covers 35,610 species (incl. infra-species ranks), 3,767
700 likes and was used to raise funds for the East African of these are threatened with extinction. The project was led to
Chameleon IUCN Red List assessment. its successful conclusion by Dr Haining Qin, in partnership with
We would like to thank Trento Museum and the individuals around 300 experts, many of whom are members of our
who generously sponsored our East African Chameleon specialist group.
Assessment via their RocketHub crowd-funding donations. The first analysis of China’s flora was undertaken; these
analyses were done at national, biome and provincial levels, and
Dr Richard Jenkins also at the family and genera level. At a national level, the
Chair, Chameleon Specialist Group analyses clearly show that loss of natural habitat (as a result of
cultivation, urban development and mining, etc.) is the biggest
threat to plants. The applications of The IUCN Red List for
China Plant Specialist Group conservation practitioners is also novel and provides
The main objectives of the China Plant Specialist Group recommendations on how the Red List of China Higher Plants
(CPSG) are to develop effective mechanisms for the sharing of should be used in spatial conservation planning, to contribute to
information, in order to understand the diversity and the identification of priority areas for biodiversity conservation.
conservation status of plants in China. We provide advice, The Red List of China Higher Plants and the general report
expertise and access to decision-makers and stakeholders, in were launched in September 2013, and are now available via
order to improve the effectiveness of conservation actions and the website of the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP).
the sustainable use of Chinese plants; including in-situ and
ex-situ conservation, and legal protection of threatened Dr Qin Haining and Prof. Liu Quanru
species at national and provincial levels. We promote Co-chairs, China Plant Specialist Group
education on the importance of wild plants and the need for
conservation and sustainable use, and improving the
communication of conservation information within national and Chytrid, Zygomycete, Downy Mildew and Slime
international networks. Mould Specialist Group
Over the past year, the CPSG played a key role in the Our Specialist Group is focused on increasing wider
implementation of three national biodiversity projects; Chinese awareness of the conservation status of chytrids,
Virtual Herbarium, Species 2000 China Node and The Red List zygomycetes, downy mildews and slime moulds. We
of China Higher Plants. A major milestone was reached in continually develop as a Specialist Group by holding regular
2013, the completion of Red List assessments for higher meetings and workshops amongst our six members, located
in five countries.
Habitat of Cycas balansae War. © China Plant Specialist Group During 2013, some changes in the organization of our
Specialist Group were proposed, such as separating some of
the taxonomic groups that are currently included in this
Specialist Group. We compiled necessary information of
Myxomycetes species and accomplished tentative evaluations
applying IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, as well as
increasing the members of Myxomycetes and of the other
taxonomic groups that are included in this Specialist Group.
We have improved public awareness of fungi conservation
by providing information through exhibitions and engaging with
people of different ages, including school children;
encouraging knowledge and awareness of the importance of
fungi conservation. The recognition of fungi as an integral part
of biodiversity conservation is still not widely accepted, this is
an ongoing challenge which requires a permanent voice from
our Specialist Group.
Diacheopsis metallica. © Alain Michaud

We would like to acknowledge the generous support of the extinction on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. The
Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund. study’s novel approach looks at the unique biological and
ecological characteristics that make species more or less
Mayra C. Camino Vilaró sensitive or adaptable to climate change. This new method
Chair, Chytrid, Zygomycete, Downy Mildew and Slime Mould perfectly complements the more conventional ones used to
Specialist Group date. Conventional methods have focused largely on
measuring the amount of change to which species are likely to
be exposed. IUCN will use this new approach and results to
Climate Change Specialist Group (CCSG) ensure The IUCN Red List continues to provide the best
The key objectives of this group are to design a strategy to possible assessments of extinction risk, including due to
help the SSC respond to climate change impacts, develop the climate change.
ongoing work on species’ susceptibility to climate change into The first three-day steering committee meeting was held in
IUCN guidelines to inform conservation actions, provide December 2013; attended by 15 members from academic
information and recommendations about enhancing species institutions, non-governmental organisations and government
climate change, with a view to ensuring that biodiversity departments. A three-year work plan was developed for the
concerns remain central and promote coordination of climate Specialist Group; the highest priority being the development of
change responses between SSC Specialist Groups, SSC SSC best practice guidelines for an assessment of species
partner organizations and other IUCN Programme areas. vulnerability. The CCSG has established ten work themes, and
For the last five years, the SSC and the IUCN Global leaders for each work theme have been identified from the
Species Programme (GSP) have been developing a new trait- steering committee and priority tasks established. The CCSG
based system to assess the likely impacts of climate change has identified the need for additional steering committee
on biodiversity, led by Wendy Foden. The system and the members with expertise on physical climate and climate
results of it being applied to birds, amphibians and corals, was change impacts on marine biodiversity. Another high priority is
published in the journal PLoS-ONE on 12 June. This paper is for a formal survey to be generated for the SSC membership
entitled “Identifying the World’s Most Climate Change Vulnerable on their needs of the Climate Change Specialist Group. The
Species: a Systematic Trait-Based Assessment of Birds, new CCSG website can be accessed here.
Amphibians and Corals”, with Wendy as the senior author.
Simon Stuart was one of several co-authors. There was Associate Professor James Watson and Professor
considerable media publicity when the results of this paper were Stephen Williams
announced. The paper reports on the results of one of the Co-chairs, Climate Change Specialist Group
biggest studies of its kind, assessing all of the world’s birds,
amphibians and corals. It draws on the work of more than 100
scientists, most of them SSC members, over a period of five Conifer Specialist Group
years. Up to 83% of birds, 66% of amphibians and 70% of The key objective of the Conifer Specialist Group is to provide
corals that were identified as highly vulnerable to the impacts of science based information about the distribution and
climate change are not currently considered threatened with conservation status of the world’s conifers.
CCSG Workshop (December 2013). © Wendy Foden

Another indirect output of the CSG is a new website of the
Conifer Conservation Programme at the Royal Botanic
Garden, Edinburgh, which can be accessed here. The Conifer
Specialist Group has a close association with the Conifer
Conservation Programme of the RBG in Edinburgh, and there
was continuous collaboration in 2013 with their staff, who are
also key players in the CSG. The results of the Red List of
Conifers project, as well as the Atlas, feed directly into that
programme providing a link to conservation action.
We acknowledge support from the Framework Grant from
the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi to the IUCN Species
Survival Commission for the red listing of conifers.
Aljos Farjon
Araucaria araucana and Volcan Llaima, P.N. Conquillio, Chile. © Aljos Farjon Chair, Conifer Specialist Group
The Conifer Specialist Group has achieved a major goal in

2013 in delivering a second full IUCN Red List assessment of Conservation Breeding Specialist Group
all conifer taxa (species and lower ranks). The launch of the CBSG’s mission is to save threatened species by increasing
new Red List of Conifers on The IUCN Red List of Threatened the effectiveness of conservation planning efforts worldwide.
Species™ took place in July 2013. Of the 615 species During 2013, CBSG conducted 12 Population and Habitat
assessed, 211 are threatened with extinction on The IUCN Red Viability Assessment (PHVA) or Species Conservation Planning
List of Threatened Species™. Workshops in 10 countries for species including brown howler
Changes between the two assessments show a downward monkey, red panda, and Sonoran pronghorn. In addition, we
trend, i.e. more species have moved into higher categories of carried out six training workshops and seven planning
threat. This is caused by a combination of factors, including workshops for conservation organizations. Several of these
the greater accuracy of assessment and more detailed projects were conducted in collaboration with other SSC
information, and actual deterioration of the ecological situation Specialist Groups including Reintroduction, South Asian
in other cases. Decline is primarily associated with habitat Invertebrates, Polar Bear, Pinniped, Galliformes, and others.
degradation or destruction; exploitation is another major CBSG continues to support integrated conservation
cause. A more detailed report was presented to the office of planning across the range of captive and wild populations.
the SSC Chair and there was some press coverage around the WAZA Magazine 14 included a number of articles submitted
Red List launch in July. by CBSG members highlighting the One Plan approach and
An indirect achievement of the CSG is the publication by our development of tools to support and promote linkages
the Chair, Aljos Farjon, and co-author Denis Filer of An Atlas of between conservation efforts across the continuum of
the World’s Conifers with the publisher Brill in Leiden. This management strategies.
Atlas is based on 37,000 verified herbarium records of conifers The drafting group produced a draft of IUCN Guidelines for
and shows the distribution of all eight families, 70 genera and Ex Situ Management at the end of 2012; this went out for
615 species and their varieties on geographical maps. The review to a large group of people – including Specialist Group
book discusses distribution patterns, endemism, biodiversity chairs, regional zoo associations, botanical gardens, seed
hot spots and conservation status. The publication date is banks, agricultural genome resource banks, NGOs, and other
November 2013. stakeholders. A revised draft is now being finalized and will be
IUCN SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group.

presented to the SSC Steering Committee for approval. Next (including corals, through the Mediterranean office); Red-listing
steps include completing the layout and distribution of the of deep water corals (through the Brussels office); Red-listing
guidelines and developing the supporting material (case of Jeju island (South Korea) hard and soft corals, and we
studies, examples, publications). participated in the Marine Conservation Sub Committee
In collaboration with a number of colleagues, CBSG is meeting in December 2013.
developing a partnership between zoos and the Alliance for A funding application was submitted to PEER Science
Zero Extinction (AZE). This will facilitate the use of zoo (USAID/NSF) to increase access to online coral identification
resources to safeguard AZE species and their habitats. materials, for example the Corallosphere and CoralHub, new
The diverse skill-set of CBSG’s global network enables us emerging tools such as Coral Geographic, a website on
to address the issue of climate change on several levels; we Western Indian Ocean corals, and development of a virtual
adapt our tools and processes to reflect the reality of current library including 3D images to facilitate capacity building in
and future changes to climate, habitats, and species; we use coral taxonomy and identification. It was submitted by
meta-modeling tools to provide detailed analysis of multi- CORDIO East Africa, but was unsuccessful.
species interactions; bringing to the CBSG community a Another funding application was submitted to the Western
movement that addresses the root cause of human-induced Indian Ocean Marine Science Association, to update Red
climate change: humanity’s dependence on fossil fuels. Listing of corals for the Western Indian Ocean and calculate a
At the CBSG Annual Meeting in October, we launched Red List Index, as well as pilot Red List of Ecosystems and
Zoos and Aquariums for 350. coral Species Conservation Plans for the region. Submitted by
CORDIO East Africa, but was also unsuccessful.
Onnie Byers
Chair, Conservation Breeding Specialist Group David Obura
Chair, Coral Specialist Group
Coral Specialist Group

A logo competition that started in 2012 was concluded in Crane Specialist Group
August 2013, with submission of a logo by Pierpaolo Brena. The Crane Specialist Group, with members from over 50
The logo depicts the species (focused on coral) and ecosystem countries, promotes the study and conservation of cranes. We
(with fish and other invertebrates, in this case a sponge) are now preparing a Crane Conservation Plan for the world’s
perspectives, as well as ocean dynamics and land-based crane species, with 11 of 15 species accounts drafted and
interactions (the wave-line in white, and green coastline), and now being circulated, and intensive discussions undertaken at
interactions with people, depicted by the sailing canoe. a two-day workshop.
We collaborated with the IUCN GMSA and US offices on A Significant Trade Review, conducted under CITES, was
the proposed listing of 66 corals on the Endangered Species completed with trade in Endangered Grey Crowned Cranes
Act, USA. Comments on documentation circulated by NOAA suspended for Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, and trade in
were provided by five members of the group, and the Chair Vulnerable Black Crowned Cranes suspended for Guinea,
worked closely with the GMSA/US office on the final Sudan, and South Sudan. The trade suspension exists until
submission document, March/April 2013-11-25. the country in question can prove that wild caught trade is not
We are exploring possibilities of a role for the CSG in having a detrimental effect on wild populations and can show
support of the Aichi Targets, by aligning the Global Coral Reef that they can effectively manage and monitor trade through
Monitoring Network (GCRMN) of the International Coral Reef permits. A Single Species Action Plan (SSAP) workshop was
Initiative (ICRI) with the GEOBON/GOOS global reporting conducted for the Grey Crowned Crane.
systems, particularly focused on Target 10 (climate-sensitive We have been following up on the motion passed by the
ecosystems, including coral reefs). 2012 IUCN World Conservation Congress recommending an
We continued consultations with other IUCN bodies on the ecosystem approach to management of Poyang Lake, China;
following issues: Red-listing of Mediterranean species winter home for almost all of the Critically Endangered Siberian
Mussismilia braziliensis (DD), an endemic coral to the Southwest Atlantic.

© R.L.Moura Siberian Cranes. © Zheng Zhongijie

Crane. Among other actions, we are assisting with the diverse. Production is through captive breeding, ranching
development of a water management and monitoring plan for (eggs or juveniles), wild harvest, or various combinations of
the nine sub lakes within Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve. these. The CSG is committed to fostering protection strategies
We co-organized the workshop ‘Cranes and Sustainable where they are the ones most needed within a national
Agriculture’. The workshop, with over 100 participants, issued context, and sustainable use strategies where incentives are
A Call to Action sent to governments of Northeast Asia. A side required to tolerate crocodilians. A key CSG aspiration in
event launched a global network aimed at reducing impacts of countries which trade in crocodilians is that trade is legal,
power lines upon cranes. sustainable and verifiable.
The Crane SG is now working on a practical handbook for Through supporting sustainable use programs, the CSG
reducing conflicts between cranes and agriculture. contributes to economic development within countries
A website has been established including the posting of managing their crocodilian populations for this purpose. The
Global Crane News. CSG also assists by making small grants available to graduate
students working on crocodilians for their research projects
Mr Jim Harris anywhere in the world. In 2013, a further 13 students were
Chair, Crane Specialist Group granted CSG Student Research Assistance Scheme grants,
which makes a total of 65 recipients from 22 countries, since
the scheme was initiated in 2009.
Crocodile Specialist Group Virtually all donations in cash and in-kind received by the
The mission of the Crocodile Specialist Group (CSG) is to CSG come from or through its members. These donations are
assist IUCN and SSC to meet their missions with regard to the made to an NGO (International Association of Crocodile
conservation, management and sustainable use of world Specialists Inc.), whose mission is to support the IUCN SSC
crocodilians. The CSG has 496 members throughout 62 Crocodile Specialist Group.
countries and conducts global working meetings biennially.
Red List assessments were completed for Crocodylus Prof. Grahame Webb
siamensis, Tomistoma schlegelii, C. mindorensis and Chair, Crocodile Specialist Group
C. plaustris. Of the 23 species of living crocodilians, the Red
List assessments now categorize the global populations of six
species as Critically Endangered, one as Endangered and Crop Wild Relative Specialist Group
three as Vulnerable. Our mission is to help ensure that crop wild relatives are
CSG members have been intimately involved in successful adequately conserved and sustainably utilized, to enhance
reintroductions of two species listed as Critically Endangered global food security and aid poverty alleviation. The key
on The IUCN Red List; Alligator sinensis in China and objectives of our Specialist Group are to develop effective
Crocodylus mindorensis in the Philippines. Various proposals strategies for gathering, documenting and disseminating
are being considered to embark on reintroduction programs baseline information on crop wild relatives (CWR); promote
for another species listed as Critically Endangered; Crocodylus the conservation and use of CWR; provide advice, expertise
siamensis in both Thailand and Cambodia. and access to appropriate contacts to enhance the actions
Management programs for the 23 species of crocodilians, of individuals or organizations working on CWR conservation
across some 100 countries, are highly diverse. All species are and use, and increase awareness of the importance of
listed on the Appendices of CITES, with 12 species involved in CWR diversity to agriculture and the environment among
regulated international trade, producing either “classic” governments, institutions, decision-makers and the general
(A. mississippiensis, Crocodylus acutus, C. moreletii, public.
C. niloticus, C. novaeguineae, C. porosus and C. siamensis), At the request of the FAO Commission on Genetic
or caiman (Caiman crocodilus, C. yacare, C. latirostris, Resources for Food and Agriculture, the group prepared an
Melanosuchus niger) skins. The conservation management
programs for these commercially valuable species are highly
Lepidium turczaninowii Lipsky is a wild relative of cabbage crops and garden
cress. Assessed as Critically Endangered on The IUCN Red List, it is
endemic to the surroundings of Feodosija in eastern Crimea and has
Saltwater Crocodile. © Grahame Webb recently only been found in Ilyi Capes. © Victor Melnik

important background document on ‘Conservation and collaboration with the National Centre for Protected Areas. We
sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and are also working on an edition of more than 500 pages of taxa,
agriculture: a toolkit for national strategy development’ which were re-categorized as a first step towards
(Maxted et al. 2013) which targets the conservation of CWR implementing the Red List of Vascular Flora of Cuba.
(and landrace) diversity at the national level. This document The CPSG wants to acknowledge the National Centre for
includes a section on The IUCN Red List emphasizing the Protected Areas and the Cuban National Botanic Garden for
importance of using this system and explaining the basic facilitating our work, as well as to all collaborators to the Flora
process in threat assessment. of Cuba, for giving us their advice.
A project to assess the extent to which floristic diversity of
home gardens in Benin (Africa) contribute to the conservation Dr Angela Leiva
of threatened species and CWR was undertaken (Solako et al. Chair, Cuban Plant Specialist Group
2013) by CWRSG members.
The project ‘PGR Secure – Novel characterization of crop
wild relative and landrace resources as a basis for improved Cup Fungi, Truffles and Allies Specialist
crop breeding’ is currently entering its third year. It aims at Group
researching novel characterization techniques and Fungi are different from animals and plants. They are key
conservation strategies for European CWR (and landrace) players in all major freshwater, marine and terrestrial
diversity, and further to enhance crop improvement by ecosystems. Plants produce, animals consume, but fungi
breeders, as a means of underpinning European food security recycle. Without fungi, animal and plant life on this planet
in the face of climate change. This project has driven the would be unsustainable. Their economic importance is
development of CWR conservation strategies in several enormous and overwhelmingly positive. Like animals and
European countries. plants, they are threatened by climate change, habitat
Members of the group have also been involved in the destruction, pollution and persecution. Unlike animals and
project: ‘Adapting agriculture to climate change: collecting, plants, they are generally overlooked by conservationists and
protecting and preparing crop wild relatives’. It aims at usually have no legal protection. On that basis, this IUCN SSC
identifying and collecting CWR diversity for 84 priority crops Specialist Group aims to promote conservation of cup fungi,
for ex-situ conservation, and preparing them for use in plant truffles and their allies by raising public awareness about fungi
breeding programmes in order to develop new crop varieties and the need to protect them; developing capacity for fungal
adapted to new climates. The project has developed the web- conservation; lobbying to have fungi included in national and
based Harlan and de Wet CWR Inventory. international conservation legislation; developing a better
The CWR Specialist Group continues its Red Listing understanding of what threats exist for fungi; evaluating the
activities and is in the process of preparing Global Red List conservation status of individual species and groups of
assessment for all 1392 species in the Harlan and de Wet species, and exploring how to conserve endangered parasitic
CWR Inventory. fungi, and establishing policy on that issue.
Members of the group were also involved in the Global During 2013, the group, which currently has 12 members,
Earth Observation Biodiversity Observation network (GEOBON) were engaged in a number of key activities and outputs.
to develop essential biodiversity variables for monitoring We reviewed the conservation status of desert truffles (a
progress toward the achievement of Target 13 of the Strategic report of the findings is currently being prepared). We are
Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020, which includes CWR. evaluating CBD National Biodiversity Strategies and Action
In addition, funding has been secured for the in-situ Plans and National Reports for their coverage of fungi; we are
conservation and use of CWR in three ACP countries of the contacting all CBD SBSSTA National Focal Points in person
SADC region (Mauritius, South Africa, and Zambia). The aim of to raise awareness of the importance of fungi. We support
this project is to enhance the link between conservation and the International Society for Fungal Conservation, including
use of CWR in the SADC region as a means of underpinning organizational help and participated in the ‘Third International
regional food security and mitigating the predicted adverse
impact of climate change.
Dr Ehsan Dulloo and Dr Nigel Maxted Escobaria cubensis. © Mikhail S. Romanov

Co-chairs, Crop Wild Relative Specialist Group
Cuban Plant Specialist Group

The Mission of the Cuban Plant Specialist Group (CPSG) is to
evaluate the conservation status of Cuban native plants, and to
give advice to decision-makers on the necessary
measurements for their conservation. The CPSG follows the
National Strategy for Conservation of Plants (2011–2020).
The annual meeting of members was held in the National
Botanic Garden and was dedicated to threatened genera,
endemic to Cuba. This year, it also updated the list of
members and presidency for the years 2013–2016.
CPSG members contributed to the publication of the book
TOP 50 – the 50 most threatened plants of Cuba, thanks to a

We have a new structure for the current quadrennium with
two co-chairs, John Donaldson and Patrick Griffith; two vice
chairs, Cristina Lopez-Gallego and Michael Calonje; and
DeWet Bosenberg as the Red List Authority.
Planning for the current and future years is underway; we
continue to organize international meetings with the CSG
every three years, the next one scheduled for Colombia in
2015. A conference website was launched last year to
coordinate the conference. We are completing the Red List
Index based on the 2010 assessments and follow up. We are
also planning workshops for 2014 in the USA (Montgomery
Botanical Center) and Thailand (Nong Nooch Tropical Botanic
Garden) to prepare for the next IUCN Red List update in 2015.
All of this activity supports direct conservation
programmes and actions by CSG members. In that area we
are excited to report that three current Save Our Species
Terfezia arenaria (a desert truffle). © A. Rodríguez / www.trufamania.com (SOS) funded projects are focused on cycads; in South Africa,
Belize, and Colombia. These projects are providing direct help
Congress on Fungal Conservation’ (Turkey, November 2013); in the areas of enforcement, monitoring, and ex-situ
we also support the Arab Society for Fungal Conservation. propagation techniques.
We have contributed to the Global Fungal Red List The CSG gratefully acknowledges SOS – Save Our
Initiative, and have evaluated the conservation status of 30 Species for this project support, and also Shenzhen Fairy
ascomycetes (in addition to the desert truffles already Lake Botanic Garden, SANBI, and Montgomery Botanical
mentioned); mostly species associated with ash and elm Center for in-kind support of the activities mentioned above.
(trees with rapidly declining populations in Europe and
elsewhere). We held two workshops at the Congress in Dr John Donaldson and Dr Patrick Griffith
Turkey; on raising awareness of fungi, and on preparing Co-chairs, Cycad Specialist Group
assessments that are compatible with The IUCN Red List
(using desert truffles as an example).
Zamia decumbens – Critically Endangered Cycad known from a limited area
In terms of education and outreach, we are adding in Belize. © Dr Chad Husby
information about fungi to selected pages in the English
language version of Wikipedia, and lobbying to include fungi in
the National Curriculum for schools in England.
We would like to acknowledge the Mohamed Bin Zayed
Species Conservation Fund for its generous support of our
work on desert truffles.
David Minter
Chair, Cup Fungi, Truffles and Allies Specialist Group
Cycad Specialist Group

The Cycad Specialist Group (CSG) made great progress in
2013, and has further important progress planned for 2014
and 2015. Addressing the world’s most threatened group of
plants, the mission of the CSG is to coordinate worldwide
expertise in cycads in order to conserve these living
treasures. Recent progress meets this mission strategically
and directly.
A major accomplishment of the CSG last year was the
launch of the online ‘World List of Cycads’. At the most recent
CSG meeting (Shenzhen, China, 2011), it was acknowledged
that the accelerating scope and intensity of cycad study often
outpaces print publication. Thus, the CSG decided to
maintain an online World List of valid and accepted species,
updated in real time as the science of taxonomy improves.
This authoritative classification is essential to all other cycad
conservation action.
Other major advancements this year include the
publication of the CITES and Cycads: a user’s guide, (Kew,
2013), and Building living plant collections for conservation: a
guide for public gardens (BGCI, 2014) with Inputs and co-
authorship by CSG members.

Deer Specialist Group
The mission of the Deer Specialist Group is to contribute to
biodiversity conservation through the improvement of the
welfare and sustainability of deer populations around the world.
One of our main tasks for the next period will be to assess
the 71 deer species as part of the Global Mammal
Assessment. We started the quadrennium (2013–2016) by
appointing our membership and organizing the assessment
activities. Two new Red List Authorities have been selected
and integrated into the DSG; the RLA for new world species is
Dr Eveline Zanetti and the RLA for the old world species is
Dr Sarah Brook. We are seeking additional membership
expertise to assess all deer species. The last assessment was
completed in 2008 and we are certain new analysis will shift
the status of some species. Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer). © Diver/Loon Specialist Group
Also in 2013, we attended the International Mammal

Congress in Belfast, Ireland, and met with SSC staff and other Diver/Loon Specialist Group
SG chairs to standardize our selection criteria, species Our aim is to foster the conservation of the genus Gavia
reassessment, discuss taxonomy issues, and establish (Divers/Loons) and their habitats around the Northern
timelines for our work. We will follow the taxonomy outlined in Hemisphere where they occur. Our primary objective is to
the cervid chapter of the Handbook of Mammals of the World. facilitate communication among loon researchers worldwide,
In consultation with our RLAs and SSC staff, we have as well as with the active, established volunteer conservation
decided to shorten the Red List assessment process; we will organizations in the states or provinces where divers/loons
not reassess species whose status has changed significantly occur throughout the world. The Diver/Loon Specialist Group
in the past five years. We will reassess species who meet the currently has a membership of 40 professionals, and more than
following criteria: a) species that DSG members believe have 2,000 citizen loon enthusiasts. Several affiliated self-sustaining
shown dramatic changes in distribution and numbers over the volunteer loon organizations in North America and Europe (USA
past five years; b) species where increased knowledge of their 14 states, Canada and Scandinavia, Iceland, UK) are engaged
populations and distributions might lead to changes in IUCN in various activities, such as loon population and breeding
Red List status; or c) new species as a result of revised success monitoring, public education and fundraising. Each
taxonomy. affiliate distributes an annual report on their activities.
We have selected Dr Patricia Black de Decima as editor of Preservation and restoration of breeding loon populations
the DSG Newsletter. Our annual newsletter contains articles, in a large number of lakes where expanding human
abstracts from regional workshops, and news submitted by development (housing, recreation) takes place is a high
our members, it is available here. priority. Public education is an important part of our
Other ongoing activities include the regular update of our conservation effort. Research activities include banding of
web page; output of deer related materials to the general individual birds; following their movements; determining site
public, and the distribution of relevant articles published by fidelity, longevity and determination of body burden of toxic
our members. Susana Gonzlez took part in a TV documentary substances in loon populations. Scientific workshops are the
in Uruguay ‘The Last Pampas Deer’, which can be seen here. major medium of communication among members and
affiliates of the D/L Specialist Group. Two scientific workshops
Susana González and William McShea were held in 2013; a one day workshop in New Hampshire,
Co-chairs, Deer Specialist Group USA, and a two day workshop in Finland.
Joseph J. Kerekes
Pampas Deer. © Susana González Chair, IUCN SSC Diver/Loon Specialist Group
Dragonfly Specialist Group

Our aim is to foster the conservation of dragonflies (Odonata)
and their habitats globally; by assessing their threat status
according to The IUCN Red List; education of non-specialists
(field guides, workshops, publications etc.) and using
dragonflies as a flagship species for monitoring water quality.
The group currently consists of 44 members from 28
countries.
Currently, 2,752 dragonflies are listed on The IUCN Red
List, which is nearly half of all known species. In 2013, over 150
new or updated dragonfly assessments were published, while
21 species are flagged as ‘out-dated’. Most Australian and
North American dragonflies are not on The IUCN Red List, but
a comprehensive database and all information for assessing
the global threat status is available. We are currently searching

for ways to transfer the information without too much doubling- Duck Specialist Group
up of work. The Duck Specialist Group is a global network of duck
A meeting of the Dragonfly Specialist Group was held in specialists working on the monitoring, research, conservation
June in parallel with the World Wide Dragonfly Symposium in and management of wild duck populations. The DSG strives to
Germany. The focus was on South America, where we lack facilitate effective communication and transfer of knowledge and
assessments and information; hence a sub-group has formed, best practice between members and others with an interest in
chaired by Joachim Hoffmann, which is involved in regional duck management and conservation. It works closely with the
assessments. Threatened Waterfowl Specialist Group (TWSG), whose focus
A meeting with a focus on African Odonatology was held in includes globally threatened duck species.
November 2013 in Stellenbosch, South Africa, where we The focus during 2013 was the facilitation of activities
discussed all necessary changes, new assessments and supporting European seaduck conservation. To this end, the
updates for the African dragonflies (to be entered in the SIS in DSG supported the Secretariat of the African-Eurasian
2014). Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) to develop action planning for
In February 2013, a project on the Amani Flatwing the Vulnerable Long-tailed Duck, for which a workshop will be
(Amanipodagrion gilliesi) assessed as Critically Endangered on held during 2014. A core group was established to develop the
The IUCN Red List, was started in collaboration with the European Seaduck Working Group, which will help to
Tanzanian Forest Conservation Group and the Amani Nature coordinate and strategically develop future seaduck monitoring
Reserve, and funded by the Mohamed bin Zayed Species and research in Europe.
Conservation Fund. The project aims to raise awareness of the A workshop on monitoring needs for breeding duck
rarity of the dragonfly and on the connection of biodiversity, populations in Europe was held at the European Bird Census
environmental quality and human well being. Council conference in September. The outcomes of this
Another project funded by the Mohamed bin Zayed workshop will be used to take forward more coordinated
Species Conservation Fund, focused on the Kauri Redcoat monitoring of breeding ducks in Europe.
Damselfly (Xanthocnemis sobrina), which is endemic to the Ongoing support continued to be provided to Wetlands
New Zealand North Island. It is the only representative of its International outputs such as Waterbird Population Estimates
group in the country, assessed as Data Deficient on The IUCN and the African-Eurasian Waterbird Monitoring Partnership.
Red List. The project aims to clarify some uncertainties around A new logo was finalized, featuring the extinct Labrador
the taxonomy of the species and to assess its current Duck (Camptorhynchus labradorius).
conservation status. We would like to gratefully acknowledge the continued
We are aiming to have all dragonflies on The IUCN Red List financial support of the Federation of Associations for Hunting
by 2016. This requires a lot of work, and involves many and Conservation of the EU (FACE).
meetings (especially with regards to the assessment of South
America’s dragonflies), this will become difficult without Richard Hearn
external funding. Chair, Duck Specialist Group
The Powder Blue Damselfly (Arabicnemis caerulea) was
featured as an Amazing Species on The IUCN Red List
website, and the Amani Flatwing (Amanipodagrion gilliesi) will Eastern African Plant Red List Authority
be featured in ‘No More Endlings: saving species one story at I am a Kenyan based in the National Museums of Kenya,
a time’ by Allison Hegan. In South Africa, the recently Nairobi, and work throughout Tropical Africa. I am an Honorary
established Dragonfly Biotic Index (DBI) is becoming popular Research Associate of the Royal Botanic Gardens, KEW. The
for environmental impact assessments and habitat monitoring. Eastern African Plant Red List Authority (EAPRLA) has 19
members from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda,
Viola Clausnitzer Ethiopia, DRC and South Sudan, plus four expatriate members
Chair, Dragonfly Specialist Group from UK and US. Since the Group’s inception, we have held
eight workshops and assessed over 1600 species, mainly
Gilded Presba (Syncordulia legator). © Viola Clausnitzer
from the EArc and EACF hotspot of Kenya and Tanzania. We
have refined our assessment process and we are now
beginning to include taxa from the rest of Eastern Africa.
Steller’s Eider (Polysticta stelleri). Background – King Eider (Somateria

spectabilis). © Jan Pedersen

In March 2013, the 12th Red Listing workshop was held; 218 population dynamics, population genetics, management and
species were assessed and these assessments were entered conservation. The ESG actively initiates and supports
into SIS by Dr Henk Beentje, as well as other assessments from programs for research, training, monitoring, management and
workshop number 6, where a total of 366 species were conservation of the world’s seven wild equid species and their
assessed. Older assessments are awaiting further review. habitats. We are responsible for providing species
Funding received from the Mohamed bin Zayed (MBZ) Species assessments for the IUCN Red list of Threatened Species,
Conservation Fund, allowed us to hold workshop number 8 in facilitating the strategic planning for wild equid conservation,
early 2014, focusing on the family Acanthaceae. A project producing action plans and policy guidelines, as well as
proposal for work in South Sudan was approved by the CEPF providing information to CITES.
Afromontane Hotspot program; a project proposal submitted to A critical aspect of conserving wild equids and their
the MacArthur Foundation was rejected. ecosystems is capacity building in range states. In Ethiopia,
Our future aims are to expand the group; to secure funding Fanuel Kebede completed his PhD on African wild ass and
for workshops and field activities; to improve our Red Listing Grevy’s zebra with distinction, and the examiners wrote that it
process, to minimize the delay between assessments and was “an excellent thesis which makes a profound contribution
listing; to increase awareness of threatened plants in the to the conservation of two highly endangered species in
region; and to ensure that this leads to action and policy Ethiopia.” He has resumed his job as a Senior Wildlife Expert in
changes within member countries (e.g. the inclusion of all the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority.
threatened plant species on the schedules of the new Kenyan An MSc training program in Wildlife Ecology has been
Wildlife Act). established with Hamelmalo Agricultural College in Eritrea.
Training range state nationals in behavioral ecology, population
Quentin Luke dynamics, and ecosystems ecology is fundamental to improving
Chair, Eastern African Plant Red List Authority the conservation status of the Critically Endangered African wild
ass and the biodiversity of its arid habitat in Denkelia.
Futsum Hagos has started his two-year MSc program at
Equid Specialist Group the University of Nairobi. Dr Albano Beja-Pereira of CIBIO in
The mission of the Equid Specialist Group (ESG) is to conserve Portugal is coordinating research on the population genetics of
biological diversity by developing and executing programs to African wild ass in Ethiopia and Eritrea. Preliminary analyses
study, save, restore and wisely manage wild equids and their indicate that there is no hybrid breeding between African wild
habitats. Our greatest challenge is improving the conservation ass and domestic donkey. The Prezwalski’s horse was down-
status of wild equids, to sustain their ecosystems and to listed from CR to EN and the Mountain zebra was down listed
enhance the livelihoods of local communities. from EN to VU.
In order to achieve these long-term goals, we work towards We are very grateful to our donors who have provided
the following objectives; to work with scientists, government essential support to wild equid research, training and
personnel and local residents in the countries where wild conservation programs; Ecohealth Alliance (formerly Wildlife
zebras, asses, and horses exist; to help raise funds for equid Trust), Saint Louis Zoological Park, Sea World and Busch
research and conservation programs; to secure funding for the Gardens Conservation Fund, Gilman International
training of nationals in equid range states, and to collaborate Conservation Program, Basel Zoo, Liberec Zoo and Plock Zoo.
with and assist other IUCN SSC Specialist Groups.
The ESG is a worldwide (23 countries), science-based Dr Patricia D. Moehlman
network of experts on equid behavior, ecology, physiology, Chair, Equid Specialist Group
Impatiens cribbii – Endangered on The IUCN Red List. © Quentin Luke Grevy’s Zebra (Equus grevyi) female and her foal. © Patricia D. Moehlman

Flamingo Specialist Group regions, countries and organisations, allows gaps in
The Flamingo Specialist Group (FSG) is a global network of membership to be identified, and provides an efficient
flamingo specialists (both scientists and non-scientists) mechanism for keeping members’ details up-to-date. In 2014,
concerned with the study, monitoring, management and members will be surveyed to determine expertise and their
conservation of the world’s six flamingo species. Its role is to recommendations for the future of the FSG.
actively promote flamingo research, conservation and Thanks to the hard work of FSG member Paul Rose, the
education worldwide by encouraging information exchange FSG’s Facebook page is an active source of flamingo news
and cooperation among these specialists. The group is and chat. The page has over 1,000 followers and an average
coordinated from the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, of five posts every week.
UK as part of the IUCN SSC/Wetlands International Waterbird
Network. FSG members include experts in both in-situ and Rebecca Lee
ex-situ flamingo conservation and a wide-range of related Chair, Flamingo Specialist Group
fields, including breeding biology, infectious disease,
toxicology, movement tracking and data management. There
are currently 171 members, representing 138 organisations in Freshwater Crab and Crayfish Specialist
43 countries. Group (FCCSG)
During 2013, the list serve continued to provide an active Our aims are to foster the conservation of all freshwater crabs
channel of communication for members, with over 80 (1,300 species) and crayfish (569 species) worldwide; to act as
messages posted during the year concerning varied subjects the Red List Authority for these species; to update their IUCN
such as the ageing of flamingos, the 2013 Red List update, Red List species assessments, and to educate non-specialists
botulism, breeding and ringing reports from around the world, about all aspects of this taxonomic group. The FCCSG
and many other subjects of concern to both in-situ and ex-situ currently consists of 25 members from 15 countries. Our
flamingo conservationists. website can be accessed here.
The next edition of the FSG Newsletter, Flamingo 19, has We are currently updating a number of freshwater crab
been compiled and will be ready for printing in spring 2014. conservation assessments. These include Adeleana chapmani
Laurie Conrad, Catherine King and colleagues have been from Borneo, two species of Karstama from Bali, Achlidon
busy organising the ‘Third International Flamingo Symposium’, agrestis from Mexico, Spirocarcinus garthi and
which will be held on 5–9 October 2014 at the Bahia Resort Potamocarcinus darienensis from Panama, Hypolobocera
and Hotel in San Diego, California. The symposium caputii from Ecuador and Peru, Valdivia haraldi from Brazil,
presentations will cover a range of topics including basic and four species of Potamon from Greece. The list of newly-
ecological studies, wild population accounts, and zoological described species of freshwater crabs from Africa, the
behaviour and husbandry studies. Workshops will focus on Mediterranean, Central and South America, and Asia
improving collaborations and in-situ conservation. The continues to grow and these are all targeted for initial
dedicated symposium website can be accessed here. conservation assessments and inclusion in The IUCN Red List.
An FSG membership database was produced and all We have completed distribution maps for all 298 species of
contact details of FSG members were verified. The database freshwater crabs found in the Neotropcial region, and
provides an easy method for identifying members in particular presented the initial findings at a conference in Costa Rica,
and the findings were published in Zookeys. The next step is to
Newly-ringed Greater Flamingo in Algeria. © Samraoui Boudjema get these species distribution maps vetted, and to make them
available on The IUCN Red List website. We served as
Evaluator for the global Red List assessments of over 800
species of freshwater shrimps.
Other initiatives include fostering the global Red List
assessments for the 75 species of anomuran freshwater crabs
(Aeglidae), and for the 500 species of Branchiopoda (fairy
shrimp, clam shrimp, tadpole shrimp and Cladocera). Both
groups include species facing immediate threats, and both
include species of economic and ecological importance. The
long-term goal is to expand the FCCSG to include these
freshwater crustacean
groups. We worked on the
initiation of SSC Strategic
Conservation Plans aimed
at conserving Critically
Endangered species of
crayfish in Tennessee,USA;
but this project is currently
on hold, pending new
research on the status of
Giri Putri Cave Crab (Karstama

balicus) from a Cave in Bali,
Indonesia. © Tony Whitten

the target species. Threatened species of freshwater crabs in assessments. In total, 322 freshwater fish species have been
Singapore and Borneo are also being considered as possible reassessed or assessed for the first time and the information
subjects of species conservation planning projects. presented will assist with the identification of Key Biodiversity
Areas. The FishBase for Africa team (Royal Museum for
Neil Cumberlidge Central Africa, Belgium) has carried out IUCN Red List
Chair, Freshwater Crab and Crayfish Specialist Group assessments for 94 species inhabiting the Lake Tanganyika
basin; including species assessed for the first time as well as
reassessments. The Chico Mendes Institute (ICMBio for its
Freshwater Fish Specialist Group (FFSG) acronym in Portuguese) is the Brazilian governmental
After nine years leading the FFSG, Professor Gordon McGregor organization in charge of National Red List Assessments. In
Reid stepped down as its Global Chair. Dr Richard Sneider 2010, ICMBio signed a collaboration agreement with IUCN to
(CEO of One World Apparel LLC and Unger Fabrik LLC, assess 10,000 species of Brazilian fauna by 2014 using The
member of the Chairman’s Council of Conservation IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. The Anguillid Specialist
International) took on the role of Global Chair in December 2013. Sub-Group held a workshop, hosted by the Zoological
The mission of the FFSG is to achieve conservation and Society of London, to assess 15 of the 19 anguillid species
sustainable use of freshwater fishes and their habitats through and sub-species under The IUCN Red List Criteria. Prior to
generating and disseminating sound scientific knowledge; the workshop only five anguillid species had been globally
creating widespread awareness of their values, and influencing assessed and it was widely agreed that there was a need for
decision-making processes at all levels. FFSG members are a full assessment of these fishes. The group is now focussed
very active in the field of ichthyology; ranging from studies on on completing the draft assessments for peer review and
reducing fishing pressure on Labeobarbus species in Ethiopia submission to The IUCN Red List Unit.
to strengthening food security and biodiversity in the face of Over the last twelve months, the FFSG South Asia office
dams and climate change impacts in the greater Mekong has initiated several programmes including setting up the
Basin. Members are also focusing their efforts on finding Freshwater Fish Conservation Network of South Asia;
sustainable harvesting methods for aquatic resources, tackling organizing workshops and meetings on freshwater fish
invasive species, freshwater fish systematics and ex-situ conservation, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites and Aichi 2020
management, just to name a few key areas of activity. targets, and carrying out India’s first alien fish eradication
The FFSG have been busy preparing two new initiatives to programme. The office has also developed and disseminated
be launched in 2014. The ‘Global Freshwater Fish BioBlitz’, a a number of education and awareness materials including
citizen science project, which involves the public in wildlife posters, t-shirts and CDs. The first issue of their quarterly
monitoring by submitting their observations (photographs of newsletter, MIN, was released in September 2013.
specimens and location) of freshwater fish in their natural FFSG has been generously supported by Chester Zoo, UK
habitat. The FFSG are also partners for World Fish Migration (North of England Zoological Society) since 2004. As well as
Day 2014 (24 May). The aim is to improve the publics’ providing office space, a salary for the Programme Officer and
understanding of the importance of migratory fish and their logistical support, funds have been allocated each year for
needs, as well as healthy rivers. A new website was launched running the FFSG’s projects. The FFSG would like to take this
to raise the profile of the FFSG and improve awareness of opportunity to say a big thank you to Chester Zoo for all their
freshwater fish conservation. The website covers the scope of support to date.
FFSG’s work and key activities as well as providing a range of
resources. Dr Richard Sneider
FFSG members participated in The IUCN Red List Chair, Freshwater Fish Specialist Group
freshwater biodiversity assessment workshops; part of the
‘Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment and Conservation
Priorities for the Mediterranean Basin Hotspot’ project. As Iran Freshwater Plant Specialist Group (FPSG)
is inhabited by characteristically European species, with some The FPSG exists to promote and further the conservation of
South and Central Asian ichthyofauna, it was included in the wetland-dependent plants and the habitats upon which they
depend. To do this, we need to identify which species
(estimated to be at least 20,000 worldwide) are truly
Celestial Pearl Danio (Danio margaritatus). © Dr Tyson R. Robert dependent upon wetlands; review their status against The
IUCN Red List Criteria and then address their conservation
needs. At the time of writing, the FPSG has 88 members in 46
countries.
The FPSG was formally established in 2012, with the
support of the Fondation Tour du Valat and Plantlife. Activities
to-date have mainly involved setting in place the processes
and structures necessary for the group to be able to work
effectively. A hosting agreement has been signed with the
Wildlife and Wetlands Trust, which will enable the FPSG to
apply for core funding, as well as benefitting both
organisations in their everyday operation. Melanie Bilz has
taken on the role of Red List Authority for the group. Dr
Hossein Akhani has agreed to coordinate a subgroup within
the FPSG, concentrating on the conservation of halophytes,

members who are at academic institutions also encourage
their research students to undertake Galapagos projects.
The entire endemic vascular plant flora of the Galapagos
has been red-listed, as have the marine algae. Following five
years of field work, the known lichen flora of the islands has
more than doubled; IUCN Red List assessments of lichens are
now under way, and plans are being made for a re-evaluation
of the endemic vascular flora.
Dr Alan Tye
Chair, Galapagos Plant Specialist Group
Galliformes Specialist Group (GSG)

Isoetes fluitans – Endangered and endemic to a small area in Galicia in In early 2013, this Specialist Group became a full
north-west Spain. © Klaus van de Weyer amalgamation of five previous ones, with the inclusion of the
Cracids of South and Meso-America. This brings together
global concerns about all the 286 galliformes species, and a
particularly those of inland wetlands. Nick Stewart has agreed worldwide community of about 280 people actively working on
to coordinate a link between the FPSG and specialists working their conservation and sustainable use.
on the conservation of charophytes. Under a project funded by The focus of the GSG must be the 25% of our c.280
Biofresh, an initial global list of wetland-dependent vascular species that are currently listed as threatened on The IUCN
plants, bryophytes and algae has been established. The Red List. Galliformes’ habitats, especially forests, are being
process of conversion of this tool into a relational database is disrupted and many species are also over-hunted. Whilst our
being developed with support from the Centre for Ecology and tropical and subtropical species of Asia and the Americas
Hydrology in the UK. remain under-researched, there is a wealth of knowledge and
expertise available on the hunted grouse and introduced
Richard Lansdown pheasant species of the Northern Hemisphere. So the GSG
Chair, Freshwater Plant Specialist Group remains dedicated to making up this deficit through capacity-
building, using its network to transfer knowledge and
expertise: recently, for instance, from India to Nepal and
Galapagos Plant Specialist Group (GPSG) Pakistan, and from China and Thailand to Myanmar.
The GPSG is a discussion group for people interested in the To spread the word about galliformes conservation more
conservation of the Galapagos flora whose members consist generally, the GSG produces a main newsletter G@llinformed
of the world’s experts in the field of Galapagos plant as well as Grouse News and the Cracid Bulletin, all of which
conservation, and is therefore in a good position to formulate include project reports, technical pieces and alerts to recent
explicit views on conservation policy. The group develops literature. The GSG website contains an archive of all past
conservation priorities for Galapagos plants, including those issues. Papers from the most recent International Grouse
for applied research, survey and management, and Symposium (Japan 2012) have now been published in the
communicates these priorities in the form of advice to the journal Wildlife Biology.
relevant research and conservation institutions on the islands. A major concern in 2013 has been to seek information and
Research is carried out by GPSG members employed in promote action on the plight of Edwards’s Pheasant (Lophura
Galapagos and by others as visiting scientists. GPSG edwardsi), which is Critically Endangered and endemic to a
small and heavily impacted area of central Vietnam. Matt
Grainger (Newcastle University, UK) is moderating an email
Justicia galapagana. © Alan Tye
consortium for the GSG, designed to bring together key
Edwards’s Pheasant (Lophura edwardsi). © Niti Sukumal

experts including breeders of this species in Europe, Japan
and North America. Their aim is to establish the purity and
diversity of captives through DNA screening, thereby enabling
Chris Holmes (Houston Zoo, USA), as the new International
Studbook Keeper, to manage the global captive population to
best effect in case re-introductions are necessary in future.
Philip McGowan (Newcastle University, UK) has recently led a
CEPF-funded workshop under the auspices of the GSG for
many different stakeholders in Vietnam. An agreed Strategic
Conservation Plan, to be managed by a Vietnam-based
Working Group, is imminent. As no wild birds have been
recorded since 2000, GIS modelling is being used to identify
priority areas for future field surveys.
Peter Garson and Ilse Storch

Co-chairs, Galliformes Specialist Group
Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group

The Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group (GOSG) seeks to
understand and provide technical support to conservation Okapi camera-trapped in Virunga National Park, DRC. © ZSL
issues facing giraffe and okapi worldwide. The GOSG was

formerly approved in March 2013, since then a flurry of activity We would like to thank IUCN’s Simon Stuart, Mike
has resulted. Dr Noëlle Kümpel (okapi) and Dr Julian Fennessy Hoffmann and Rachel Roberts for their support in establishing
(giraffe) have been appointed as the Co-Chairs of the GOSG, this new and exciting Specialist Group! The Group’s activities
and the Zoological Society of London (okapi) and Giraffe are generously funded by a host of organisations, to whom we
Conservation Foundation (giraffe) have been appointed as host are very grateful.
organisations for the respective species.
The GOSG, ZSL and the Institut Congolais pour la Dr Noelle Kumpel and Dr Julian Fennessy
Conservation de la Nature (ICCN), under the patronage of the Co-chairs, Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group
Governor of Orientale Province, co-hosted a multi-stakeholder
workshop from 22–25 May 2013 in Kisangani, central
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to develop the first-ever Global Tree Specialist Group
conservation strategy for the okapi, within the framework of The Secretariat of the IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group
the ICCN national strategy for biodiversity conservation in (GTSG) is hosted by Botanic Gardens Conservation
protected areas, and following the IUCN guidelines for International (BGCI), a member of The IUCN Red List
strategic planning. Around 30 participants from across the Partnership. Membership of the GTSG was renewed in 2013
range, government representatives (including site directors and and there are now 57 active members of the Group. New web
key field workers from all main protected areas), scientists, pages for the Group were developed in 2013, and can be
NGO workers and community chiefs, reviewed the okapi accessed here.
status review that had been drafted by ZSL, carried out a Red In collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
List assessment of the species and drafted the strategy. The (RBGKew), the University of Bournemouth and other partners,
group reassessed the okapi as Endangered based on an GTSG continues to build a working list of the world’s woody
observed population size reduction of ≥50% over the last three plant species as a basis for evaluation of their conservation
generations and this was officially announced in November. status by 2020. Fundraising to undertake this comprehensive
The GOSG co-hosted (with the GCF and the Government assessment is ongoing.
of Kenya) the second Giraffe Indaba in Nairobi, Kenya during Data collection and analysis of the conservation status of
September. Attended by 45 people from across thirteen trees of the Northern Andes was completed in 2013, with
nations, the Indaba provides a platform for researchers, publication of The Red List of trees of montane forests of the
managers, governments and students to present and discuss northern Andes in preparation following extensive review. The
giraffe and okapi conservation and management issues, whilst work was undertaken by Natalia Tejedor as part of a PhD
planning for future opportunities over the coming years. thesis at the University of Bournemouth. Natalia, working with
The first two GOSG members meetings were held in a network of botanists in Latin America, has mapped all the
Kisangani (okapi) and Nairobi (giraffe) respectively. The ability species as a basis for IUCN Red List assessments and the
to bring together many of the new members to discuss all impacts of climate change.
aspects of operations to plan out the quadrennium was The Red List of Betulaceae will also be published in 2014,
invaluable. Activities included planning the Red List following assessments carried out by BGCI during 2013, in
assessments for giraffe in 2014, and the species conservation association with members of the GTSG. Kirsty Shaw has
status report, to name but a few. In addition, an evening of managed this work.
public talks on okapi conservation was hosted by ZSL in BGCI also continues to work with the University of Ghent
London in November, to highlight the decline of arguably Botanical Garden on the Hydrangeaceae Red List.
DRC’s most iconic species. A new joint ‘Giraffid’ newsletter is During 2013, BGCI has endeavoured to ensure that all
taking shape, and the GOSG website is nearly complete. conservation assessments of tree species undertaken by the

working alongside the Medicinal Plant Specialist Group and
Crop Wild Relative Specialist Group. A selection was made of
1,500 timber tree species to be assessed as part of this IUCN
priority project.
In October 2013, a PhD studentship was initiated at the
University of Bournemouth, jointly supervised by Adrian
Newton and Sara Oldfield, Co-chairs of the GTSG. The title of
Jennifer Mark’s PhD thesis is Evaluating Extinction Risk of the
World’s Timber Tree Species. Jennifer will reassess the
conservation status of the commercially valuable timber
species that were included in the 1998 publication The World
List of Threatened Trees and subsequently added to The IUCN
Red List. She will also assess the ecosystem services provided
by these species.
Ms Sara Oldfield and Adrian Newton

Co-chairs, Global Trees Specialist Group
Goose Specialist Group

The Goose Specialist Group of IUCN SSC and Wetlands
A Madagascan Ebony species – Dr George Schatz, a member of the GTSG, International seeks to strengthen contacts between all
is assessing the conservation status of ebonies worldwide. © Richard researchers on migratory goose populations in the northern
Randrianaivo hemisphere. The group currently consists of 601 members
from 54 countries. Our website can be accessed here.
GTSG are fully compliant with the data requirements for The 15th meeting of the Goose Specialist Group was held
inclusion on The IUCN Red List. An initial step is to enter data in the Palace of Congress of Arcachon, France, from 8–11
into the IUCN Species Information Service (SIS) database. This January 2013, and focused on Branta species: Brent Geese,
was undertaken for all species of Magnoliaceae and Barnacle Geese and Red-breasted Geese. In the Bassin d’
Betulaceae in 2013. Arcachon, several tens of thousands of Brent geese (Branta
As a further development of the recent Red List assessment b.bernicla) overwinter. The meeting was attended by 66
of tree species in the cloud forests of Mexico, a major mapping participants from 17 different countries. The proceedings of
effort has been completed for Mexican tree species. This has this meeting were printed as a special issue of the British
been undertaken by staff of ECOSUR, Chiapas, Mexico, in a journal Wildfowl. In 2013 two issues of the Goose Bulletin were
project funded by CONABIO. This mapping data will be used to produced; Nr. 16 appeared in May and Nr. 17 in November,
refine IUCN Red List assessments of Mexican tree species. they can be downloaded here.
In March 2013, Sara Oldfield formed part of the IUCN The 16th meeting of the Goose Specialist Group will be
Delegation to the CITES COP in Thailand. The GTSG took part held in Beijing, China from 22–28 November 2014, and will be
in the development of IUCN’s Plants for People project in 2013, hosted by the Research Centre for Eco-Environmental
© Gilles Leray

Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The meeting grasshoppers in the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge, in cooperation
will include a field visit to Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve with the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural
within the Yangtze River floodplain. Assets in the Republic of Armenia. A student from Bangor
University (Arthur Miller) performed a comprehensive mapping
Barwolt S. Ebbinge of the Endangered Calliphona alluaudi on Gran Canaria, and
Chair, Goose Specialist Group its response to recent wildfires.
The Bozdagh Grasshopper (Chorthippus bozdaghi) was
profiled as an Amazing Species on The IUCN Red List website.
Grasshopper Specialist Group The Lord Howe Island Stick Insect (Dryococelus australis) has
The mission of our group is to foster the conservation of been chosen as one of ten species on the road to recovery by
Orthopteroid insects (grasshoppers, katydids, crickets, ARKive. Our newsletter (Newshopper) will now be edited by
mantids, stick insects) and their habitats around the world. The Mark Bushell (Bristol Zoo).
group currently consists of 71 members from 31 countries.
Our website can be accessed here. Axel Hochkirch
The first Red List workshop took place from 11 to 14 April Chair, Grasshopper Specialist Group
2013 in Leiden (The Netherlands). In 2013, 60 new
assessments were published. Most of these were for European
Orthoptera and some Tanzanian endemics. Currently, our Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group (GWSG)
IUCN Red List assessments focus on European Orthoptera With more than 40 members from 20 countries, the GWSG
(we aim to complete these by 2016), South African bush- seeks to promote the conservation, management and wise
crickets (aiming for completion in 2015), and East African use of groupers and their relatives (Serranidae and
endemic grasshoppers. Epinephelidae) and wrasses (Labridae). Our goal is to enhance
The Crau Plain Grasshopper was recently assessed as awareness of the vulnerability of this group of 1,000 or so
Critically Endangered on The IUCN Red List. A conservation fishes, and to use good science to enable decisions and
project (coordinated by Laurent Tatin and Antoine Foucart) actions to sustain their populations.
conducted a mapping programme in 2012 and 2013, which 2013 was a busy year for us. A key event was the
indicated that only four subpopulations of this species remain publication of the outcomes and implications of our global
in the wild. In 2013, three students from Trier University IUCN Red List assessment of groupers. This publication
(Andreas Schuld, Tobias Seibel, Jens Schmitt) studied the received good press coverage. In October, we chaired a joint
population ecology and habitat preferences of this species. FAO/Caribbean Fishery Management Council workshop on
The plans of the French Army to construct new weapon spawning aggregations, paying special attention to the
storage buildings on the site of the most important Endangered Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus). We also
subpopulation has been prevented by an intervention of our contributed to the US government consultation on this species
Specialist Group and the IUCN French Committee, but it is in relation to its consideration under the Endangered Species
possible that another part of this amazing landscape will be Act. As part of this work, we produced an undated review on
affected. A Strategic Planning Workshop is planned for June the species’ global status. In January we conducted a study in
2014, in cooperation with the IUCN SSC Species Conservation the Bahamas, which sadly confirmed the extirpation of the
Planning Sub-Committee. The status report is currently being first-ever scientific record of a spawning aggregation for the
written and a population monitoring programme will be species.
developed. On other groupers, a long study on the reproductive
Two students from Trier University (Svenja Krone, Sabrina biology of the goliath grouper (E. itajara) showed among other
Legner) have studied the habitat preferences of threatened novel findings, movements to aggregation sites of up to 500
Orthoptera on Mahé (Seychelles), to provide information for km and patterns of new moon spawning in relation to night-
their conservation in cooperation with the Island Conservation time noise production, or ‘booming’. Work continues by
Society of the Seychelles and supported by the Mohamed bin members on the brown grouper (Epinephelus marginatus),
Zayed Species Conservation Fund. Two other students (Hagen along the French Mediterranean coast, with further moratoria
Seeboth, Laura Darimont) started an inventory of the sought for this and other groupers, while a study on a small
Seselphisis visenda. © Axel Hochkirch Epinepheus coioides (Grouper). © Luiz Rocha

marine protected area in Australia showed that a large
grouper can be worth much more alive, from tourist dollars,
than dead.
In the Pacific and Southeast Asia, aggregating groupers in
Palau, western Pacific, and the Endangered Napoleon wrasse
(Cheilinus undulatus), were featured in documentaries on their
conservation plight and our work to conserve them. We joined
the IUCN delegation at the 16th CITES CoP in Bangkok in
March 2013, and highlighted the illegal, unmonitored, and
unregulated trade of the Napoleon wrasse under its CITES
Appendix II listing. Relating to this, we conducted two field
surveys in Indonesia, the major exporter of the species, which
contributed to quota-setting under the CITES non-detriment
finding requirement, and showed positive changes in
population status in several areas after the listing.
One member of the GWSG was a major contributor to the
WWF Seafood Guide 2013, released in Hong Kong and was
able to promote a ‘green’ sustainable grouper food option
supplied by Hong Kong’s first indoor farmed giant grouper
(E. lanceolatus). For further details please see our website.
The work of the GWSG was supported by NOAA
(Napoleon wrasse) Science and Conservation of Fish
Aggregations (SCRFA) and IUCN.
Yvonne Sadovy de Mitcheson and Matthew Craig

Co-chairs, Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group
Hawaiian Plant Specialist Group Hibiscadelphus giffardianus, one of the PEP species, is now extinct in the
wild. © Marie M. Bruegmann
The Hawaiin Plant Specialist Group’s (HPSG) mission is to
prevent the extinction of native Hawaiian plants and provide for
their recovery through a cooperatively administered off-site history videos of four individuals important in Hawaii plant
plant conservation system. This is done in collaboration with conservation. The video can be seen here, and features Bob
on-site management partners to sample, propagate, and Hobdy, retired Maui District Manager of the Hawaii Division of
reintroduce rare plants, and to advance the preservation of Forestry and Wildlife, Dieter Mueller-Dumbois, retired professor
native plants and their habitats through effective of ecology from University of Hawaii at Manoa, Steve Perlman,
communication and public education. Locally, the group is field botanist at National Tropical Botanical Garden, and Sheila
referred to as the Hawaii Rare Plant Restoration Group, which Conant, retired professor of the University of Hawaii.
later became the HPSG.
The group has discussed actions needed for ex-situ Marie M. Bruegmann
collections for the past two years, resulting in the ranking of Chair, Hawaiian Plants Specialist Group
the following topics as high priority:
• to identify stored seeds at high risk of decreased viability;
• to identify seeds that need to come out of storage as soon Heron Specialist Group
as possible because they are losing viability; The Heron Specialist Group’s goal is to encourage engagement
• to identify taxa with seeds difficult to store; and with heron conservation through communication, guidance and
• to establish a single entity coordinating collections and research. The Group, also known as HeronConservation, is
storage for each taxon of concern. nearing its 30th year of activity. The group provides a
communication network for its members through its website
Volunteer committees were established in 2013 for each topic. and other media. It offers guidance by encouraging
In 2013, the Plant Extinction Prevention (PEP) program conservation planning, use of standardized methodology and
initiated by HPSG, implemented recovery actions for a total of synthesis. As a research group, its members advance the
128 PEP species (50 individuals or less remaining in the wild). knowledge of the biology of herons through their research.
These actions include population surveys and monitoring, In 2013, the Group reorganized itself, reducing its
propagule (seeds, cuttings, air-layers) collections, in-situ membership and increasing expectations for participation. The
management, and reintroductions within protected natural Group’s website launched in 2011, continues to provide the
habitats. The PEP program focused on propagule collections principal means of transmitting technical and biological
for species with no ex-situ representation over the the past 12 information globally.
months. The PEP program is currently comprised of 11 staff The HeronConservation website delivers information on
(including program management staff), based on Kauai, Oahu, species biology and ranges, heron conservation news,
Maui Nui, Molokai, and Hawaii Island. bibliography, formal action plans, and conservation tools.
Public education efforts include the establishment of the Real time information is made available on its Facebook and
Hawaii Rare Plant Restoration Group website, as well as oral Flickr pages.

Hippo Specialist Group
2013 was a year of exciting developments for hippo
conservation in certain regions and some deterioration of
conservation status in others. A revised Red List Assessment
is underway for both pygmy and common hippopotamus
(called hippos hereafter).
Our Pygmy Hippo SubGroup continues to strengthen the
multi-national network of scientists and field groups that are
engaged in pygmy hippo projects. Flora and Fauna
International and the Liberian Forestry Development Authority
spearheaded an effort to create a National Action Plan (NAP)
for pygmy hippo conservation in Liberia and this plan was
released in 2013. This NAP followed the recommendations of
a Regional Conservation Strategy for Pygmy Hippos that was
released in December 2011. The Regional Conservation
strategy is an excellent resource that documents the current
knowledge of pygmy hippo ecology, conservation threats and
conservation efforts and activities in the four countries where
this species is still extant: Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea and
Sierra Leone. Camera traps have, for the first time, been
deployed in a number of field sites and are being used to
improve highly uncertain population estimates.
Research and conservation projects on common hippos
have received far less attention and our Common Hippo
SubGroup is in need of more members. The relative lack of
attention to common hippos reflects, in part, the difference in
species status: common hippos are classified as Vulnerable
whereas pygmy hippos are Endangered. However, the local
Snowy Egret. © Kirsten Hines abundance aggregations of common hippos belie the range-
wide habitat loss and declines in populations that have
occurred. Common hippo / human conflicts are widespread
Conserving Herons: A Conservation Action Plan for the and increasing. One exciting development regarding common
Herons of the World, continues to be the guiding document for hippo conservation and research was the first deployment of
the Group. Opportunity exists for continuous update. The a GPS tag on a wild hippo. The tag was on for around 14
Global Heron Count Data base archives census information hours, GPS fixes were taken at 10 minute intervals, except for
world-wide. In the past, the Group has led the development of periods when the hippo was under water in the river. Having
biological and conservation syntheses of herons. Presently it a clearer understanding of short and long scale movements
hosts an on-line journal to encourage publication of new for this species will begin to address the substantial
findings. knowledge gaps in hippo ecology, as well as support the
The Group’s priorities remain the same. The conservation development of mitigation strategies to alleviate hippo /
of the White-Bellied Heron (Ardea insignis) in Bhutan is its human conflict.
highest priority. The International Crane Foundation and San
Diego Zoo are advising on developing a captive propagation Dr Rebecca Lewison
effort for this highly endangered species. The Reddish Egret Chair, Hippo Specialist Group
(Egretta rufescens) Conservation Plan has been completed
and the Executive Summary is available. The listing status of
the White-eared Night Heron (Gorsachius magnificus) was
reviewed; there is a need for additional information on
documented observations of its occurrence. Further Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious). © Andrew Goldberg
documentation is needed of the systematic position of what is
now considered to be the white phase of the Great Blue Heron
(Ardea Herodias). Studies of the biology of the Agami Heron
(Agamia agami) and ZigZag Herons (Zebrilus undulates)
continue to be a high priority. Priority areas remain Bhutan,
China, coastal Asia, Caribbean, Madagascar, New Zealand,
Cape Verde, and East Africa. The Group continues to place
emphasis on encouraging studies of conservation genetics
and migration patterns.
Dr James A. Kushlan
Chair, Heron Specialist Group

Horseshoe Crab Specialist Group
In 2013, 17 additional experts were accepted as members of
the Horseshoe Crab SG. Our working groups are making
significant progress toward our goal of updating The IUCN Red
List status for horseshoe crabs, focusing initially on the
American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) and the
Chinese or Japanese species (Tachypleus tridentatus).
The SSG responded to the potential ecological and human
health threats caused by the importation of Asian horseshoe
crabs into the US by submitting a letter of concern to the US
Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission (ASMFC), and other Federal and State agencies
with jurisdiction. Our efforts were influential in ASMFC’s ruling
that now prohibits this practice and we were extremely
gratified to receive recognition from IUCN for our efforts. Striped Hyena (Hyena hyena). © Aimee Cockayne
Conferences: SSG members Mark Botton, Paul Shin, Siu
Gin Cheung, and Ruth Carmichael organized a special session
entitled ‘Comparative Approaches to Horseshoe Crab Ecology explaining why members of the family Hyaenidae are worth
and Conservation in North America and Southeast Asia’ at the conserving. We added some new members to the HSG,
recent Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation meeting in including scientists collecting data on poorly understood
San Diego, CA. A total of 25 papers on horseshoe crabs were hyaena populations such as those in western and central
presented, with contributions from the U.S., Hong Kong, Taiwan, Africa and in Asia. We redressed a problem in South Africa,
Malaysia, and Japan. Titles and abstracts may be found here. where a farming magazine published material we perceived as
Summaries of our recent activities were published in threatening to the welfare of brown hyenas. We initiated a
Marine Species News (vol. 4 – June 2013) and in SULiNews project inquiring whether spotted hyenas might be used in a
(issue 4, March 2013.) Mark L. Botton, Paul K. S. Shin, and novel way as a sentinel or indicator species of declining
Kevin Laurie co-authored a chapter entitled, ‘Horseshoe crabs: biodiversity in African ecosystems. Finally, we deployed GPS
A tale of two species’ to be published in the forthcoming book collars and camera traps at various African and Asian sites in
entitled 40 Strands of the Web, edited by Alison Hegan. This order to learn more about the resource requirements of extant
chapter highlights the significant conservation issues facing bone-cracking hyenas.
horseshoe crabs in Asia and North America, and highlights the We thank the following organizations for their support of
work of our Specialist Group. our work: Kenya Wildlife Trust, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and
Wildlife Research, Government of India, US National Science
Dr Paul Shin and Dr Mark Botton Foundation, Nedbank Go Green Fund, and the SAVE Wildlife
Co-chairs, Horseshoe Crab Specialist Group Conservation Fund.
Dr Kay E. Holekamp
Hyaena Specialist Group Chair, Hyaena Specialist Group
The key objectives of the Hyaena Specialist Group (HSG) are
to enhance public education about the members of this
fascinating family of carnivores, to monitor populations of each Iguana Specialist Group
hyaena species and their critical resource bases. This is so The mission of the Iguana Specialist Group is to prioritize and
that we can take action when we determine that specific facilitate conservation, science, and awareness programs that
populations are declining. help to ensure the survival of wild iguanas and their habitats.
Towards the first objective of the HSG, in 2013 we updated To achieve these goals we implement, provide advice, and
portions of the educational website which can be accessed fundraise for programs that include population surveys,
here. We published various reports and newsletters for public protected area management, invasive species control, field
use and assisted several film crews to produce documentaries research, genetic studies, education, and captive breeding
and headstarting initiatives.
In 2013, we launched our new website, now an easily
Horseshoe Crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda). © Kevin Laurie
updatable information center for those interested in learning
about the work we are doing and current iguana topics around
the world. We have completed 17 IUCN Red List Assessments
and 19 are currently being drafted. We also drafted a position
statement on invasive iguanas, now a growing problem in
many areas of the world. The goal of this piece was to aid in-
country managers and decision makers on policy and planning
actions. Throughout the year, we worked closely with the SSC
office to prepare and send two letters to the Environmental
Ministries of the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, addressing
potentially threatening actions to endangered iguana species.
Our letter to the Dominican Republic in particular, was pivotal
in getting destructive actions halted on site and raising

information exchange through our online resources and tools
and through networking.
The main goal of the ISSG during 2013 was to support
efforts to achieve Aichi Target 9 of the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD), including developing tools to
prioritize species and pathways for response. Key activities of
the ISSG in 2013 included:
• Working with global conventions like the CBD, CMS,
Ramsar, OIE and IPPC, mainstreaming invasive alien species
issues
• Supporting the development of a European Legislation on
Invasive Alien Species
• Development of voluntary Codes of Conduct on hunting and
invasive species, botanical gardens, zoos and aquaria
Jamaican Iguana (Cyclura collei). © Joseph Burgess • Development of guidelines on the management of invasive
species in protected areas
• Participation in the Inter agency Liaison group on invasive
awareness globally, about Ricord’s and the Rhinoceros Rock species with CBD, World Trade Organization, FAO, CITES
Iguanas (Cyclura ricordii and C. cornuta). and OIE.
This year was particularly important for our Specialist
Group as it marked the 20th anniversary of the PHVA meeting On 21 February, IUCN and BirdLife, with the support of the
that sparked the creation of our group, after the rediscovery of European Habitats Forum, organised a high-level debate at the
the Jamaican Iguana. In celebrating this, we held our annual European Parliament in Brussels to discuss the issue of
meeting in Kingston, Jamaica. Preceding our standard invasive alien species in Europe and the development of an EU
meeting, we held a workshop focusing specifically on the policy instrument to tackle them. Speaking at the event,
Jamaican Iguana project, one of the most well-known amongst others were Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Director-General of
conservation success stories. The workshop was especially IUCN, and the ISSG Chair. The event coincided with the
important, given that the Jamaican Iguana’s existence has launch of a report finalized in 2011 for the European
recently become threatened by a proposed trans-shipment Environment Agency. The ISSG Chair attended a conference
port. To address this, we brought concerned organizations on invasive alien predators held in Luleo (Sweden) on 16–19
together to discuss the situation, and share ideas for advocacy June, organized by the LIFE+ Project “Management of the
against this development. Pertaining to this, we published our Invasive Raccoon Dog in the North European countries”. Piero
Species Recovery Plan for the Jamaican Iguana through the opened the conference with a presentation on “Toward a
IUCN portal, and articles appeared in the Huffington Post and coordinated policy to prevent and manage biological invasions
Scientific American addressing this long-term project and its – an analysis of the global, European and national contexts”.
current obstacles. Our information exchange and networking activities included
We wish to thank the International Iguana Foundation for the redesign of the ISSG flagship product the Global Invasive
their financial support of numerous projects this year, totaling Species Database (GISD) with improved functionality and
$42,200 focused on iguana conservation across the additional information components. We are a key partner in the
Caribbean and Fiji, as well as those who made donations in CBD supported initiative – the Global Invasive Alien Species
order to offset meeting travel costs to those in need, and those Information Partnership (GIASI Partnership). The Global Register
who donated field equipment to the Jamaican Iguana project. of Introduced and Invasive Species (GRIIS) and the Invasive
Alien Species Pathway Management Resource are being
Stesha Pasachnik and Charles Knapp developed within this framework. We are the lead agency in the
Co-chairs, Iguana Specialist Group
Ivy Gourd (Coccinia grandis) – a noxious vine that smothers native
vegetation forming a dense canopy. © Kim and Forest Starr
Invasive Species Specialist Group
The Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) aims to reduce
threats to natural ecosystems and the native species they
contain by increasing awareness of invasive alien species, and
of ways to prevent, control or eradicate them. Established in
1994, the ISSG currently has 200 core members from over 40
countries and a wide informal global network of over 2,000
conservation practitioners and experts who contribute to its
work. ISSG maintains a webpage and publishes a bi-annual
newsletter Aliens. The Chair of the ISSG is Dr Piero Genovesi,
of the Institute for Environmental Protection and Research in
Italy. The ISSG promotes and facilitates the exchange of
invasive species information and knowledge across the globe
and ensures the linkage between knowledge, practice and
policy, so that decision making is informed. The two core
activity areas of the ISSG are policy and technical advice, and

development of the Invasive Species indicator within the
Biodiversity Indicators Partnership. The ISSG is a partner in the
IUCN Biodiversity and Protected Area Management (BIOPAMA)
project, and the Island Biodiversity and Invasive Species
Database (IBIS) will be a key contribution to the planned
Regional Observatories. On 6 June 2013, the journal Nature
published an article on the ISSG’s list of “100 of the worst
invasive species”, co-authored by the ISSG Chair and several
ISSG members; the results reported in the article were used by
ISSG and IUCN to post a story on the IUCN website.
Dr Piero Genovesi
Chair, Invasive Species Specialist Group
Korean Plant Specialist Group

Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis). © Janet Rachlow
The goal of the Korean Plant Specialist Group (KPSG) is to be
an authoritative source of information on the conservation of
Korea’s plants, to play an influential and valued role in national world. Many of our activities are local, such as the pioneering
biodiversity planning and development, to develop national work conducted by the Pika Fan Club in Japan and the Riverine
capacity in plant conservation, to be a mechanism by which Rabbit Programme (now broadened and expanded as the
IUCN SSC material and protocols may be introduced to the Drylands Conservation Programme) in the Karoo of South
Korean conservation community. We pursue all of the above Africa. In Washington State an active reintroduction program of
through active collaboration with relevant partners. the Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit has been highly successful.
Over the last couple of years, activities of the KPSG have Other LSG members are tackling issues of how climate change
been limited, as we deliberated over some important points for affects lagomorph populations, and the role played by wildlife
The IUCN Red List process. Some KPSG members actively diseases, many of which exert profound influence on
participated in the National IUCN Red Listing of plant species in lagomorphs.
Korea. IUCN Red List projects in Korea have mainly been A key activity is currently the compilation of materials for an
supported by the Korea National Arboretum and the National overarching book: Lagomorphs: The Pikas, Rabbits and Hares
Institute of Biological Resources under the Ministry of of the World to be published by Johns Hopkins University
Environment. The KPSG contributed to the Korean translation of Press. Accounts of species for this treatment will also inform
the IUCN SSC’s Reintroduction Guidelines, which will allow the updated IUCN Red List assessments of all lagomorphs. A
wide circulation of this publication to relevant Korean readers. precursor step for these activities is our attempt to revisit and
refresh the currently accepted systematics of the Lagomorpha.
Dr Kim Yong-Shik New information, including molecular analyses, have informed
Chair, Korean Plant Specialist Group us of many potential changes to the traditional systematics of
the taxon. Many of our members are actively engaged in this
systematic work.
Lagomorph Specialist Group
The mission of the Lagomorph Specialist Group (LSG) is to Andrew Smith
conduct the best possible conservation science on lagomorphs Chair, Lagomorph Specialist Group
and translate this into active management initiatives. We also
aim to educate the public about the important roles played by
lagomorphs in ecosystems, as well as the precarious nature of Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe
some of our highly threatened species. The Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe (LCIE) is a Thematic
We are a very diverse and widely distributed Specialist Specialist Group with an ambitious vision “To maintain and
Group, simply because lagomorphs are found throughout the restore, in coexistence with people, viable populations of large
carnivores as an integral part of ecosystems and landscapes
across Europe”. After its chair was confirmed at the end of
Abies koreana. © Kim Yong-Shik 2012, we proceeded to integrate several new members
representing all European countries: the group now has 40
members. Our key objectives are to integrate a human-
Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe. © John Linnell

dimension approach with solid ecology, to bring both science
and management experience to bear on the issues of large
carnivore conservation, and to transfer this expertise into the
policy arena at European level.
In 2013 we updated the information on number,
distribution, trends and status of the European bear, wolf, lynx
and wolverine populations, and produced new detailed
distribution maps by country and by population, more details
here. We held our annual group meeting in Italy in March 2013,
and we approved a Manifesto for large carnivore conservation
in Europe. This is a manifesto of how the LCIE think large
carnivore conservation could look in a European context. It is
intended to inspire, by outlining some long term objectives and
stretch goals which will often go beyond the minimum
standards required by international legal instruments. It states Lobaria pulmonaria. © C. Scheidegger
some principles and recommendations of the measures
needed to achieve these objectives. Perhaps most importantly Global Fungal Red List website. A project on population biology
it is intended to explore in greater detail the potential and conservation measures of the model lichen species Lobaria
relationship between people and large carnivores in the pulmonaria in Tanzania has been initiated, and is being
landscapes that they share. supported by a Rufford Foundation Small Grant.
We continued our fruitful close collaboration with the We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Mohammad bin
European Commission and we are now engaged on three key Zayed Species Conservation Fund and the Rufford Foundation.
tasks to be completed by the end of 2014:
a) to design and implement an EU-wide communication strategy Christoph Scheidegger and Olga Nadyeina
on large carnivores that will include website material, press Co-chairs, Lichen Specialist Group
articles in all major EU languages, support to the Commission
on communicating a new EU platform on carnivore
conservation. Macaronesian Island Plants Specialist Group
b) to produce a list of the most important conservation actions Our main objective is to make conservation biology tools widely
to be implemented in each of the EU carnivore populations (10 available; encouraging good diagnostic studies to correctly
lynx populations, 10 for wolves, 10 for bears and one for catalogue Endangered species (including information on
wolverines), taxonomy), and promoting recovery actions through Recovery
c) design and implement four pilot conservation actions (one for Plans for macaronesian plants. In this sense, some members of
each species) at the level of transboundary populations: these the Specialist Group have been implementing several ways of
pilot actions will demonstrate the feasibility of transboundary diffusing this knowledge; through contributing to Symposia;
collaboration in Iberia, the Alps, Fennoscandia and the preparing Red List assessments (focusing on Habitats Directive
Carpathian mountains. species) and assisting the administration to encourage the
monitoring of plant species.
As part of our engagement with the European Commission, in
December 2013, we supported the Commission in managing Sideritis marmoreal – an endemic of the island of La Gomera (Canary
Islands). © Ricardo Mesa
the second European Stakeholder meeting on human-
carnivore coexistence.
Luigi Boitani
Chair, Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe
Lichen Specialist Group

The mission of the Lichen Specialist Group is to promote the
study of lichen diversity, population dynamics and conservation
genetics, in order to evaluate the conservation status of lichen
species according to IUCN Red List criteria. We have
established a group of 23 members, who are specialists in
either regional floras (Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, North and
South America), or in ecological and taxonomic groups of
lichens (like tropical lichens, arid lichens in steppe ecosystems,
European deciduous forest lichens, Caucasian lichens, or
lichens of the family Parmeliaceae).
In 2013, we contributed to the Global Fungal Red List
Initiative, which was kindly supported by IUCN and the
Mohammad bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund. We have
started IUCN Red List assessments for a considerable number
of lichen species from various parts of the world, using the

In 2013, the Specialist Group has been rigorously working led to the identification of The IUCN Red List conservation
on The IUCN Red List Index as a plant indicator in status for these species.
Macaronesia together with mainland Spain. 2013 has been an
important year for the promotion of knowledge on selected Vololoniaina Jeannoda
species (actually recognized as threatened species) of the Chair, Madagascar Plant Specialist Group
Canary Islands, by monitoring their population dynamics on
the seven islands.
Mangrove Specialist Group (MSG)
Ángel Bañares Baudet The continual worldwide destruction of mangroves resulting
Chair, Macaronesian Island Plants Specialist Group from urban development, aquaculture and agriculture is the
main impetus for the establishment of this Specialist Group.
While most species of mangroves have relatively large
Madagascar Plant Specialist Group (MPSG) geographic ranges, some species and habitats are subject to
In 2013, Prof. Vololoniaina Jeannoda was elected as the new dire threats of extinction. The formation of a Mangrove
chair of the MPSG, in replacement of Prof. Charlotte Specialist Group was initially discussed at the July 2012 MMM3
Rajeriarison, who retired from a task that she has carried out Meeting on Mangrove Ecology in Sri Lanka. Following various
since the creation of the group in 2002. Prof. Jeannoda has exchanges, the MSG was finally established in early 2013 with a
also now been appointed as a member of the SSC steering current membership of 47, mostly from South Asia, East Asia
committee, and attended the steering committee meeting in and 17 from Europe (South America and Africa are under-
Mexico in November 2013. The goals of the MPSG are the represented). The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) provides
same as those of the SSC. One of them is to guarantee the administrative support to the MSG.
rational use of natural resources in a fair and sustainable way. The first MSG meeting held on 15 October 2013 was
In order to achieve that goal, the MPSG is also acting as a attended by 18 MSG members. Among the topics presented
member of the CITES Flora Scientific Authority and is strongly were; aligning the MSG work with the IUCN 2013–2016
involved in national CITES activities. programme; defining the roles and responsibilities of MSG
In 2013, the MPSG has contributed to the inscription of a members, and outlining the current state of global projects and
number of succulents, as well as all Madagascar endemic research. Subsequent discussions came up with actions to be
rosewood and ebony wood species, in CITES appendix II. The taken by the Group; flag mangrove-related species for The
MPSG chair and two other members of the group, one of IUCN Red List; link with other ecologists within other Specialist
which is the chair of the Madagascar Flora Scientific Authority Groups; contact current mangrove projects such as Mangroves
for CITES, were part of the Madagascar delegation to CITES for the Future, and to establish synergies and avoid duplication.
COP 16 in Bangkok, and successfully presented the relevant An open symposium the next day featured 12 papers on
documents to the CITES general assembly. Following that, 30 Mangrove Ecology, Climate Change, Blue Carbon, Payment
MPSG members benefited from five days training on Non Ecosystem Services, and Mangrove Rehabilitation and
Detrimental Finding (NDF – which was funded and carried out Restoration with 29 participants from various international
by the CITES General Secretariat in Switzerland). Lastly, in organizations. A visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew ended
keeping with the Madagascar CITES action plan, NDF the day. A symposium entitled ‘Turning the Tide on Mangroves’
fieldwork was carried out on various species of succulents and (plus a two-day workshop for MSG members) is scheduled for
precious woods by other members of the MPSG, which also 6–7 November 2014, at the Zoological Society of London.
Dr Jurgenne Primavera and Professor Joe Lee

Pachypodium rosulatum var. gracilius. © Aro Vonjy Ramarosandratana Co-chairs, Mangrove Specialist Group
MSG Group Photo (15 October 2013).

Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force Significant Areas (CBD EBSAs), IUCN’s Key Biodiversity Areas
(MMPATF) (KBAs), and Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) work,
The IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas IMMAs can accelerate the process of habitat protection for
Task Force (MMPATF) was formally established in Marseille, marine mammals and the ecosystems that support them.
France, on 24 October 2013 during IMPAC3. The MMPATF is IMMAs will thus support the integration of IUCN Knowledge
comprised of 20 members and is chaired by Erich Hoyt and Products such as The IUCN Red List and KBAs in the
Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara. identification and conservation of sites of global biodiversity
The objectives of the MMPATF include: a) facilitating significance.
mechanisms by which a “community of practice” consisting of To accomplish the integration of IMMAs into IUCN
professionals dedicated to place-based conservation of conservation work, the MMPATF organized in Marseille on 22
marine mammals can collaborate and share, access and October 2013, a dedicated workshop with the participation of
disseminate knowledge and tools for establishing, monitoring, specialists familiar with the main marine mammal taxa, as well
and managing effective spatial solutions mainly in the form of as those working in the CBD EBSA and IUCN KBA arenas,
marine mammal protected areas (MMPAs); b) bolstering and those who had worked on devising the original criteria
capacity within the MMPA community by exposing it to state- descriptions for these approaches. A background document
of-the-art tools from the wider MPA and place-based was prepared and a route map chosen for the selection and
conservation world; c) enabling the implementation of global implementation of IMMA criteria with further activities to come
MPA targets and agreements; and d) enhancing opportunities in 2014.
for cooperation, communication, exposure of related products Funding for the Marseille workshop was provided by the
and expertise to a far wider audience. Animal Welfare Institute and The Pacific Life Foundation, with
The MMPATF’s first initiative consisted in the development the help of The Ocean Foundation and Whale and Dolphin
of the concept of Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs). Conservation.
This working term describes discrete portions of habitat,
important to marine mammal species that have the potential to Erich Hoyt and Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara
be delineated and managed for conservation. It is hoped that Co-chairs, Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force
IMMAs will provide the basis for future MPAs, MPA networks,
marine spatial planning and marine biodiversity conservation
in general through marine mammal flagship, umbrella and Marine Turtle Specialist Group
indicator properties. By linking IMMAs to the larger world of the 2013 was the year of focussing on The IUCN Red List
Convention on Biological Diversity’s Ecologically or Biologically assessments, which required review or were due to be
updated. Globally, a force of literally thousands of people
continues to push the turtle conservation agenda, many of
Baird’s Beaked Whales (Berardius bairdii) in the Commander Islands State
Biosphere Reserve. © Russian Cetacean Habitat Project, WDC/Whale and them driven by priority-setting processes developed by the
Dolphin Conservation. Marine Turtle Specialist Group. Our 230 or so strong
membership reflects this commitment to conservation by
being spread over just about every corner of the globe where
one would encounter a turtle, and leading many innovative
approaches to conservation dealing with bycatch, climate
change, habitat loss and the quest for the best knowledge
upon which to base sound management decisions.
The biggest news flash for the MTSG in 2013 was the very
recent publication of the new Leatherback assessments on
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. This is the first
time ever for a sea turtle species that the IUCN has published
all subpopulation listings simultaneously, alongside a global
A Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) makes its way back to the

ocean after nesting on Tetepare in the Solomon Islands, one of the last
refuges for the species in the Western Pacific. © Nicholas J. Pilcher

listing as the official status of the species. As such, this marks
a significant advancement and an important breakthrough in
the long-running debate about the utility of IUCN Red List
criteria for widely distributed, long-lived species such as
marine turtles. The subpopulation listing comes after the
careful development by the MTSG of two key processes: The
delineation of Regional Management Units for sea turtles
(Wallace et al. 2010) which was recognized by IUCN as proxy
for IUCN Red List subpopulations, and the subsequent
prioritisation exercise to focus conservation where it is most
urgently needed (Wallace et al. 2011). These new listings
provide an invaluable tool for prioritizing sea turtle conservation
at all scales, by more accurately reflecting the wide variation in
the risk of extinction faced by sea turtles in different parts of
the planet; particularly in distinct ocean regions where there is
no interaction with other subpopulations. We are now working
on updated assessments for the other species using this
approach, and are making other improvements to how we
interpret and apply IUCN Red List criteria to marine turtles in
general. The loggerhead assessment is currently undergoing a
data collection process, and the green turtle assessment is
also underway. The flatback assessment is pending final
review, and the Kemp’s ridley assessment is planned for 2014.
We are grateful to the hundreds of data providers and the
MTSG Assessment Committee, along with the assessors
themselves for their dedication to sea turtle conservation at a Ficus Laterifolia, Mauritius. © Vikash Tatayah
global scale.
donax. In spite of negative views expressed by several
Rod Mast and Nicolas Pilcher members relating to invasiveness, and additionally views
Co-chairs, Marine Turtle Specialist Group submitted by the IUCN in the case of the Bamboo Garden,
both projects appear to be going ahead.
Rodrigues (Mauritius): Botanical Gardens Conservation
Mascarene Islands Plant Specialist Group International has conducted a feasibility study for the setting
Mauritius: Rare plant searches were regularly carried out in up of the Mourouk Botanical Gardens in Rodrigues.
2013 by members of the MIPSG as part of their duties both Restoration of the Grande Montagne and Anse Quitor Nature
individually and in partnership. Field prospection included the Reserves undertaken by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation and
following national conservation institutions; Forestry Service, the Forestry Services continued. At Grande Montagne the
Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Mauritius Herbarium, National dozens of planted Ramosmania rodriguesii continued to be
Parks and Conservation Service, University of Mauritius, and monitored and were doing well. An agreement was reached
amateur botanists. between the Rodrigues Regional Assembly and the Mauritian
Several new populations of Critically Endangered species Wildlife Foundation, for the development of ecotourism at
were found including Carissa spinarum, Chassalia boryana, Grande Montagne Nature Reserve.
Chionanthus boutonii, Gouania tiliifolia, and Secamone Mascarenes: The Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund
dilapidans. One new species was described: Eugenia alletiana. (CEPF) initiated an ecosystem profiling study for the
This new species is Critically Endangered and is known from Madagascar and Western Indian Ocean Islands Hotspot
less than 30 adults, in three localities. Dozens of Dictyosperma through Conservation International (Madagascar). This study
album var. conjugatum were propagated for the first time in will also cover the Mascarenes, and the profile will identify key
nearly 20 years. There is therefore new hope for this variety, projects to fund in the region.
which has been reduced to one individual in the wild. Forty La Réunion: Major collaboration to protect and conserve
seedlings are now growing in the nursery on Round Island, threatened wild plant populations involving the national
from plants produced some twenty years ago and growing on botanical garden (Conservatoire Botanique National de
Mauritius. The closure and relocation of The Mauritius Mascarin CBNM), the forestry services (Office National des
Herbarium has been averted, at least for the time being. Forets ONF and the natural areas conservatory CEN-GCEIP),
However, one of its collections has been taken away. The the French coastal protection agency (conservatoire du littoral),
realignment and enlargement of the Holyrood Road and bridge the National Park of La Réunion, the municipalities, NGOs
has been averted. This would have destroyed one of 10 funded by the French Ministry of Environment, the Regional
remaining wild Ficus laterifolia, and one of 25 remaining and General Councils, and the Europe funds. The Reunion
Gouania tiliifolia. The National Invasive Alien Species Committee Island IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has now been
was rarely invited to advise on plant introductions to Mauritius, published (UICN France, CBNM, FCBN and MNHN 2013) and
despite the general feeling that many species are arriving is available here.
illegally or accidentally. However, two projects for plant
introductions were examined by the committee – the creation of Dr Vikash Tatayah and Dr Stéphane Baret
a Bamboo Garden, and commercial plantation of Arundo Co-chairs, Mascarene Islands Plant Specialist Group

Medicinal Plant Specialist Group
The mission of the Medicinal Plant Specialist Group is to
increase global awareness of threats to the survival of
medicinal plant species, and to promote sustainable use and
conservation action.
In 2013, members of the group contributed to pursue
several on-going and new IUCN Red List assessment
initiatives; including regional assessments of European
medicinal plants (funded by the European Union), and national
assessments of medicinal plants in Lebanon (with funding from
the United Nations Development Programme) and India (in
collaboration with the Institute of Trans-Disciplinary Health
Sciences and Technology). We enlarged our Global Checklist
of Medicinal Plants to include nearly 30,000 taxa, and used it
to define a priority list of 1,500 species for global assessments
under a new IUCN Plants for People project partially funded by
the MAVA Foundation.
Group members also provided risk analyses of wild-
harvested plant species and populations for private sector
companies as a service to the FairWild Foundation to support
implementation of the FairWild Standard for sustainable wild
collection. Members of the group continued to serve as
founding members of the FairWild Foundation’s Board of
Trustees and as members of the Foundation’s technical, Ebenus cretica from Crete, Greece. © Bertrand de Montmollin
license, and communications committees. Much of this work

has been undertaken in collaboration with the TRAFFIC
Medicinal and aromatic plants trade programme. form a new thematic and geographic sub-group, The
The risk analysis methodology developed by MPSG Moroccan Plant and Livelihoods Sub-Group, with about 20
members has been included as one of nine steps in new members, with the aim of developing species conservation in
guidance for Parties to CITES, undertaking non-detriment Morocco, together with supporting community development
findings for perennial plants listed on Appendix II. Version 1.0 initiatives. A new and independent Red List Authority for the
of this guidance, produced through a TRAFFIC/WWF Germany Mediterranean Plants was created and chaired by Errol Vela,
project funded by the German Federal Agency for Nature based in Montpellier, France. It will validate IUCN Red List
Conservation (BfN), published in 2014. assessments carried out in the Mediterranean, and as this
number increases, this will be a real challenge.
Danna J. Leaman In 2013, we prepared, together with Plantlife and the
Chair, Medicinal Plant Specialist Group IUCN’s Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, a project called
“Conserving wild plants and habitats for people in the south
and east Mediterranean”. This project, submitted to the MAVA
Mediterranean Plant Specialist Group Foundation for funding, will strengthen the significance of
2013 has been a very special year for our Specialist Group as Important Plant Areas as tools for biodiversity conservation
its extent of occurrence expanded from the Mediterranean involving plant species and habitats; directly contributing to
Islands (we were the Mediterranean Islands Plant Specialist regional and national decision-making. Our members were
Group) to the whole Mediterranean area. This is quite a large also involved in the programme “Ensuring the survival of
quantitative jump, with a very large number of taxa: 25,000 Endangered plants in the Mediterranean Islands” (also funded
species, half of them being endemics to the area. We now by MAVA) and we plan to prepare, together with the existing
have 55 members, representing 21 countries. We are about to team managed by Kew Gardens, a second phase for this
project.
In our strategy, we plan to prepare the ‘TOP 100
Etlingera elatior (Jack) R.M.Sm. © D.J. Leaman Mediterranean Plants’, continuing our work with ‘The Top 50
Mediterranean Island Plants’, and to contribute to the
implementation of IUCN Knowledge Products, specifically The
IUCN Red List and hopefully The Red List of Ecosystems. We
are also excited to be associated with the defining criteria of a
‘Key Biodiversity Area’; we believe this will drive significant
support for plant conservation, as Important Plant Areas did.
We are very concerned by the difficulties faced by our
members and colleagues in several South and East
Mediterranean countries, and hope that it will soon be easier
for them to work in the field.
Bertrand de Montmollin
Chair, Mediterranean Plant Specialist Group

Mollusc Specialist Group subgroup recently completed IUCN Red List assessments for
Our mission is to conserve the diversity of Mollusca and their 140 species, with further assessments planned.
habitats globally. We achieve this by assessing their threat Conservation actions are underway in some regions. The
status according to The IUCN Red List, communicating through iconic Partula species are currently in active management
newsletters, species profiles, workshops, and social media, programmes to protect reintroduced populations in Tahiti, with
developing conservation plans and promoting sustainable use funding from various donors and assistance from the French
of harvested species. The group has 62 members from 31 Polynesian ministry. A large landsnail from Viet Nam, Bertia
countries. Following meetings of the Mollusc Specialist Group cambodjiensis, the latest rediscovery of a possibly extinct
at the World Malacological Congress (Azores, July 2013), species, is now part of a conservation breeding programme.
four RLA subgroups have been established with coordinators Viet Nam state agencies and organisations, Natural History
appointed by the SSC Chair, Simon Stuart. Museum (London) and London Zoo are collaborating on
In 2013 over 650 new Mollusc assessments were this programme. In freshwater systems, a project has been
published. The latest IUCN Red List update (2013.2) shows developed for four Threatened species of Freshwater Bivalves
assessments for a total of 6,809 Molluscs. This equates to in Morocco. The aim of this project is to raise awareness of
12.7% of all assessed animals on The IUCN Red List, but less the role of freshwater bivalves in cleaning water within river
than 10% of all known Molluscs. We have prioritized Global catchments. In Australia, the first threatened community
Assessment of Freshwater Molluscs (c. 6000 species) and this listing was made to conserve landsnails threatened by climate
year we worked with the IUCN Freshwater Biodiversity Unit change (see picture).
on IUCN Red List assessments for the Eastern Mediterranean Our annual newsletter Tentacle is available here. One issue
region. The Freshwater Bivalves Red List Authority subgroup was produced in March 2013, with the next one planned in
was established under the coordination of Manuel Lopes-Lima 2014. Three posters on the work of the SSC Mollusc Specialist
covering c. 1,000 species of this keystone group for freshwater Group were presented at the World Malacological Congress
systems. The Sample Red List Index Freshwater Mollusc 2013. This provided much media coverage for the amazing
assessment of 1500 species co-ordinated by Monika Böhm endemic species found on the islands of the Azores and the
(ZSL) is nearing completion. We have now achieved 55% of the surrounding oceans.
Global Freshwater Mollusc Assessment. We would like to thank the many zoos, snail farms,
Working In the marine realm, there are c. 35,000 species aquariums, aquaculture and fish farms around the world for their
and two new subgroups are undertaking Global assessments. work in conserving populations of threatened landsnails, marine
The Conus Red List Authority, led by Howard Peters completed molluscs, and freshwater bivalves. Thanks also go to the many
the first comprehensive study of a marine gastropod genus sponsors of the varied activities of members of the MSG.
(632 species) for The IUCN Red List, showing 9% threatened
with extinction. The Cephalopoda Red List Authority subgroup Mary Seddon
(c. 800 species), led by Louise Alcock, met to discuss Chair, Mollusc Specialist Group
taxonomic issues relating to ongoing Red List assessments.
The IUCN Global Marine Species Assessment Unit conducted
an assessment of the reef-forming bivalves, and these species Mushroom, Bracket, and Puffball Specialist
should be added to The IUCN Red List in 2014. Group
On land, we have over 25,000 species, with 2490 on The primary objective of the Mushroom, Bracket, and Puffball
The IUCN Red List. Regional projects with subgroups are Specialist Group is to bring these ecologically and
being formed to contribute IUCN Red List assessments. The economically important fungi into the conservation
European Landsnail Red List Authority subgroup led by Eike conversation and agenda.
Neubert completed 1,200 assessments in 2012, but 800 Efforts in 2013 focused on:
species remain un-assessed. A new group specialising in 1. Developing the Global Fungal Red List Initiative, creating a
African Non-marine Molluscs met in the Azores to develop website to facilitate nominations for Red Listing and
plans for 2014 including discussions about IUCN Red List organizing a workshop on the initiative at the International
assessments in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. An Oceania Fungal Conservation Congress in November 2013.
Kaputar Pink Slug (Triboniophorus sp. nov. “Kaputar”). © Michael Murphy Boletus regius. © M. Mikšík

2. Working to further integrate fungi into various IUCN conservation status of all species of marsupials found
initiatives, including the Key Biodiversity Areas Programme throughout the New World under The IUCN Red List Criteria.
and the Measuring Successful Forest Landscape
Restoration Initiative. Dr Gabriel Martin
3. Building communication tools to facilitate the work of the Chair, New World Marsupials Specialist Group
Specialist Group and to communicate the importance of
fungi and the need to conserve them.
4. Increasing the size of the Specialist Group from 14 to 31 North American Plant Red List Authority
members to enhance geographic and taxonomic coverage. The mission of the North American Plant Red List Authority is
to facilitate IUCN Red List assessments for North American
The International Fungal Conservation Congress brought Plants. The RLA also works to coordinate the use of
together nearly 90 mycologists from over 30 countries. The NatureServe information on plant conservation status to inform
Congress covered topics ranging from developing international Red List assessments.
collaborations to updates on country and regional conservation The North American Plant RLA engaged in four principal
initiatives, to successful education and communication activities. activities in 2013. Firstly, after having provided data and
The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund is helping fund and facilitate cactus IUCN Red List workshops in
acknowledged for critical support of the Global Fungal Red List previous years, we assisted in the final stages of the Global
Initiative and for providing travel support to mycologists from Cactus Assessment by reviewing and editing numerous draft
economically challenged countries to participate in the assessments. Secondly, with support from the US Fish and
International Fungal Conservation Congress. Wildlife Service, we completed an in-depth assessment of
Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), a North American native
Dr Greg Mueller plant that is increasingly being used in the herbal products
Chair, Mushroom, Bracket, and Puffball Specialist Group industry. Thirdly, we collaborated with Texas Tech University,
the Orchid Specialist Group, the North American Region
Orchid Specialist Group, and The IUCN Red List Unit to secure
New World Marsupials Specialist Group funding to initiate IUCN Red List Assessments of priority US
The goal of the SSC New World Marsupials Specialist Group orchid species. The project will also generate public
(NWMSG) is to agree on a framework that will aid in the awareness of the threats to North American orchids. Finally,
conservation of American marsupials, and evaluate the we provided reviews of draft monocot assessments for a
different aspects threatening them. Sampled IUCN Red List Index project being carried out by the
Our Specialist Group activities have focused on creating a Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
unified taxonomic list, which has settled the number of species
as 108, grouped in 22 genera within three orders, exclusive to Bruce Young
the Americas; Didelphimorphia, Microbiotheria and Chair, North American Plant Red List Authority
Paucituberculata. We have recently incorporated two new
species to this list, but ongoing studies will probably increase
Carnegiea gigantean. © Bruce Young
this number.
In this context, we have been gathering ecological and
distributional information that will allow us to identify the
hotspots of New World marsupial richness at different
categories (i.e., Species, Genera, Sufamily, Order) and try to
identify the main threats to their conservation. A significant
amount of information is being published yearly on several
aspects of New World marsupial ecology.
Our specialist group, comprised of 20 members, is working
on the integration of the critical data to evaluate the
Lutreolina massoia (recently described). © P. Jayat and R. Gonzalez

Orchid Specialist Group We acknowledge support from the Framework Grant from
The Orchid Specialist Group (OSG) is a global network of the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi to the IUCN Species
experts working together to build a scientific and practical Survival Commission for the Red Listing of slipper orchids.
foundation for the conservation of orchids (Orchidaceae).
The most important activity in 2013 was the organisation Dr Mike Fay
and successful running of the Fifth International Orchid Chair, Orchid Specialist Group
Conservation Congress (IOCC5) in early December on La
Réunion. Entitled ‘Making the Links’, the congress focused on
the complex interactions of orchids with pollinators, Otter Specialist Group (OSG)
mycorrhizas and other organisms. Attended by more than 120 2013 was a busy year for the OSG. In March, we held the OSG
delegates from 27 countries, the meeting was also a chance Management Team meeting and co-organized the Wild
for OSG members to connect with each other, establishing Musteloid Conference in Oxford, UK; in April we attended the
connections between the various regional and thematic European Otter Workshop in Kinsale, Co. Cork, Ireland, and in
groups of OSG and discussing collaborations. A formal August at the 11th International Mammal Congress in Belfast,
meeting of OSG took place during the congress, with the main Northern Ireland, we held a joint-meeting with the Small
item being an introduction to IUCN Red Listing (led by Hassan Carnivore Specialist Group to explore possible cooperative
Rankou, the OSG IUCN Red List Coordinator). The local joint ventures. In November, in Bangalore, India, we held a
organising committee led by Thierry Pailler produced a book workshop on ‘Asian Otter Conservation: Methods for research
on orchids of La Réunion, including IUCN Red List and conservation planning’. We are currently planning the 12th
assessments, which was presented at the congress. A major International Otter Congress, to be held 10–15 August, 2014 in
outcome of the congress is that Hassan has been invited to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The OSG Bulletin published three issues
run IUCN Red List workshops in China and Australia in 2014. in 2012–2013. A total of 376 articles are now online and can be
We hope that this will lead to an increase in the number of accessed here. The work of OSG Co-Deputy Chair Lesley
species of orchids assessed for The IUCN Red List. Wright is highly appreciated.
Other key activities in 2013 have been The IUCN Red The OSG has held 12 otter field methodology and
Listing of all Cypripedium species as part of a project to add all conservation workshops since 2000 to train students and
slipper orchids to The IUCN Red List, publication and researchers; four workshops in Asia, three in South America,
distribution to members of three issues of the OSG Newsletter and five in Europe. We are now developing an online otter field
(edited by Marilyn Light), and reconstitution of the Group for methodology and conservation course with Oregon State
the 2013–2016 quadrennium. University which students will be able to access online or by
using a DVD. We will reach out to many more potential
students and this online approach will be much cheaper than a
workshop.
Cypripedium acaule. © Michael MacConaill
Populations of the North American river otter appear to
be doing well. Range expansion has been noted in both native
and reintroduced populations in the United States. The status
of sea otter populations is variable throughout its range;
there is still active population range expansion occurring in SE
Alaska and Washington, in Canada, and in Japan (northern
Hokkaido). Populations in SW Alaska and the Southern Sea
Otter in California are not recovering, but no further recent
population declines have been documented. In Canada, sea
otters have been down-listed to a ‘Species of Special Concern’.
In Asia, otter population trends are mixed. The Smooth
and Short-clawed otter have been virtually extirpated from
Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam, and northern Cambodia due to
Smooth Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata). © Carol Bennetto

intense trapping efforts while local populations in Malaysia, The five-year EU Framework Programme 7-funded Palms
Thailand, Pakistan and India are declining but still extant. The project reaches its conclusion in December 2013. This project
Hairy-nosed otter, the rarest and most elusive Southeast has explored the impact of exploitation of palms in NW South
Asian otter has been sighted recently with camera traps and America from a broad range of perspectives, from basic
as road kills in Borneo, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand and diversity and ethnobotanical research, through to trade and
persists in small isolated populations. policy. The project has been led by specialist group members
In South America, otter populations are declining in some at the University of Aarhus and involves six European partner
areas and increasing in others. Giant otters are doing well institutions and four South American institutions in Bolivia,
overall in Brazil but are decreasing in Ecuador, Peru and Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The results of the project are
Bolivia, for instance, often due to local conflicts with fishermen. far-reaching and can be explored in full here.
The endangered Southern river otter Lontra provocax Rodrigo Bernal, a Colombian member of the PSG, has
continues to decline as its habitat shrinks further. proposed the creation of a National Sanctuary for the Wax
The Eurasian otter populations are increasing overall in Palm, Ceroxylon quindiuense (VU), Colombia’s National Tree.
the western portion of its range in the EU and declining in Asia. This sanctuary, which would comprise around 1000 hectares,
The three sub-Saharan African otter species are stable or would include some of the most spectacular stands of this
declining, particularly in central Africa. species, including the world’s tallest palms, many of them over
45 m tall, and at least one individual over 50 m tall. In the
Dr Nicole Duplaix coming months, concerted work with the Ministry of
Chair, Otter Specialist Group Environment and local environmental authorities is expected to
lead to the creation of this sanctuary adjacent to an existing
national park.
Palm Specialist Group Mijoro Rakotoarinivo of the Kew Madagascar
The Palm Specialist Group’s primary objective is to conduct a Conservation Centre led a palm conservation project in
global assessment of all ca. 2600 species of palms. Global Itremo protected area, Madagascar, from July 2012 to June
taxonomic and spatial resources continue to be developed by 2013, funded by the Conservation Leadership Programme.
group members to provide essential data for this process. The two target species, Dypsis ambositrae (CR) and D.
The biodiversity information portal Palmweb.org, led by the decipiens (VU), endemic to the central high plateau, are
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and recently funded by the EU under considerable pressure in the wild. The project aimed to
FP7 Palms project, now consolidates rich taxonomic content make Itremo a safer place for maintaining the palm
for around half of all species of palm, with basic content populations and their habitats by generating baseline data for
available for the remainder. These data have been delivered to monitoring and for the creation of a management plan for
the UK NERC-funded portal eMonocot.org, a global long-term conservation in the wild.
biodiversity data resource for monocot plants, and also to a As part of a collaboration between the Conservatoire et
new smartphone and tablet app accessible to a broad Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève and Nangui Abrogoua
audience (see Palmworld.org). University, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, the conservation status of
Masato Motoki (MSc student at Imperial College London) native palms of Ghana have been assessed. The immediate
has developed a triage methodology during his dissertation threats observed are essentially anthropogenic, mainly due to
project at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The triage loss of natural habitats, unsustainable harvesting, illegal
approach exploited distributional data in Kew’s World logging and the destruction of seedlings and juveniles in
Checklist of Palms and used published assessments from agroecosystems. The creation of new protected areas is
palms and the Sampled Red List Index for Plants project, to necessary for the survival of many palms. Special efforts are
develop a model. The primary results were the method itself (in needed to raise awareness and promote agroforestry
preparation for publication) and a ranking of palm species techniques, allowing the survival of juveniles in
according to predictions of threatened status to guide agroecosystems. In the particular case of the rattans, the
assessment priorities. establishment of forestry and agroforestry research is urgently
required to ensure the sustainability of these intensively
Dypsis decipiens, Itremo, Madagascar. © Mijoro Rakotoarinivo, RBG Kew exploited non-timber forest products.
Dr William Baker
Chair, Palm Specialist Group
Pangolin Specialist Group

The Pangolin Specialist Group is hosted by the Zoological
Society of London (ZSL) UK. We have 72 members from 24
countries worldwide, and our mission is to “be a global voice
for pangolins by working to advance knowledge and
understanding of pangolins worldwide, their conservation,
natural history and ecology and to catalyze action to meet
these needs.”
The group has had a very productive 2013 and we worked
towards our mission by conducting key activities, such as
holding the 1st IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group

Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica). © Dan Challender White-lipped Peccary (Tayassu pecari). © Luzia Souza Teixeira Cunha
Conservation Conference, held at Wildlife Reserves finalized. We are now looking for funding. The purpose of
Singapore in June*. This three-day event, themed ‘Scaling up this meeting is to provide the arena for the creation of a tri-
pangolin conservation’ was attended by over 40 participants national conservation plan, involving Paraguay, Bolivia and
from 14 countries and included sessions on understanding Argentina.
the threats to pangolins, ecological research and the scope Another group-wide initiative, led by Arnaud Desbiez,
for conservation breeding. Our attendance at CITES CoP16 has been a collection of GPS points of known locations
included a side event on the trade in pangolins and making of Chacoan peccary presence and some details for each
an intervention on enforcement matters in Committee II. location to run a habitat suitability analysis. This information
Also in 2013, we revised assessments for all pangolins for will help us to evaluate possible distribution and priority
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™; developed a areas. This is an important step towards establishing a
detailed conservation strategy; held a public seminar in conservation action plan for the species.
Singapore on pangolins and their conservation predicament Many members of our group participated in an email
and developed a monograph to celebrate and raise conversation lasting several months, regarding information
awareness of the species. These activities contributed to the gathering and discussing the amount of evidence of local
IUCN’s Strategic Plan, particularly key species results: (15) extinctions and population crashes of White-lipped peccary.
Species Conservation Strategies, Actions Plans and tools, The group has been discussing a hypothesis to explain
(20) Conservation Breeding, and links to ex-situ community, these mysterious disappearances. Jose Fragoso and others
(21) Global and regional policy for biodiversity conservation have taken the lead in compiling this important information.
and (23) Communicating species conservation. An article will be published, drawing attention to this
We extend our thanks to the Wildlife Reserves Singapore phenomenon and a discussion of possible causes.
Group who co-organized this event and the Wildlife Reserves Alexine Keuroghlian has created a Facebook Page for
Singapore Conservation Fund, the Zoological Society of the Specialist Group, which has been very successful,
London, Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong, now with over 700 followers. The number of people who
San Antonio Zoo, the Houston Zoo and TRAFFIC for financial saw and interacted with content on our page since it was
support and sponsorship of the event. created in March 2013, totals 26,200. This page has helped
to disseminate information, interact with the public, and
Prof. Jonathan E. M. Baillie and Daniel W. S. provides a good place to post photos and videos of our
Challender species. We are currently working on launching a new
Co-chairs, Pangolin Specialist Group website.
Harald Beck and Mariana Altrichter

Peccary Specialist Group Co-chairs, Peccary Specialist Group
The overall aim of the Peccary Specialist Group is to promote
the long-term conservation of peccaries and their natural
habitats, and the recovery or restoration of peccary species, Pelican Specialist Group (PSG)
populations, and communities. The PELECANUS GROUP mailing-list, which is a forum
During 2013 the Peccary Specialist Group worked on for exchanging information about pelicans, now has 38
three major projects. We re-assessed White-lipped peccary, members. Members of the PSG have participated, within the
changing its status from Near Threatened to Vulnerable. We scope of their organisation’s activities, in the preparation and
updated the assessment of the Chacoan peccary, including submission of a project proposal made by the French NGO
new information coming from recent field studies. The group ‘NOÉ conservation’. The project will enhance conservation
has also been working on organizing a Chacoan Peccary efforts for the Dalmatian pelican nesting colonies in Lake
Workshop. This will be a collaborative effort between Skadar (Montenegro + Albania), Karavasta Lagoon (Albania)
members of the group and an NGO from Paraguay, Guyra. and Kerkini Reservoir (Greece). The project has received
The proposal has been written and logistics have been adequate funding and project activities are now being

implemented. Members of the PSG are participating by four wetlands – more than 150 juveniles were ringed in 2013),
offering expert advice and training. tagging and tracking (four juveniles were wing tagged with
The participants of the 1st workshop on pelican research transmitters for the first time in Lake Aktas, Turkey, and are
and conservation in SE Europe which was held in Prespa on being tracked regularly).
1–2 May 2012, prepared an article based on the main results
of the workshop. The article is about the current status (2011– Giorgos Catsadorakis
2012) of Dalmatian and Great White Pelicans in the Black Chair, Pelican Specialist Group
Sea / Mediterranean flyway and has now been submitted for
publication.
A joint initiative was launched by the Society for the Pinniped Specialist Group
Protection of Prespa and the Hellenic Ornithological Society, The activities of the Pinniped Specialist Group in 2013
to provide training and guidance to management bodies of included; extensive interface with and participation in the
protected areas in Greece, which host Dalmatian pelican newly formed Climate Change Specialist Group; serving as
nesting colonies (Amvrakikos, Messolonghi and Karla); a contact point for the IUCN Marine and Polar Programme,
focusing on identification, ageing, surveying and monitoring various regional offices and the SSC / CEESP Sustainable
of breeding performance in these colonies. Training Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group on seal-related issues,
commenced in 2012, with two on-site visits at Amvrakikos, and preparing to undertake the upcoming re-assessment of
and more visits are scheduled for 2014. In April 2013, pinniped species on The IUCN Red List.
the Society for the Protection of Prespa and the Hellenic The latter activity included expanding our group, with
Ornithological Society organized the first simultaneous census two new members to improve the coverage of available
of Dalmatian and Great White Pelicans throughout Greece; knowledge on pinnipeds globally and to deal with taxonomic
i.e. on all wetlands where pelicans regularly occur. This data reassessments. Critically Endangered species and populations
has allowed us to make the first-ever approximation of birds remain a focal point for the group, but members of the
present in the country during the breeding season. The PSG are also heavily engaged with local threats to pinniped
census targeted all birds (adult and immature) regardless of populations presented by fisheries operations, industrial
breeding status. development and in some cases, unsustainable harvesting of
Twelve Dalmatian pelicans of various ages were caught the pinnipeds themselves.
and tagged with GPS transmitters in 2012 and 2013, by the
Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP) within its permanent Dr Kit Kovacs
Pelican conservation program. In this context, a member Chair, Pinniped Specialist Group
of SPP’s Conservation and Research Team visited Israel in
October 2012, following an invitation by pelican experts from
The Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) with the objective Polar Bear Specialist Group (PBSG)
of gaining experience and training in capture and marking The PBSG is unlike the majority of other Specialist Groups as
techniques. Six of the pelicans are still being tracked during it not only focusses on a single species, but centers its work
post-breeding migration and wintering. All SPP actions for around a regional single-species conservation agreement.
pelicans were funded by the MAVA Foundation (Switzerland) This is the ‘Agreement on the conservation of polar bears’ of
and the Green Fund (Greek State). 1973, which was negotiated by the group in its infancy, and
A project called ‘Investigation of Population Size and taken care of by the group for a long period while the Parties
Trend, Breeding Biology, Migration and Gene Flow Patterns to the agreement were inactive between 1981 and 2007. The
of Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) in Turkey in a PBSG has taken a conservative approach to this very
Conservation Perspective’ which started in 2011, continues important task and has therefore reserved group membership
to be successful. This project is funded by TUBITAK. Some for active expertise in the field of polar bear research and
of the activities included in this project are ringing, (ongoing in management.
Dalmation pelicans – adults, immatures and juveniles in the Evros Delta, Atlantic Walrus. © Kit M. Kovacs and Christian Lydersen, Norwegian Polar
Greece. © Giorgos Catsadorakis Institute

The Parties to the original Agreement decided to reactivate Primate Specialist Group
their active engagement in 2007, and since 2009 they have The mission of the Primate Specialist Group (PSG) is to
held biennial meetings. The PBSG has served as independent maintain the current diversity of the Order Primates by
advisor to the Parties in these meetings. Recognizing its new ensuring the survival of threatened species wherever they
role, and the release from a perceived formal responsibility occur and providing effective protection for large numbers of
towards the agreement, the PBSG met under extraordinary primates in areas of high primate diversity and abundance.
circumstances in October 2012 in Oslo, to discuss internal 2013 saw the publication of the primate volume (3) of the
matters in order to address the significant global public series Handbook of the Mammals of the World; an
attention that polar bears and the effects of global warming encyclopaedic treatise with essays on each primate family and
now receive on a daily basis. The new guidelines developed at accounts and illustrations of all the species and subspecies – a
this meeting can be found on the group website. collaboration between the PSG and Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
The PBSG agrees that its main and most important A concurrent review of the primate taxonomy resulted in
function is to compile and communicate best available science the recognition of 488 species and 690 species and
about polar bears and their habitat, and to facilitate subspecies. Seven primates were described in 2013: a slow
collaboration among members of the group. The number of loris, a squirrel galago, two mouse lemurs, a dwarf lemur, and
tasks related to the advisory role is ever increasing, and the two woolly monkeys. A Section on Small Apes was formed;
group will discuss how to deal with the work load at its next headed up by Benjamin M. Rawson (FFI). He is organizing a
regular meeting in June 2014. Gibbon Rehabilitation, Reintroduction and Translocation
2013 has been an active year and the group has devoted Workshop to be held in Cambodia in 2014. An IUCN action
time and resources to several issues. We have updated the plan: Lemurs of Madagascar: A Strategy for their Conservation
status assessments for all 19 subpopulations, delivered factual 2013–2016 was published and launched in Madagascar in
input to provide a basis for the analysis of the proposal to July, 2013; a meeting about its implementation was convened
move polar bears from Annex II to Annex I of CITES, prepared at the International Prosimian Congress in Ranomafana,
for an update of The IUCN Red List assessment before 2015, Madagascar in August.
delivered statements in hearings of harvest quota in Canadian The Section on Great Apes (SGA) published guidelines for
subpopulations, delivered inputs to the Parties work towards a great ape conservation in Forestry Stewardship Council-
circumpolar action plan for polar bears, and finally participating certified concessions, and two IUCN conservation action plans
in the Meeting of the Parties to the 1973 Agreement in Moscow for great apes in the DR Congo; one for the bonobo, the other
in December 2013 with two official delegates. for Grauer’s gorilla and eastern chimpanzees. Together with
WCS Congo and WWF’s African Great Apes Programme, the
Dag Vongraven
Chair, Polar Bear Specialist Group
Handbook of the Mammals of the World Volume 3. Primates. Lynx Edicions
Pair of Polar Bears. © Andrew E Derocher Barcelona, 2013.

SGA organized a workshop in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, introductions. These new guidelines were developed by an
to review and update the regional conservation strategy for RSG Task Force which comprised mainly of the Re-
great apes in western equatorial Africa. The workshop was introduction and Invasive Species Specialist Groups. These
sponsored by the Arcus Foundation’s Great Apes Programme, new guidelines are now addressing issues such as Assisted
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Great Ape Colonization which are being conducted as a response to
Conservation Fund, and the United Nations Great Ape Survival issues such as climate change. These guidelines can be
Partnership (GRASP). downloaded here. The RSG has also published the 4th issue
Working groups were formed to write statements on: 1) the of the Global Re-introduction Perspectives: further case-
rapidly expanding oil palm industry in Africa; and 2) a proposal studies from around the globe, which can be downloaded
to install a cable car system in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National here. This present issue has a total of 52 case-studies from
Park, home to the Critically Endangered mountain gorilla. around the world.
Great apes were the focus of an international media event in The RSG would like to thank the following main donors;
Wyoming in September – the Great Ape Summit was Environment Agency-ABU DHABI, UAE, Denver Zoological
convened by the organizers of the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Foundation, USA, and Calgary Zoo.
Festival, the Arcus Foundation and GRASP. Delegates to the
summit issued a public statement on oil palm. The Steering Dr Frédéric Launay and Dr Axel Moehrenschlager
Committee of the SSC is preparing a statement on oil palm, Co-chairs, Re-introduction Specialist Group
drawing largely on the SGA and Great Ape Summit
statements. Issues of the PSG newsletters and journals,
Primate Conservation, Neotropical Primates, Lemur News and Rusts and Smuts Specialist Group
the Asian Primates Journal were published and placed for The primary objective of the Rusts and Smuts Specialist Group
open access on the PSG website. The Margot Marsh is to build awareness that microscopic fungi also need to be
Biodiversity Foundation (MMBF) continued to provide included in conservation documents and actions. The most
significant funding for primate research and conservation serious problem for assessment of the conservation status of
worldwide, and the Primate Action Fund, managed by species of these groups of fungi, is connected with a gap in
Conservation International, awarded 35 small grants in 2013. knowledge on the distribution of species (a limited number of
The work of the Red List Authority Coordinators was distribution records from almost all non-European regions).
mainly ‘behind the scenes’ in 2013. All 105 lemur Our efforts in 2013 were focused on (i) taxonomic revisions
reassessments from the 2012 workshop in Madagascar were (e.g., a monograph of Anthracoidea in Japan, the Kuriles,
finalized and sent out for review. We started planning the Red Korean Peninsula, and Sakhalin), (ii) accumulation of
Listing workshops for Neotropical and Asian primates, which distribution records, and (iii) preparation of a proposal aiming
will be held in 2014 as part of the GMA process. We also dealt at assessing the conservation status of smut fungi in East
with incoming external assessments (e.g., for the Javan slow Asia. The Rusts and Smuts Specialist Group continued
loris and the Angolan colobus).
Tilletia filisora – Thailand. © R.G. Shivas
Russell A. Mittermeier, Chair, Anthony B. Rylands, Deputy
Chair, Liz Williamson, Vice Chair – Section on Great Apes.
Primate Specialist Group.
Re-introduction Specialist Group

The Re-introduction Specialist Group (RSG) is a network of
specialists whose aim is to combat the ongoing and massive
loss of biodiversity by using re-introductions and other
conservation translocations as a responsible tool for the
management and restoration of biodiversity. It does this by
actively developing and promoting sound inter-disciplinary
scientific information, policy,
and practice to re-enforce,
reintroduce, or establish
populations in suitable habitat
for conservation outcomes.
In 2013, the RSG finalized
the IUCN Guidelines for
Reintroductions and Other
Conservation Translocations,
which were developed as an
initiative to update the 1995
IUCN Guidelines for Re-
Guidelines for Reintroductions and

Other Conservation Translocations
(2013).

seeking funds for this project in 2013 and will look for other total of 515,500 hectares under permanent protection. The
funding opportunities in 2014. Our Specialist Group has nine island is home to a rich diversity of plants and animals, including
members. the only known population of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus
mykiss) in the Russian Federation outside the Kamchatka
Prof. Cvetomir M. Denchev Peninsula. A great conservation milestone to reach right at the
Chair, Rusts and Smuts Specialist Group end of 2013!
Peter S. Rand
Salmonid Specialist Group Chair, Salmonid Specialist Group
We continue to develop as a Specialist Group, and have
expanded our membership to include a number of specialists
working on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) to complement our Sciaenidae Red List Authority
expertise on Pacific salmonids. The goals of the Sciaenidae Red List Authority are to complete
We completed IUCN Red List assessments for the the global IUCN Red List assessment of approximately 300
remaining members of the genus Hucho, a group of giant species of sciaenid fishes; create networks for solving
salmonids in Eurasia. We completed assessments of Siberian taxonomic problems of local species (e.g. recent emphasis in
taimen (Hucho taimen) VU, Sichuan taimen (Hucho bleekeri) China and Southeast Asia); support in-situ protection of coastal
CR, and Korean taimen (Hucho ishikawae) DD, and published a habitats associated with other threatened or more ‘charismatic’
summary paper on their status, highlighting the urgent need to species, e.g. hump back dolphin (Sousa chinensis) in Taiwan
take action to conserve them. We made progress during 2013 strait; encourage collaborative study on the impact of escaped
on reviewing and adding to IUCN Red List status assessments exotic aquaculture sciaenid species (e.g. Red Drum Sciaenops
of North American salmonids. The SSG Chair was asked to be ocellatus) along the China and Vietnam coast, and build a
part of an international team evaluating species and ecosystem- Global Sciaenidae Conservation Network based in the National
level impacts of a proposed hydroelectric dam in Mongolia that Museum of Marine Biology in Pingtung, Taiwan, to host a
would represent a substantial threat to Siberian taimen. We worldwide Sciaenidae specimens collection (so far, a total of
worked with the IUCN SSC to write a letter to the Austrian 120 species of fishes, otoliths, and tissue samples have been
government to raise issues related to a hydroelectric dam that catalogued).
would impact Danube salmon (Hucho hucho) EN. The Sciaenidae Red List Authority has over 50 specialist
We have also recently reached out to the Cat Specialist members worldwide. Over 90% of the 300 species of
Group and the Sturgeon Specialist Group to discuss combining Sciaenidae have been assessed and are currently under the
efforts on a multi-species conservation project in the Sikhote- final stages of review, before submission to IUCN. New World,
Alin mountain range in the Russian Far East, focusing on a set of West Africa and European Sciaenidae assessments are almost
charismatic species including Siberian tiger EN, Blakiston’s Fish complete; draft assessments of Indo-Pacific species
Owl EN, Sakhalin taimen (Parahucho perryi) CR and Sakhalin (undertaken in 2009 at the Manaus workshop) need further
sturgeon CR. The SSG Chair spent three months in Japan review.
during 2013 on a research fellowship, and worked with For 2012–13, local workshops and training sessions on
Japanese partners on a new monitoring effort to estimate the Chinese Sciaenidae were made in Mazhu, Kaoxiong, Shanghai
size of the adult population of Sakhalin taimen in a special river and Xiamen, to help resolve identification difficulties. To
protected area in Hokkaido. complete the Indo-Pacific Sciaenidae Red List, a consulting trip
We, in cooperation with the Wild Salmon Center and to visit local experts in Malaysia and Thailand is planned for the
Russian conservation partners, continue to pursue opportunities first half of 2014. The chairs and members of the group continue
to create new protected areas for salmonids in the Russian to participate in Red List assessment workshops when
Federation. It was announced late in 2013 that a new protected necessary and we continue to seek funds for our work with local
area was established in the Russian Far East, the Shantar specialists, in order to deal with local conservation issues.
Islands National Park. This represents the culmination of over 10
years of effort. This park encompasses an entire island Ning Labbish Chao and Ming Liu
archipelago and its surrounding marine waters, amounting to a Co-chairs, Sciaenidae Red List Authority
Shantar Islands National Park, Russia. © Misha Skopets Jackknife Fish (Equetus lanceolatus). © Labbish Chao

Sea Snake Specialist Group 2013. Continued monitoring of these threatened sea snake
The Sea Snake Specialist Group (SSSG) aims to promote the populations, and understanding the causal factors underlying
conservation of the world’s sea snakes by identifying, their declines, are key priorities for the SSSG.
documenting and developing practical strategies for mitigating
threats to their long-term survival and promoting, where Kate L. Sanders and Arne R. Rasmussen
necessary, the recovery of sustainable wild populations. We Co-chairs, Sea Snake Specialist Group
also work to advance knowledge and raise awareness of sea
snakes and their habitats. Our focal species are the marine
and coastal hydrophiines, and marine and freshwater Seagrass Specialist Group
homalopsids and acrochordids. Arne R. Rasmussen was The 72 species of seagrasses worldwide were assessed and
appointed as Co-chair of the SSSG in mid-2013, replacing listed on The IUCN Red List in 2011. The Seagrass Specialist
Vimoksalehi Lukoshek, who stepped down from this role in Group had a preliminary meeting at the International Seagrass
early 2013. Our group continues to expand, now with 35 Biology Workshop in Buzios, Brazil, 2012. Scientists from
members in 20 countries. around the world reported on some encouraging efforts to
A major focus of 2013 was the severe decline of sea restore and conserve seagrasses, along with a growing
snakes on the Timor Sea reefs of Northwestern Australia. Nine recognition of the importance of seagrass habitat to the
sea snake species were previously resident at the Ashmore ecology of the coastal oceans. Seagrasses are food for
Reef Marine Reserve, with high population densities in coral, manatee and dugongs as well as sea turtles, habitat for
sea grass and lagoon habitats. However, following unexplained numerous organisms including sea horses, and nursery areas
declines over the last ~15 years, all of these species have now for temperate and tropical fishes. The next specialist group
disappeared. The Critically Endangered and endemic short- meeting will be held on Hainan Island, China in 2014.
nosed and leaf-scaled sea snakes, Aipysurus apraefrontalis Halophila beccarii is a small oval-bladed seagrass which is
and A. foliosquama, were previously known only from Ashmore listed as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. This delicate
and neighbouring Hibernia Reef, but have not been sighted at species has suffered extensive destruction in Southeast Asia as
either reef since 1998 despite intensive survey efforts. a result of mangrove deforestation and creation of shrimp
Members of the SSSG brought attention to this overlooked aquaculture ponds. Working in southern China with the Guangxi
conservation crisis in 2013, via articles in international journals Mangrove Research Center, we have initiated a project to restore
and the popular press. A three-week survey of the Timor Sea H. beccarii to newly created mangrove reserves. Additionally,
reefs in March 2013 further documented the decline of sea we are growing this species in culture to assess the growth
snakes in this region, and revealed a collapse of reproductive patterns and determine expansion and turnover rates.
barriers (‘reverse speciation’) between A. laevis and The species status of the genus Halophila in the Pacific is
Endangered A. fuscus at tiny Hibernia Reef. Declines in sea under investigation through genetic analysis and barcoding, to
snake abundance over that last nine years in New Caledonia determine the degree of genetic similarity between numerous
were also documented and publicized by SSSG members in species. A southwest Australian research team is using genetic
analysis to examine the validity of species identifications that
Kate Sanders (left) and Arne Rasmussen (right) examining an Olive Sea have been based on morphological characteristics. The
Snake (Aipysurus laevis) in the Timor Sea.
analysis will help to create a better assessment of these
species found throughout the Indo-Pacific. Investigations of
the conservation status and genetics of Z. chilensis are
underway by a group based in southeast Australia to assess
this Endangered species. Zostera chilensis is one of the most
threatened seagrasses, and little is known about the species.
Growing on the Pacific coast of Chile, it has been documented
for many years but the extent and genetic characteristics of
this species needs further study.
Manatee eating Syringodium filiforme in Belize. © Hoslo Jiwa

An invasive seagrass, Halophila stipulacea, was first under review. We also contributed to the European Red
discovered in the Caribbean in 2005, arriving from either the Listing effort, which includes two sticklebacks
Mediterranean or the Indian Ocean. Since 2005, it has spread (Gasterosteidae) and 19 Syngnathiformes. We conducted Red
to 15 islands extending across the Caribbean from Aruba to St List training for 20 participants at the SyngBio Symposium in
John. Although seagrasses are not generally considered to be Portugal.
invasive, there is evidence that Halophila stipulacea is We formally collaborated with CITES Authorities in Thailand
displacing one of the native Caribbean species, Syringodium and Vietnam, as they work to implement CITES
filiforme; and there is concern for its potential impact on two recommendations issued under the first Review of Significant
other threatened species, Halophila baillonii (Vulnerable) and Trade (RST) for any fully marine fish (in this case, for the three
Halophila engelmanni (Near Threatened). seahorse species mentioned above). This became particularly
important as the Standing Committee banned Vietnam in
Frederick T. Short March from exporting H. kuda – the first export ban under
Chair, Seagrass Specialist Group CITES for any fully marine fish. We have developed a
framework for making Non-Detriment Findings for Seahorses,
which was reviewed and improved by colleagues in Thailand,
Seahorse, Pipefish and Stickleback Vietnam and internationally. We also provided information to
Specialist Group UNEP-WCMC during its review of four seahorse species
Project Seahorse, acting as the IUCN SSC Seahorse, Pipefish recently brought under the RST: Hippocampus algiricus,
and Stickleback Specialist Group, continued to make H. barbouri, H. histrix, and H. trimaculatus. We co-authored
measurable strides toward an improved conservation status (along with the Chair of the Grouper and Wrasse SG, ex-co-
for seahorses, in particular. We held a consultative discussion Chair of the Shark SG and Chair of the SC Policy
meeting on the formation of the Specialist Group at the Subcommittee) a substantial review paper about CITES and
Syngnathid Biology International Symposium in Faro, Portugal marine fishes in Fish and Fisheries. Field surveys were
in March 2013, with about 30 experts on syngnathid biology conducted in Senegal to provide trade analysis and biological
attending. data on the heavily exploited species, H. algiricus.
We carried out a rapid assessment of seahorses in Powered by iNaturalist, we launched iSeahorse, a new
Thailand, as well as studies of seahorse fisheries and research citizen science web-based tool and iPhone app. This venture
on seahorse life history in Malaysia. We provided expertise in a allows citizens to upload all seahorse sightings, in a bid to map
shoreline development project in Hong Kong, and developed distributions and address the Data Deficient status of far too
regional identification guides for seahorses in trade for many seahorse species. We also initiated a national iSeahorse
Southeast Asia which were translated into Thai and Vietnamese. programme in the Philippines; this will serve as a pilot study for
We collated and synthesized all known material on seahorse broader global development. We have created a trends toolkit
biology, life history, habitats, fisheries, trade, management, and for iSeahorse, which will allow users to engage in repeat
conservation action for Hippocampus kelloggi, H. kuda, and monitoring of the same seahorse populations, and therefore
H. spinosissimus in Thailand and Vietnam. Technical advice was contribute longitudinal data of direct conservation utility. There
provided to scientists, resource managers, aquarium were training workshops for potential monitoring teams on the
professionals, aquaculture technicians, and school children. upcoming trends elements of iSeahorse in Singapore and at
IUCN Red List assessments have been completed for the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. We frequently share
eight sticklebacks (Gasterosteidae – only one of which had seahorse information and images via Facebook (3,600 users)
previously been assessed). Both pegasids (Pegasidae, sea and Twitter (1,600 followers) and we produced 37 blogs;
moths) were re-assessed and are now awaiting submission, including stories in National Geographic Newswatch and
while assessments for two seahorse species are currently Huffington Post.
We gratefully thank a wonderful set of generous and hugely
valued donors and partners for supporting Project Seahorse
H. Histrix – Indonesia. © Rudi Rombouts-GuyLian SOTW and, through us, our SSC work.
Amanda Vincent
Chair, Seahorse, Pipefish and Stickleback Specialist Group
Shark Specialist Group (SSG)

Our vision is for a world where sharks, rays, skates, and
chimaeras are valued and managed for sustainability. Our
mission is to secure the conservation, management and where
necessary, the recovery of the world’s sharks, rays and
chimaeras by mobilizing global technical and scientific expertise
to provide the knowledge that enables action.
In 2013, the SSG completed a strategic planning
exercise and now has a refreshed vision, mission, guiding
principles and core activities. Co-chairs, Nick Dulvy and Colin
Simpfendorfer, and Program Officer Lucy Harrison attended
CITES as part of the IUCN delegation. Lucy Harrison worked
on the IUCN/TRAFFIC review of the proposals, soliciting SSG

Giant Guitarfish (Rhynchobatus djiddensis). © Matt D. Potenski Trichechus senegalensis. © Tomas Diagne / Oceanium Dakar
members to determine whether proposals meet the criteria throughout their ranges, especially in developing range states.
for listing. Other SSG members were involved in the FAO ad To lead the development of regional goals and objectives, the
hoc technical working group that reviews the proposals. The Sirenia Specialist Group has been re-organized into six
full IUCN/TRAFFIC analysis can be found here. Details of regions; South American Regional Group, Meso-America
the FAO Assessment of the CITES Proposals are available Regional Group, United States Regional Group, West African
here. Regional Group, Indian Ocean Region Members, Pacific
Seven species of shark and ray were listed on CITES Regional Group.
Appendices: Oceanic Whitetip Shark, three Hammerhead The Specialist Group hosted the sixth International Sirenian
species, two Manta Rays, and with the uplisting of Pristis Workshop at the 20th Biennial Meeting of the Society of
microdon, all sawfishes are now listed in Appendix I. With the Marine Mammalogy in Dunedin, New Zealand in December
EU Red List Office, the SSG began re-assessing all 143 2013. The group newsletter Sirenews continues to be
European sharks and rays. We published the North American published bi-annually. In March 2013, CITES approved the
regional Red List report which received considerable media transfer of the West African manatee from Appendix II to
uptake, particularly in North and South America. Appendix I. Experts from the Sirenia Specialist Group
Nick Dulvy was invited to contribute to a Calgary Shark Fin strengthened the final proposal. Twenty-five range states have
Task Force, co-chaired by Aldermen Farrell and Pincott, now signed the UNEP/CMS Dugong MOU. Co-chair Helene
including Shark Fin Free Calgary, the Calgary Zoo, and Marsh attended the Second Signatory State Meeting (SS2) of
representatives from the community; with the goal of achieving the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and
meaningful civic action on the issue of shark finning. Both Management of Dugongs and their Habitats throughout their
Chairs reviewed all Save Our Species applications for the Range in Manila, Philippines, in February 2013. The GEF
“Sharks and Rays” call. Nick Dulvy won funds to undertake a Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project Document has
scoping project to start developing a global Conservation successfully undergone the UNEP Panel Review and is ready
Strategy for Manta and Devil Rays. A follow-on proposal was for submission to the GEF Secretariat for GEF review and
submitted to Save Our Seas Foundation. Colin Simpfendorfer endorsement.
won funds to develop national Shark and Ray report cards for One of the goals of the Sirenia Specialist Group is to
Australia; this process will enable us to reassess the Australian promote regional conservation actions of the Amazonian
and Oceania species. Simpfendorfer participated in a meeting manatee. In August 2013, Co-chair Benjamin Morales visited
of Pacific nations to build capacity to deal with sharks listed by the Centro de Rescate Amazónico (Rescue Amazonian
CITES. This included training on the development of NDFs and Center) (ACOBIA-DWAZOO) in Iquitos, Peru, to learn of their
cooperative arrangements between nations. Amazonian manatee recovery program and educational
The influence of the SSG continues to grow; we now have programs. This visit provided an opportunity to talk with the
5,129 Facebook and 2,297 Twitter followers. Our work was Centre Director Javier Velásquez, about developing regional
made possible through the generous support of the Save Our strategies to improve the regional coordination between
Seas Foundation, the US State Department, the Fisheries different institutions and NGOs, working on the conservation of
Headquarters Program Office, US Department of Commerce the Amazonian manatee and its habitat along the Amazonian
and the Mohammed bin Zayed Foundation Species River. Morales also travelled to Puerto Narino in Colombia, to
Conservation Fund. talk with Sarita Kendall at the Natütama Center and to learn
about their educational programs. There was widespread
Nick Dulvy and Colin Simpfendorfer enthusiasm for a regional workshop to encourage new
Co-chairs, Shark Specialist Group collaborations between organizations. In November of 2013,
Javier Velásquez and Juan Sánchez from ACOBIA and Fabia
Luna from the National Center of Aquatic Mammal from Brazil
Sirenia Specialist Group came to Mexico to share their experiences in manatee
The overarching goal of the Sirenia Specialist Group is to conservation in captivity and reintroduction programs with
promote effective conservation of all four species of sirenians Mexican experts.

The major task for the group in 2014 is the re-assessment University of Fort Hare and Southern African Wildlife
of the conservation status of the four species of sirenia for The Management Association for contributions to the Africa
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. Special Edition of the SCC journal, and to the Houston Zoo,
Greenville Zoo and Missisippi State University (MSU) for
Helene Marsh, Benjamin Morales contributions towards the previous SCC issue. We are also
Co-chairs, Sirenia Specialist Group grateful to MSU, Arizona State University, Universidad Nacional
Autónoma de México, and the Sierra to Sea Institute for their
in-kind sponsorship of SCSG chairs.
Small Carnivore Specialist Group (SCSG)
Small carnivores represent over half of all species in the order Jan Schipper and José F. González-Maya
Carnivora. This diverse group includes over 150 species in Chair, Small Carnivore Specialist Group
nine families (Ailuridae, Eupleridae, Herpestidae, Mephitidae,
Mustelidae, Nandiniidae, Prionodontidae, Procyonidae, and
Viverridae). A central theme of the SCSG is to improve the Small Mammal Specialist Group
dissemination of information on this incredible group of Formed in 2011, the Small Mammal Specialist Group (SMSG)
species. The goals of the SCSG, as established by IUCN, are is an expanding global network of scientists and
to: 1) Provide leadership for the conservation of all small conservationists who specialize in the world’s rodents, shrews,
carnivore species, 2) Determine and review on a continuing moles, solenodons, hedgehogs and tree-shrews. Our mission
basis the status and needs of small carnivores, and support is to serve as the “global authority on the world’s small
effective research, conservation, and management programs, mammals through developing a greater scientific
and 3) Make known the status and conservation needs of understanding of their diversity, status and threats, and by
small carnivores, and promote their wise management. promoting effective conservation action to secure their future”.
Two issues of the journal Small Carnivore Conservation Our volunteer members conduct fieldwork and lab research to
(SCC) were produced; one dedicated to African species improve the world’s scientific understanding of the taxonomy,
(volume 48) and another focusing globally (volume 47). Both ecology and conservation status of over 2,800 of these often
can be accessed via the journal website. In addition, group poorly known species. We promote conservation actions on
members were convened at a symposium during the 11th the ground for species of conservation concern, and develop
International Mammalogical Congress 2013 (Belfast, Ireland), strategies to enable more effective conservation of small
entitled “Small Carnivores in Space and Time”. Group mammals.
members have been working to produce two published In 2013, we conducted a global analysis of small mammal
proceedings; a book resulting from the collection of chapters distributions to pinpoint sites and regions around the world that
presented at the IMC2013 Congress and another proceeding support globally important small mammal assemblages. This
of the ‘Borneo Conservation Symposium’ from an earlier underpinned a conservation prioritisation process to guide
conference. Additionally, the SCSG was among the sponsors membership recruitment, and focus our knowledge gathering
of ‘A conference on the biology and conservation of wild for Red Listing and action-planning for conservation. With Dr
mustelids, skunks, procyonids and Red Panda’ held at the Kris Helgen, we completed a rapid taxonomic review of the
Department of Zoology, University of Oxford. Finally, several rodents, tree-shrews and eulipotyphlan insectivores, listing
group members were involved in the description of a new around 120 or so species that have been described since 2008
small carnivore species, the olinguito (Bassaricyon neblina), with many other sub-species taxonomic revisions. With the
the first new mammal species in the order Carnivora described Global Mammal Assessment Team of Rome’s Sapienza
in the Americas in 35 years. University, we launched a major project to assess or reassess
We are thankful to a great number of donors and the 2,800 small mammal species for The IUCN Red List by end
sponsoring organizations, as well as the group itself and to the of 2015. So far, we have completed 50 assessments of new
journal specifically. We are indebted to the Nature small mammal species – now on the Global Mammal Forum –
Conservation Foundation for maintaining the group and journal and will have completed roughly 200 species reassessments by
website, to the Zoological Society of Southern Africa, the end of the year. In October, we launched our new website
Olinguito (Bassaricyon neblina). © Miguel Pinto Hispaniolan Solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus). © Jose Nunez-Mino

and associated Facebook pages and Twitter accounts as
networking and information-sharing tools. The website serves
as an information hub for researchers, conservation
professionals and keen naturalists interested in the status of the
world’s small mammals. It promotes the work of some of our
global expert members investigating small mammal diversity
and working in remote places around the world to save the most
endangered species of small mammal. We started recruitment
of 10 Regional Chairs who will help drive the development of the
SMSG and ensure greater regional representation at the senior
levels of the group.
Finally, we are very grateful to the Durrell Wildlife
Conservation Trust, the Texas A&M University and the
Zoological Society of London for their generous support of the
SMSG. Lane Snapper (Lutjanus synagris). © D. Synder
Dr Richard Young and Dr Thomas E. Lacher, Jr

Co-chairs, Small Mammal Specialist Group
Snapper, Seabream, Grunt Specialist Group
(SSG SG)
Snake and Lizard Red List Authority Our mission is to achieve sustainable use and global
In 2013, the Snake and Lizard Red List Authority focused on conservation of snapper, seabream, grunt, and associated
reviewing IUCN Red List assessments resulting from Global species through improved scientific knowledge, public
Reptile Assessment (GRA) workshops, and on submitting awareness, and optimized management decision-making. The
species assessments with completed reviews, to The IUCN SSG SG is focused on completing IUCN Red List assessments
Red List. A key element of IUCN’s strategic plan is to increase of over 500 species, as well as diverse conservation needs
the coverage of different taxonomic groups on The IUCN Red and regional issues.
List. IUCN Red List assessments are now being conducted for
Just over 600 reptile species (including reassessments and all snappers and grunts of the Mediterranean, East and West
a small number of corrected assessments) were added to The Atlantic, and Arabian (Persian) Gulf (Lutjanidae and
IUCN Red List in 2013, bringing the total number of reptiles on Haemulidae, >80 species), as well as seabreams worldwide
The IUCN Red List to over 4,000 (over 40% of the global total) (Sparidae, 136 species) and smaller families. Our group
for the first time. The majority of these species were included in members are currently working on Marine Protected Area
the first IUCN Red List update in 2013, and included the (MPA) and regulatory initiatives in some regions, with a focus
majority of regional endemics from the 2012 GRA workshops on conserving spawning aggregations using available data and
on the reptiles of Central America and West Africa. traditional ecological knowledge from fishers. Regional Red
Additionally, a number of recently-recognized, highly Listing work includes European region (Mediterranean and
threatened skinks from the Caribbean were both assessed and Atlantic coast of Europe and E Atlantic islands of Spain and
reviewed through the RLA membership, and a moderate Portugal) – 30 species of Centracanthidae, Haemulidae,
number of species with outstanding queries following 2011’s Sparidae, (drafts completed in 2013); Northwest Atlantic
Western Ghats and Oceania workshops, were also added to (Bahamas workshop in 2012); Eastern Atlantic (Ghana
The IUCN Red List; completing these regions for the GRA (with workshop in 2013) and Arabian (Persian) Gulf (Qatar workshop
the exception of only individual species which remain under in 2013).
review).
Dr Barry Russell and Dr Ken Lindeman
Philip Bowles Co-chairs, Snapper, Seabream, Grunt Specialist Group
Chair, Snake and Lizard Red List Authority
Mexican Parrot Snake (Leptophis mexicanus). © Philip Bowles South American Camelid Specialist Group
(GECS)
Our mission is to promote the conservation and sustainable
use of (wild) South American Camelids in their area of
geographic distribution.
During 2013 we took part in several activities from the
international to the national level. At the international level, we
reviewed an IUCN/Traffic report on the transfer of the
Ecuadorian population of Vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) from
Appendix I to Appendix II. We participated at the IPBES
meeting on Contribution of Indigenous and Local Knowledge
Systems to IPBES: Building synergies with science. We
participated at the XXX Meeting of the Vicuña Convention, held
in Ecuador and contributed to the elaboration of resolutions.
After the meeting, we maintained collaborations with the Pro-

Témpore Secretariat by providing technical information and (SAsISG) is to influence, encourage, and assist societies in
concerns with regards to pacovicuña breeding in USA. In South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives,
November, we participated at the First Board Meeting of the Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) to conserve invertebrate
Vicuña Managing Communities Association and provided diversity; to achieve it through knowledge, empowerment,
advice. At the national level, several of our members governance and operations.
participated in the first and second workshop to develop a We collated and created baseline information on butterflies
national census for the guanaco in Argentina, and we took part of South Asia; for 750 species of butterflies from six families.
in the Preparatory Worksop for the development of a Vicuña The objective of the project is to assess and to develop a
Management Plan. Several of our members were involved in conservation action plan for this region. We initiated a project
the development of sustainable use initiatives for vicuñas and to collate species information on millipedes of India, for
guanacos. At present, we are assessing a law proposal that species assessment at a later date. We conducted an
wants to put the management of guanaco on the same basis invertebrate pollinator conservation training and education
as sheep in Argentinean Patagonia. workshop in India, in collaboration with international and local
Red List Authority members started working on the partners. This exercise will be repeated to cover the rest of the
reassessment of vicuñas and guanacos at the species level region. We designed and published educational materials on
which will be finished in April 2014. This assessment will be invertebrate pollinator conservation. Recommendations of the
followed by an assessment at the subspecies level, to be Western Ghats freshwater biodiversity assessment report were
undertaken during 2014. We have developed new quantitative implemented, and wide awareness was created through
guidelines for the admission of new group members; the new training and outreach.
assessments will be based on research and academic We greatly acknowledge the following donors for their
experience on South American wild camelids, dissemination generous support – Zoological Society of London, Mohamed
activities, articulation with the public sector, priority areas, and bin Zyed Conservation Fund, Chester Zoo, Xerces Society,
present engagement with camelid research. In our visit to Columbus Zoo and the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund.
Ecuador, IUCN-Sur filmed an interview where we promoted the
work of our group and discussed the conservation challenges Dr Bexell Ayyachamy Daniel and Dr Muhammad
for vicuñas and guanacos. Ather Rafi
We would like to thank the Copenhagen Zoo for their Co-chairs, South Asian Invertebrate Specialist Group
support, which enabled us to attend the Vicuña Convention.
Dr Gabriela Lichtenstein Southern African Plant Specialist Group

Chair, South American Camelid Specialist Group The Southern African Plant Specialist Group (SAPSG) consists
of 20 botanists working in Southern African countries (South
Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe,
South Asian Invertebrate Specialist Group Botswana and Namibia). The main aim of this group is to
The objective of the South Asian Invertebrate Specialist Group conduct conservation assessments of plant species endemic
to the region, and to ensure the effective monitoring and
conservation of plant species of conservation concern.
Vicuñas en los Andes. © Dr Gabriela Lichtenstein
During 2013, extensive work on surveying the woody flora
of northern Mozambique was undertaken by members of the
SAPSG. This area has been found to contain high numbers of
endemic woody species (85) and it also shares many
restricted range species with the Lindi region of southern
Tanzania. As a result of this work, a new centre of endemism
shared between northern Mozambique and southern Tanzania
called the Rovuma centre will be published. The rich forests of
Pill millipede, Agumbe rainforest, Karnataka. © Blnu Priya

northern Mozambique are under severe threat from gas and oil assessments of North American sturgeons. The Eurasian
drilling and associated development; rural expansion of the sturgeons were assessed in 2009, revealing a severe decline in
Mozambican population with associated deforestation and the conservation status of these species, compared to the
planting of agricultural crops, logging for timber and too 1996 assessment. North American sturgeons have not been
frequent fires. During 2014, the SAPSG will conduct IUCN Red assessed since 2006, therefore to ensure a 10 year interval in
List assessments on the endemic and near endemic species the updates of the species assessments the North American
of the Rovuma centre. members of the SSG and selected experts convened a
In South Africa, 760 IUCN Red List assessments for preparatory meeting on July 20, 2013 in the facilities of the
threatened plant species were updated and have been Vancouver Island University. Due to the composition of the
included on the South African National Red List website. A updated membership, the workshop focused on devising the
network of over 500 citizen scientists take part in plant assessment process as well as on its technical prerequisites.
conservation work as part of the Custodians of Rare and Given financial constraints, the meeting participants agreed to
Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) programme. During 2013, carry out the assessments by the end of 2014, via a series of
800 populations of plant species of conservation concern web-based meetings and surveys. The main challenges in
were monitored by CREW volunteers. This data is now being completing the assessment will be the recognition and
used to update The IUCN Red List status of threatened plants. evaluation of distinct population segments and how this
The CREW programme, established in 2003, celebrated its 10 translates into overall, species-level Red List status. Timely
year anniversary last year, and to mark this milestone a completion of the North American assessments will result in
publication highlighting the plight of threatened plants in South the availability of new rankings in 2015.
Africa, and celebrating the excellent work done by this network
of volunteers was published. The publication ’Plants in Peril’ Dr Mohammad Pourkazemi and Dr Phaedra Doukakis
features 100 of South Africa’s highly threatened plant species Co-chairs, Sturgeon Specialist Group
and the people protecting them.
Ms Domitilla Raimondo Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist

Chair, Southern African Plant Specialist Group Group (SULi)
The mission of SULi is to promote both conservation and local
livelihoods through enhancing equitable and sustainable use of
Sturgeon Specialist Group wild species and their associated ecosystems.
The Sturgeon Specialist Group (SSG) is a global network of In 2013, SULi, working with IIED and TRAFFIC and
over 60 experts contributing to the conservation and supported by the International Trade Centre, developed an
sustainable use of sturgeon. In 2013, Dr Phaedra Doukakis of ‘Analytical Framework’ (currently in draft), to guide the analysis
the USA was added as Co-chair of the group. She will serve of wildlife trade chains to better understand how they interact
along with Prof. Mohammad Pourkazemi of Iran, who has (positively and negatively) with conservation and local
served as Chair of the group since 1999. In 2013, Dr Joern livelihoods, SULi initiated and helped develop and fund an
Gessner of Germany, a long-time SSG member, was ongoing FAO-led study examining the contribution of wild meat
appointed as the Red List Authority Coordinator. This year, the to food security in southern Africa. This is linked to an ongoing
composition of SSG members was also significantly process in southern Africa to tackle widespread illegal use of
restructured, with members from additional countries invited to wild meat and support food security and sustainable
join, thereby increasing the international reach of the SSG. The management (led by WCS/ZSL Rangewide Program for
group currently includes experts from 17 countries, spanning Cheetah and Wild Dog and Panthera). SULi has helped
the range of sturgeon species. develop the new 12 member international Collaborative
At the 7th International Symposium on Sturgeons (ISS7), Partnership on Wildlife, launched in the margins of CITES CoP
held 21–25 July 2013 in Nanaimo, BC, Canada, a meeting was 16 in April 2013 and currently focused on wild meat. SULi has
organized to prepare for an update of The IUCN Red List helped develop thinking across the SSC on integrating
The Rovuma centre of endemism, shared between northern Mozambique North American Green Sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris). © Thomas B.
and southern Tanzania. Dunklin

traditional knowledge with science, particularly with respect to 23rd Conference of the TTSS. A total of 50 oral presentations
Red List assessments. SULi members are part of the and 10 posters reviewed by the Scientific Committee were
Convention on Migratory Species’ Saker Falcon Task Force, accepted for the symposium, which was held at Easton,
and were contracted to provide analysis on current Saker Maryland, USA from 3–6 February 2014. Four workshops were
Falcon populations, trends in trapping, and advice on how the also included in the schedule, on: (i) avian interactions with
Task Force can best engage with trappers to improve electric power lines, (ii) implantation of the AEWA Bewick’s
monitoring of populations and sustainability of harvest and Swan Species Action Plan, (iii) future organisation/
trade. At the request of the Bern Convention, under the management of the Swan Specialist Group, and (iv) estimating
Council of Europe, SULi developed a draft Charter on Fungi- population viability by applying stochastic growth models to
gathering and Biodiversity which was adopted in December annual counts of swan populations.
2013. Most swan populations are considered to be of low
SULi is playing a leading role in development of learning conservation concern, but the Northwest European Bewick’s
products on sustainable use in protected areas for the World Swan population is in rapid decline. To address this issue, a
Parks Congress (in collaboration with WCPA). At the World Bewick’s Swan Species Action Plan was developed, which
Parks Congress, SULi will lead a workshop session in stream was adopted by AEWA in May 2012. Data from the January
4 on sustainable use and food security, and a workshop 2010 Bewick’s Swan census were collated during 2013; results
session in stream 6 on governance. SULi has linked with IUCN indicated a further decline to c. 18,000 individuals, 16% fewer
CEM Fisheries Expert Group (FEG) and the International than the 21,500 recorded in January 2005. Range states are
Collective in Support of Fishworkers to work with FAO on small taking forward priority actions identified within the Action Plan,
scale fisheries, focused on implementation of their forthcoming including the development of a National Bewick’s Swan Action
Small Scale Fisheries Guidelines. An initial Panel Discussion Plan for Estonia, a key staging area for the population in both
was held at the MARE Conference in Amsterdam in May 2013. autumn and spring. Updated population estimates were
SULi provided input into many IUCN and other policy published for the Icelandic Whooper Swan population and for
processes, including CITES CoP 16 and relevant positions of Western and Eastern Tundra Swan populations.
the European Union. In November 2013, SULi was consulted
and assisted in organizing the agenda for the United for Wildlife Eileen Rees
Symposium on Illegal Wildlife Trafficking. SULi has also been Chair, Swan Specialist Group
asked to lead a global study on seal management in 2014.
Mike Murphree Tapir Specialist Group

Chair, Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group The Tapir Specialist Group (TSG) is a global group of
biologists, zoo professionals, researchers and advocates
dedicated to conserving tapirs and their habitat through
Swan Specialist Group strategic action-planning in countries where tapirs live. By
The mission of the Swan SG is to facilitate communication sharing information and educational outreach, we show the
between swan researchers and conservationists world-wide, in importance of the tapir to local ecosystems and to the world at
order to improve links for cooperative research, identify gaps in large.
knowledge and provide a forum for addressing swan The major goal of the TSG is to conserve biological
conservation issues, especially at an international level. The diversity by stimulating, developing, and executing practical
Swan SG currently consists of over 400 members from 38 programs to study, save, restore and manage the four species
countries. Our website (currently in review) can be accessed of tapir and their remaining habitats in Central and South
here. America and Southeast Asia. The TSG strives to achieve this
International Swan Symposia have been held at goal through the implementation of the following strategies;
approximately 10-year intervals since the first meeting was frequent review, status determination, and publicizing of tapirs
convened at Slimbridge, UK, in December 1971. Early in 2013, and their needs, promoting and supporting tapir research and
the Trumpeter Swan Society (TTSS) kindly offered to host the conservation, promoting the implementation of strategic
5th International Swan Symposium in conjunction with the action plans by appropriate organizations and governments,
Bewick’s Swans in flight. © Paul Marshall Tapir. © Patrícia Medici

and establishing strong and effective relationships among invertebrates (including pollinators), poses a major threat to
tapir conservationists to stimulate communication and biodiversity and ecosystem services, a number of independent
cooperation. scientists established a Task Force on Systemic Pesticides in
In 2013, the TSG continued to make steady progress in 2009. This Task Force now resides under the IUCN Species
developing National Action Plans for Tapirs in each tapir range Survival (SSC) and Ecosystem Management (CEM)
country in South and Central America and Southeast Asia. Commissions. At present, the group consists of 49 experts
TSG country coordinators and committees are working and scientists from 15 countries, in addition to a number of
tirelessly towards implementing the priority actions and goals correspondents in other countries. Dr.Maarten Bijleveld van
developed for each plan. The TSG is well on its way to the Lexmond, of Neuchâtel, Switzerland, former Executive Officer
implementation of the TSG Strategic Plan 2012–2014. A new of the IUCN Commission on Ecology, has been asked to be its
three-year Strategic Plan will be developed during the Sixth Chairman, while Dr J.P. van der Sluijs of the University of
International Tapir Symposium to be held in Brazil in November Utrecht, Netherlands, agreed to become its Science
2014. The TSG has completely revamped the TSG Coordinator.
Conservation Fund (TSGCF); increasing its donor basis and The Task Force aims to describe clearly the ever-increasing
running a successful 2013 funding cycle. Five proposals were risks to ecosystems and biodiversity; to demonstrate the
selected for funding, including projects in Belize, Colombia, imbalance in present knowledge; to determine the
Ecuador, Myanmar and Nicaragua. The TSG made significant consequences for public health; to look for alternatives and to
progress on the review and update of several of its inform the public at large. In order to achieve the goals of the
publications including the TSG Veterinary Manual, TSG this Task Force, a strategy with its objectives and phases of
Protocols for Genetic Studies and TSG Guidelines for execution was developed through working meetings in Paris,
Reintroductions and Translocations. Tapirs continued to have France (2010), Bath, UK (2011), Cambridge, UK (2012), Padua,
significant exposure in the media and the tapir conservation Italy (2012), Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium (2013) and Tokyo,
cause has received a lot of attention from the general public, Japan (2013), with financial support of twelve European
particularly in Brazil. organizations and foundations in Germany, Japan and The
The TSG would like to acknowledge the generous support Netherlands. The Task Force reviews its progress at biannual
of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Tapir Taxon meetings and has entered into a formal partnership with
Advisory Group (TAG), Copenhagen Zoo, European Utrecht University, Netherlands.
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA) Tapir Taxon This year, two scientific papers were published concerning
Advisory Group (TAG), Houston Zoo, and hundreds of other the impact of systemic pesticides on macro-invertebrates in
zoos worldwide! surface water, as well as the impact on bees and pollinator
ecosystem services.
Patrícia Medici In Asia, a public symposium was organized in Tokyo on
Chair, Tapir Specialist Group 2–3 September 2012, which involved leading Japanese
experts and NGO’s, in collaboration with the Act Beyond Trust
and Japan Endocrine-Disruptor Preventive Action, JEPA. This
Task Force on Systemic Pesticides (TFSP) was followed by symposia on “Human Health Effects of Neo-
In recognition of the fact that the rapidly growing global use of nicotinoid Pesticides” and on “Impacts on Honey Bees, Aquatic
highly persistent systemic pesticides, unprecedentedly toxic to Ecosystems and Rice Cultivation” in Tokyo, 9–11 June 2013.
The Task Force’s 7th international working meeting took
Bumblebee. © D.A.Noome
place in Legnaro, Italy on 4–8 November 2013, incorporating a
Phytoiatric Forum organized by Veneto Agricoltura. During the
forum, the Task Force examined the final version of its
extensive synthesis report on the ecological risks of systemic
pesticides.
Maarten Bijleveld van Lexmond

Chair, Task Force on Systemic Pesticides
Temperate South American Plants Specialist

Group
There are more than 19,800 species of plants under the
scope of the Temperate South American Plants Specialist
Group; evaluating such a large number of species is an
extraordinary challenge. Considering that the SSC Strategic
Plan indicates that the assessment of plants needs to be
substantially enlarged to represent adequately the diversity
of life, we are focusing our efforts on endemic species, with
the objective to assess at least 1,000 endemic species in
the period 2013–2016. Our key strategy is to involve local
provincial governments in financing assessment workshops;
such meetings provide excellent opportunities to interact with
officials of local administrations in charge of conservation

Seychellonema gerlachi. © Justin Gerlach
established. Discussions with hoverfly experts failed to result in

any progress in forming a hoverfly group, but Red List groups
within TIRLA were established for centipedes and millipedes,
ants and South American tarantulas. It is hoped that in time
these may develop into full Specialist Groups. These are only
limited achievements and fall far from establishing the
infrastructure needed. The failure to develop the necessary
infrastructure is not due to a lack of experts or interest, but
reflects the impossibility of allocating sufficient time to the task
Ramorinoa girolae, an endemic species of Western Argentina (distributed in
the Provinces of La Rioja, San Luis and San Juan), provisionally assessed as on a purely voluntary basis.
Endangered. © Pablo Demaio Similarly, there has been progress in increasing the number
of invertebrate assessments on The IUCN Red List, but this is
policies. mainly the result of a small number of highly focussed
In 2013 we began contacting Provincial officials in Argentina. initiatives and does little to improve the diversity of invertebrate
As a result of this enterprise, we completed the first workshop species on The IUCN Red List. Of the total of 454 TIRLA
in July 2013, in the province of San Juan, assessing 53 species added to the list, 315 were dung beetles assessed for
endemic species with the participation of local experts and the the Dung Beetle Sampled Red List Index (SRLI), making good
counseling of Dr Mariella Superina, Chair of the Anteater, Sloth progress towards the 2014 target for that group. This is largely
and Armadillo Specialist Group, to whom we are very thankful. due to the great efforts of Monika Bohm in coordinating and
There is another workshop arranged for 2014 in the Province checking these assessments. One cave spider and a single
of San Luis, in which we plan to evaluate another 25 species. species of psyllid bug were also assessed. This represents a
In parallel, we are interacting with local scientific 34% increase in assessed species since 2012, but is far from a
institutions, trying to include the assessment of endemic representative sample.
species in scientific projects. The Specialist Group is formally A major initiative for 2013 was the reassessment of 415
involved in the project ‘Native plants of the centre of Argentina: species of non-marine invertebrate assessments dating from
diversity, uses and conservation’, led by staff scientists of the 1996, almost all of which were assessed without data to
Botanical Museum of Córdoba (Herbarium acronym CORD). In support the allocated category. At the start of 2013 these
this project, we plan to evaluate 269 endemic species represented just over 50% of non-marine invertebrate species
distributed in the Provinces of Córdoba, Santiago del Estero on The IUCN Red List, making the accuracy of invertebrate
and La Pampa. data on the list highly questionable. These reassessments
We would like to thank the government of the Province of have proved challenging, in many cases no rationale for the
San Juan for their generous financial support. 1996 listing was ever provided and there is limited expertise
available (and lack of interest) to reassess these taxa Following
Dr Pablo Demaio the development of the new Cave Invertebrate SG and plans to
Chair, Temperate South American Plant Specialist Group expand the scope of the Crab and Freshwater Crayfish SG
some of the remaining species will no longer fall within TIRLA’s
remit and will be reallocated. Of the species left in TIRLA’s
Terrestrial and Freshwater Invertebrate Red remit, 23% have been reassessed.
List Authority Progress towards making The IUCN Red List
The Terrestrial and Freshwater Invertebrate Red List Authority representative of biodiversity as described in the SSC strategic
(TIRLA) has the remit of managing the Red Listing of all non- plan is currently extremely slow, and seems unlikely to be
marine invertebrates not covered by any Specialist Group. achieved on current rates of progress. At present a significant
TIRLA’s remit covers at least a million described species and it proportion of invertebrates on The Red List are individual
currently has 73 members. assessments of species thought to be of concern, rather than
In 2013 a new Cave Invertebrate Specialist Group was comprehensive or sampled assessments, thus any data

analysis is questionable. In 2013 TIRLA tried to encourage Conservation Trust and WWT, in partnership with The
assessors of individual species to move towards assessing Peregrine Fund and the Government of Madagascar, and is
larger groups (taxonomic or geographic) but positive funded by the UK Government’s Darwin Initiative, the
responses to this have been limited to date. Ideas for new Mitsubishi Corporation Fund for Europe and Africa, Fota
approaches are being raised and three main options would Wildlife Park and Synchronicity Earth.
seem to be available: restricting acceptance of individual We continued the 2.7M LIFE+ Project “Safe Grounds for
assessments until a more representative list has been Redbreasts” led by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of
achieved, massively expanding the sampled assessments Birds. Project achievements to date include two successful
(with a corresponding cost), or finding a way of opening out catches of Red-breasted Geese (Branta ruficollis), with 99
the listing process into a new form of something akin to ‘citizen geese caught and ringed; GPS loggers with accelerometers
science’. Each of these options pose major challenges, funding were fitted to 13 birds, revealing details of local movements
and data management, but all need to be considered. and behaviour patterns around wintering areas. A draft agri-
environmental measure was developed and is now being
Dr Justin Gerlach trialled by local farmers; this measure has been submitted to
Chair, Terrestrial and Freshwater Invertebrate Red List Authority the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food, as an optional
sub-measure for the region. A schools-based education
programme was produced, with the aim of developing an
Threatened Waterfowl Specialist Group understanding of the biodiversity, cultural and social
The overarching aims of the Threatened Waterfowl Specialist importance of the Red-breasted Goose and its protected
Group (TWSG) are the identification of globally threatened habitats. The scheme is now being followed by schools across
waterfowl taxa, and monitoring their status, facilitating effective the region. A field station was built in Durankulak village and is
communication, transfer of knowledge, and best practice now operational, serving as a base for goose research and
between our members. The TWSG also focuses on producing monitoring.
and implementing species action plans as well as on-the- The latest edition of TWSG News is available here.
ground action. The TWSG membership and forum mailing list
has been updated and we now have 255 members from 69 Dr Baz Hughes
countries. Chair, Threatened Waterfowl Specialist Group
In January 2013, members of the TWSG conducted a
winter survey of key sites for the Critically Endangered Baer’s
Pochard (Aythya baeri). Unfortunately this found a total of only Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist
45 birds compared to around 1,000 birds two years previously. Group
It appears that the species is rapidly approaching extinction in The Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (TFTSG)
the wild and we have therefore initiated the production of an currently has 294 members based in 51 countries and working
emergency action plan for the species. in nearly all countries where turtles are native. The mission of
We produced a paper on the global population size the TFTSG is to identify and document threats to the survival
(c. 1,940 pairs or c. 4,660 birds prior to reproduction) and of all species and subspecies of tortoises and freshwater
breeding range of the Endangered Scaly-sided Merganser turtles, and to help catalyze conservation action to ensure that
(Mergus squamatus). We also published the AEWA guidelines none become extinct and that self-sustaining populations of all
for the translocation of waterbirds for conservation purposes, species persist in the wild.
complementing the IUCN guidelines. In 2013, we organized and hosted a three-day red list
There has been a fourfold increase in the world population assessment and conservation strategy planning workshop on
of the Critically Endangered Madagascar Pochard (Aythya the tortoises and freshwater turtles of Sub-Saharan Africa in
innotata) and a possible release site was identified for their Lomé, Togo. There were 22 participants attending from across
reintroduction. This project is led by Durrell Wildlife the continent and beyond and with input from additional
Home’s Hinge-back Tortoise. © Peter Paul van Dijk / Conservation

Male Madgascar Pochard. © Dubi Shapiro International

TFTSG members by email. 43 assessments will move from List criteria. So far, we have 22 members from 13 countries but
draft format onto the SIS website within months, followed by we also receive valuable information from many other experts,
the backlog of drafted assessments subsequently. We worked who are not formally associated with the group.
with CITES parties and others to ensure that CITES proposals Initial efforts for the current quadrennium were to invite
for the inclusion of freshwater turtle species in, and transfer of specialists to join the group; Dr Beth Polidoro was selected as
tortoises and turtles between the Appendices, were based on the Red List Authority Coordinator for the group. In reviewing
the best available biological and conservation status the results of our previous analyses, it became clear from a
information. We updated the annual Checklist of Turtles of the new stock assessment, that our evaluation of the Pacific
World, freely downloadable here. We were able to support Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus orientalis) as Least Concern was too
TFTSG members and others to carry out conservation and optimistic. We are reviewing all available data to reclassify the
research activities through a variety of means, including conservation status of this overfished species. Our next task
through the Turtle Conservation Fund, through supporting will be to determine whether enough new information is
applications for turtle projects to other potential donors, and available to properly evaluate the 11 species that we were
through assistance and support for member’s initiatives. forced to classify as Data Deficient. We will also continue to
The TFTSG listserv experienced technical complications evaluate the status of stocks rated in Threatened and Near
during the past year, but these now appear to have been Threatened categories.
resolved, and the listserv continues its vital role of enabling
TFTSG members to inform others of their progress and to pose Bruce B. Collette, Ph.D.
questions to help solve conservation and research challenges. Chair, IUCN SSC Tuna and Billfish Specialist Group
The activities of the TFTSG over the past year were made
possible through support from Conservation International and
the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Frankel Family Viper Specialist Group
Foundation, George Meyer and Maria Semple, the Mohamed The mission of the IUCN Viper Specialist Group (VSG) is to
bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, the Panaphil build and coordinate a network of viper experts across the
Foundation, the Andrew Sabin Family Foundation, Walter globe, and to use the collective expertise of this group to
Sedgwick, SOS – Save Our Species, the Turtle Conservancy, conserve the world’s vipers.
the Turtle Conservation Fund, the US FWS Wildlife Without In 2013, the current VSG board delineated seven regions
Borders program and members contributing their time and across the world where vipers occur and designated individuals
expertise. Moreover, gatherings of turtle conservationists, to act as regional coordinators for these areas. These are
including TFTSG leadership and members are greatly catalyst positions. Regional Coordinators fill the role of building
facilitated by the Turtle Survival Alliance and the Turtle a network of experts within their region and promoting VSG
Conservancy, for which we are most grateful. membership. In addition, the board also identified a Red List
Authority Coordinator, who is currently in the process of
Dr Peter Paul van Dijk and Brian D. Horne expanding the membership of the Red List Authority.
Co-chairs, Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group We have secured funding to continue our work conserving
Black-headed Bushmasters (Lachesis melanocephala).
Specifically, the funding will be used to develop an appropriate
Tuna and Billfish Specialist Group survey protocol, an extremely important component in any
The Tuna and Billfish Specialist Group was formed in 2009 conservation effort to assess population status and conduct
with the initial goal of evaluating the conservation status of the ecological studies to understand the threats to these species.
61 species of mackerels, tunas, and billfishes. This goal was In addition, we are collecting information for and writing a
successfully achieved through a series of workshops in Peru, Conservation Action Plan for Eastern Diamondback
Taiwan, Brazil, and the United States. After completing our Rattlesnakes within the United States. We are now conducting
analyses and publishing the results in Science in 2011 (vol. standardized surveys for this species and working on
333:291-292), edited versions of all 61 species accounts were collecting observations from scientists and the general public
added to The IUCN Red List. This was the first evaluation of an in an attempt to get a better idea of overall distribution in
important commercial group of marine fishes under IUCN Red Florida and Georgia, USA, as well as areas with a high density
Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis). © Monterey Bay Aquarium/Randy Wilder Bushmaster - Peru. © Marisa Ishimatsu

of observations within these states. Regional Steering Committee (RSC) which is chaired by IUCN,
The VSG would like to thank the Mohammed Bin Zayed met this year and they are working towards the implementation
Species Conservation Fund for their generous donation of a ban on the use of multi-dose human diclofenac vials, as
towards the conservation of the Black-headed Bushmaster. If well as establishing a vulture safety-testing mechanism for
you are interested in participating in the VSG, please contact other veterinary drugs entering the market. Both of these
the Regional Coordinator in your area. Contact information can issues require concerted efforts to ensure they happen quickly,
be found here. and further work will be needed to make sure that unsafe
drugs are not licensed for veterinary use. Also in 2013, National
Christopher L. Jenkins Vulture Recovery Committees were established for each of the
Chair, Viper Specialist Group four South Asian countries covered by the RSC, and at least
two of these have already met.
The VSG also supports the International Vulture Awareness
Vulture Specialist Group Day which was established in 2009 and has become an annual
The Vulture Specialist Group (VSG) was formally established in event observed in 57 countries and by 163 organisations
April 2011 and aims to advocate and create awareness of the globally in 2013. The event aims to promote awareness and to
plight of these birds and to help coordinate conservation educate the public about the plight and environmental value of
activities to their benefit. The VSG currently has around 80 vultures and the pressing need to conserve them.
members, spread over five continents and includes expertise on
both Old and New World vulture species. In addition to the two Andre Botha and Chris Bowden
Co-Chairs, regional representatives from Europe and Africa Co-chairs, Vulture Specialist Group
have been appointed to serve on the Steering Committee of the
VSG. The journal Vulture News is the official mouthpiece of the
VSG and is currently edited by Campbell Murn. WCPA/SSC Joint Task Force on Biodiversity and
In Africa, the mass-poisoning of vultures in southern Africa Protected Areas
during 2013 was a great cause for concern with more than The WCPA/SSC Joint Task Force on Biodiversity and
1,500 birds known to have been killed in the second half of the Protected Areas has two main objectives. Objective 1 is
year alone. Of even greater concern is the clear link that exists focused on understanding the factors that make protected
between these poisonings and the poaching of elephants. The areas successful in conserving biodiversity. For 2013, the Task
African Region of the VSG is planning a Summit, which will Force has completed the following:
take place in Namibia in May 2014; involving key-players from • The global analysis of the best predictors of success for
the region. The objective is to implement plans to more protected areas (PA) is complete. We collated 1902
effectively manage and contain such incidents and to improve population abundance time series from 447 protected areas
the high level enforcement of legislation across the region. and calculated population changes as a metric of PA
In Asia, the results of large scale road-transect and other effectiveness. We used linear mixed effect models to explore
surveys were published; showing clear signs that declines in correlates of population change in PAs, comparing a wide
vulture populations have slowed and may even have stopped range of management, ecological, social and economic
in some areas, and that this is clearly linked to the reduction in predictor variables. The paper is drafted and will be
diclofenac levels in cattle carcasses. However, even though submitted to a major journal.
there’s a clear reduction in the use of diclofenac, it remains a • Task Force member Megan Barnes completed her PhD at
serious threat due to the illegal veterinary use of human the University of Queensland, working directly on the above
formulations of the drug; and worryingly, there are other legal project.
veterinary drugs being used that are similarly toxic to vultures. • A Task Force authored, peer-reviewed paper was published
The Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction (SAVE) consortium in Biological Conservation titled “Effectiveness of terrestrial
has grown in stature, and continues to advocate for the protected areas in reducing habitat loss and population
cessation of large ‘multi-dose’ vials of human formulations, declines”.
which are the main and cheap source of the drug used by • Task Force Member Jonas Geldmann submitted his PhD at
vets. Both SAVE and the newly established Government-led the University of Copenhagen. He has worked on correlating
The poisoning of Vultures in South Africa has devastated populations of KBA Governance workshop, Nov 2013, Brasilia, Brazil.
Cape Griffon Vulture and African White-backed Vulture, as this photograph
shows from an incident in July 2013. © The Endangered Wildlife Trust

the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) to
biodiversity outcomes, examining the management elements Wild Pig Specialist Group
that result in positive biodiversity outcomes. The Wild Pig Specialist Group (WPSG) is concerned with the
• The Task Force has partnered with a new group of marine survival in the wild of all 17 presently recognized species as
scientists with funding under the SESYNC program (National well as threatened subspecies of wild pig. Wild pigs play
Socio-Environmental Synthesis Centre) at the University of important ecological as well as socio-economic and cultural
Maryland. We held two global meetings in 2013 to develop a roles in many countries in Asia and Africa. Some taxa are
model of effectiveness of marine protected areas. The highly threatened; especially those in Indonesia, the Philippines
SESYNC group has become a part of the Task Force and we and India being of conservation concern.
are aiming at producing results in time for the World Parks The WPSG uses a combination of strategies to try and
Congress. reverse population declines. Our work includes: 1) research on
• The Task Force is working with the evaluation units of the taxonomy and distribution; 2) management of captive and wild
Global Environmental Facility and the United Nations populations to prevent the extinction of the most endangered
Development Program. We were funded to assist with an species; and 3) facilitation of any conservation actions that
initial analysis of the effectiveness of GEF/UNDF supported benefit threatened wild pig populations.
protected areas in conserving biodiversity. We are currently We have made some excellent progress in 2013; a
negotiating a significantly larger analysis of projects. workshop was held in Indonesia in November, which focused
on the south and southeast Asian pig species, this was a great
Objective 2 links directly to Species Strategic Plan Target 16: opportunity to update our conservation strategies and plan our
Setting global standards for the identification of sites of next moves. Important decisions were made about the in-situ
biodiversity conservation significance. Following the and ex-situ management of Javan Warty Pig (Sus verrucosus).
recommendations from the Framing workshop in Cambridge We agreed to implement studies of the little known Bawean
last year, we organized several technical workshops and Pig and small island populations of babirusas, and also to
regional consultations this year: address hunting and wildlife trade on Sulawesi. Furthermore,
• The Criteria and Delineation workshop (March 2013, Front the workshop has improved the coordination between the
Royal, USA) defined the criteria of the new Key Biodiversity breeding programs for Pygmy Hog, Visayan Warty Pig, and
Area (KBA) standard and agreed on key considerations for Javan Warty Pig.
delineating KBAs. Further updates about our work on wild pigs can be found
• Interviews were conducted with various stakeholders and in the twice-yearly Suiform Soundings, the newsletter for the
end-users (e.g. donors, NGOs, Indigenous people, local IUCN SSC Specialist Groups for Wild Pigs, Peccaries and
communities) on their needs and potential use of the KBA Hippos. You can also find us on our website.
methodology.
• A Joint Marine Working Group was created with the Global Dr Erik Meijaard
Ocean Biodiversity Initiative (GOBI) to strengthen synergies Chair, Wild Pig Specialist Group
between the identification of Ecologically and Biologically
Significant Areas (EBSAs) and the KBA process. A workshop
Javan Warty Pig (Sus verrucosus). © Florian Richter
was held during the International Marine Protected Areas
Congress 3 (October 2013, Marseilles) to discuss how KBAs
could provide a list of potential sites to be considered for
EBSAs adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity.
• The Governance workshop (Nov 2013, Brasilia) focused on
the governance mechanisms of the new KBA standard, in
particular the role of the different stakeholders, relationships
between national and global processes, and process to
nominate, validate and endorse KBAs.
• The Thresholds workshop (Dec 2013, Rome) established
thresholds for measures of biodiversity significance, in other
words, for defining how “key” a site needs to be for it to be
considered a “Key Biodiversity Area”.
• A number of presentations and consultations were organized
during existing regional meetings.
The results of these technical workshops will be integrated into a

draft methodology available for comment, before publication
and launch in November 2014 at the World Parks Congress.
The Joint Task Force on Biodiversity and Protected Areas
would like to thank Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, Cambridge
Conservation Fund, MAVA Foundation, John D. and Catherine T.
MacArthur Foundation, Ministério do Meio Ambiente do Brasil,
Rio Tinto and Shell.
Penny Langhammer and Stephen Woodley

Co-chairs, WCPA/SSC Joint Task Force on Biodiversity and
Protected Areas
protocols for primates considered for re-introduction.
Wildlife Health Specialist Group WHSG would like to express appreciation to the United
The Wildlife Health Specialist Group (WHSG) was States Agency for International Development’s (USAID)
commissioned by the IUCN Species Survival Commission to Emerging Pandemic Threats PREDICT and RESPOND
serve as a first response for wildlife health concerns around programs, which provided personnel and website funding for
the world. This requires a focused network of regional experts the WHSG.
primarily conducting wildlife health work in the areas of health
surveillance, reporting and response, wildlife disease Dr Richard Kock and Dr William Karesh
management, disease ecology, diagnostics, epidemiology, Co-chairs, Wildlife Health Specialist Group
pathology, toxicology, health policy, and related health
disciplines.
Although our mandate is not in the field of disease control Woodcock and Snipe Specialist Group
for livestock and/or human health per se, contributions to The Woodcock and Snipe Specialist Group (WSSG) is a
these sectors are made through a better understanding of network of specialists (both scientists and non-scientists)
wildlife disease and its role in multispecies infections or other concerned with the study, monitoring, management, and
disease syndromes. The primary responsibility of WHSG conservation of the woodcock and snipe species populations.
members is to provide advice and to access regional Its main aim is to provide up-to-date knowledge on eight
information and expert resources to be able to respond to woodcock and 18 snipe species, to encourage new research
local issues related to wildlife health in support of conservation. and to facilitate contacts between researchers. As these are
Key activities in 2013 – currently in the process of games species, the final objective is to ensure the sustainable
publication are the IUCN and World Organisation for Animal use of the populations. The publication of the Proceedings of
Health (OIE) Guidelines for Wildlife Disease Risk Analysis – a the 7th Woodcock and Snipe Workshop which was held in
briefing document and primer for the comprehensive Manual Saint-Petersburg (Russia) in May 2011 was one of the major
of Procedures for Wildlife Disease Risk Analysis. This was events in 2013. This document contains 27 papers and
compiled in concert with the Conservation Breeding, abstracts covering a wide range of topics on biology,
Reintroduction, and Invasive Species Specialist Groups. monitoring, and management, focusing primarily on
On the new avian influenza (H7N9) strain identified in Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) and Common Snipe (Gallinago
China, WHSG provided regular updates through the Wildlife gallinago). It is available on the WSSG website.
Health Specialist Group website, regular email alerts to Among several current research projects, two are
members, as well as summaries to IUCN, OIE, UNEP and emphasized. Firstly, a large study on European Woodcock
WHO. migration based on satellite tags is being carrying out in Great
WildHealthNet (WHN) – an online network launched in Britain where more than 20 birds have already been tagged.
2011 to complement WILD training programs in Africa – grew Secondly, a project monitoring Common Snipe during the
from 78 members in 2012 to 134 members in 2013 breeding season in European Russia has been launched. The
(representing 23 African nations). WHN provides valuable results will provide the scientific basis for the future estimation
resources such as training manuals and scientific papers in of the conservation status of this species
addition to providing a forum for members to discuss current Discussion and direction within the membership of the
topics on wildlife disease and conservation in their region. WSSG is ensured by the publication of an annual newsletter
We increased our social media presence (Facebook and and by the online availability of the complete WSSG
Twitter) outreach to highlight conservation-based wildlife health Newsletters collection.
issues and resources, and links with other Specialist Groups. Finally, we thank the French ONCFS agency for its
Through the distribution of Gibbon and orangutan re- constant financial support of the WSSG.
introduction guidelines, the WHSG is helping to coordinate
wildlife and human health professionals to re-evaluate testing Dr Yves Ferrand
Chair, Woodcock and Snipe Specialist Group
© IUCN SSC Wildlife Health Specialist Group Common Snipe. © Yves Ferrand

Report of the IUCN SSC Steering Committee
Introduction and utilisation. The Steering Committee was asked to

comment on the document and finally adopt it following a
The IUCN Species Survival Commission is governed by a wider consultation from the relevant SSC Specialist Groups.
Steering Committee which is headed by the Commission • Establishment of new Specialist Groups and Red List
Chair, Simon Stuart. The Steering Committee represents a Authorities
balance of regional and thematic perspectives, and provides Three new Specialist Groups were approved: Giraffe and
strategic vision and direction to the work of the Commission. Okapi; Cave Invertebrates; and Access and Benefit-Sharing
(shared with the IUCN World Commission on Environmental
Law). A new Marine Fish Red List Authority was also
Composition approved.
• Appointment of Specialist Group (SG) Chairs and Red
Steering Committee members are appointed by the Council of List Authority (RLA) Coordinators
IUCN on the advice of the Commission Chair. At its meeting in A total of 15 new SG Chairs and 17 new RLA Coordinators
Jeju on 15 September 2012, the Council appointed Jon Paul were appointed during 2013.
Rodríguez as Deputy Chair, together with 19 Steering
Committee members as follows: Luigi Boitani, Onnie Byers,
Claudio Campagna, Topiltzin Contreras MacBeath, Rosie Meeting of SSC Steering Committee, 2–4 November,
Cooney, John Donaldson, Brahim Haddane, Michael Cuernavaca, Mexico
Hoffmann, Hans de Iongh. Mirza Kusrini, Frédéric Launay,
Susan Lieberman, Jeffrey McNeely, Patrícia Medici, Russell The 2013 meeting was attended by 23 Steering Committee
Mittermeier, Yvonne Sadovy, Michael Samways, Mark Stanley members, four institutional observers, and five members of
Price and Xie Yan. Since then, Michael Samways has resigned IUCN Secretariat staff (including Grethel Aguilar, IUCN
due to other pressing commitments, but in early November the Regional Director for Mesoamerica and the Caribbean). Shane
Council appointed the following new Steering Committee Mahoney stood in for Rosie Cooney, and Barney Long stood in
members: Piero Genovesi, Axel Hochkirch, Vololoniaina for Carlos Drews. In addition, three guest attendees took part:
Jeannoda, Olga Krever, Greg Mueller, Jean Michel Onana and Ernesto Enkerlin (Chair of WCPA); Alejandro Nadal (Chair of
Nunia Thomas. the IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social
Policy (CEESP), and Theme on Environment, Macroeconomics,
The following observers also attend Steering Committee Trade and Investment (TEMTI)); and Ramón Perez Gil (IUCN
meetings: Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International); Gregory Regional Councillor for Mesoamerica and former SSC Steering
Stone (Conservation International); Jonathan Hutton (UNEP- Committee member). The meeting was generously sponsored
WCMC); Taej Mundkur (Wetlands International); Elizabeth by the Secretaría de Desarrollo Sustentable in the Government
Bennett (Wildlife Conservation Society); Carlos Drews (WWF) of the State of Morelos which covered all of the local costs of
and Jonathan Baillie (Zoological Society of London). IUCN the meeting. SSC is extremely grateful to Steering Committee
Secretariat observers are Jane Smart, Jean-Christophe Vié member Topiltzin Contreras MacBeath, the current Secretario
and Richard Jenkins (IUCN Global Species Programme – de Desarrollo Sustentable in Morelos State, who kindly
GSP), Thomas Brooks (Head of Science and Knowledge), and arranged this support.
Steven Broad (TRAFFIC International).
The meeting had an extremely full agenda. In addition to the
usual report which covered a very broad sweep of the SSC’s
2013 Key activities activities, progress was made on the following issues:
• It was agreed that the Species Conservation Planning Sub-
In 2013, the Steering Committee reviewed and approved the Committee (SCPSC) would endorse action planning
following: processes rather than contents, contrary to what has been
• IUCN Guidelines for Wildlife Disease Risk Analysis agreed previously in the Steering Committee. This change
Four SSC Specialist Groups (Conservation Breeding, Wildlife was made because the process of endorsing action plan
Health, Re-introductions, and Invasive Species) collaborated contents had proven to be difficult to implement and was
on the development of these guidelines, led by Richard sometimes contentious.
Jakob-Hoff at Auckland Zoo, New Zealand. The consultation • A Co-Chair will be found for the Policy Sub-Committee
process also sought (and later included) comments from the (PSC) to join Sue Lieberman in the leadership of the PSC.
wider SSC network. The membership of the PSC will be expanded, and a
• Manifesto on Large Carnivores in Europe prioritization will be made of the different policy fora in which
The Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe (LCIE) covers the the SSC might choose to engage.
two species of lynx, wolverine, grey wolf and brown bear. In • The SSC will make a strong statement on the expansion of
2013, the LCIE developed a manifesto outlining its vision of oil palm plantations with a particular focus on impacts on
large carnivore conservation in Europe which brought species, loss of natural habitats, and the effects on the
together very divergent views on protection, conservation livelihoods of local people.

Wolverine (Gulo gulo). © Tambako The Jaguar
• A formal request will be submitted to the Environment • Extensive discussions were held on knowledge product
Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) to hold a third SSC Chairs’ integration within IUCN, including on: the impacts that this
Meeting, probably in late 2015. would have on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™;
• Instead of holding a World Species Congress as originally the need for IUCN to strengthen collaboration with, and
planned, the SSC will look at the possibility of holding a recognition of, its partners as knowledge product integration
much smaller and more focused Global Species Symposium proceeds; and the importance of understanding the purpose
to develop a few key strategic issues that will be critical in of integration in order to achieve conservation objectives.
forging a new agenda for species conservation.
• Plans were advanced for the SSC’s participation in the
World Parks Congress in November 2014. Towards 2014
• It was agreed that the SSC would develop a new policy or
guiding principles on the topic of de-extinction (using the In addition to the activities (listed above) discussed at the
techniques of synthetic biology to bring species back from Steering Committee meeting and planned as part of the 2014
extinction). SSC work programme, the Steering Committee will be asked
• The SSC will propose to the IUCN Council Programme and to comment on and approve a position statement or guidelines
Policy Committee that a new initiative will be started to on, including but not limited to:
develop an IUCN policy on the broader aspects of synthetic • the unregulated use of poisons in Africa and the threats this
biology, as they relate to the achievement of the IUCN’s poses to biodiversity, ecosystems and human health;
mission. • the impacts of guano harvesting on biodiversity;
• The SSC will propose that an IUCN-wide Green List framing • the conservation of limestone-restricted biodiversity;
workshop will be held as soon as possible, including • the use of ex-situ management for species conservation; and
participation from the SSC, the Commission on Ecosystem • SSC Specialist Group engagement with CITES.
Management (CEM), the WCPA, and others with the aim of
achieving an as consistent as possible approach to Green The Steering Committee will meet in August 2014 at the
Listing within IUCN across species, ecosystems and Environmental Education Centre, Tallinn Zoo, Estonia.
protected areas.
Report of the IUCN SSC Steering Committee 95

Report of the IUCN SSC Sub-Committees
Freshwater Conservation Sub-Committee

(FCSC) After two workshops carried out in Queretaro, Mexico, 2011,
and Abu Dhabi, 2012, our mission, vision, and three main goals
Our mission is to raise the profile of freshwater biodiversity. The were developed: 1) to be a major player in issues related to
group has 11 steering members: Topiltzin Contreras MacBeath, freshwater biodiversity conservation; 2) to enhance the work of
Chair FCSC, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, the SSC and of the freshwater related Specialist Groups; and 3)
México; Will Darwall, Manager, IUCN SSC Freshwater relate to other initiatives related to freshwater species use and
Biodiversity Unit, UK; Robin Abell, World Wildlife Fund, USA; conservation. During 2013, a strategy document was produced
Carmen Revenga, The Nature Conservancy, USA; Ian Harrison, (in Spanish) and an alliance established with the IUCN
CI/CABS and IUCN SSC Biodiversity Assessment Unit, UK and Mesoamerica Regional office in order to translate this
USA; Raul Pineda-López, Manejo Integrado de Cuencas, document, so that it can be circulated through the network to
Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, México; Nicolas Tubbs, collect comments. The Gonzalo Rio Arronte Foundation is kindly
Birdlife International UK; Harmony Patricio, FISHBIO, USA; funding this publication.
Gordon McGregor Reid, NEZS, UK; Richard Lansdown, Chair,
IUCN Freshwater Plant Specialist Group, UK; Jhon P. Simaika, With funding from the Mexican Commission for Cooperation
Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum with Central America, a Mesoamerican working group was
Frankfurt. formed which initiated the process for developing an evaluation
on the regional knowledge on macroinvertebrates and their use
Astyanax aeneus – from Agua Salada Spring, Central Mexico. © Topiltzin as indicator species for freshwater ecosystems. The group is
Contreras
coordinated by Raul Pineda-López, and has members from the
different Mesoamerican countries: Perla Edith Alonso Eguía Lis
and Ricardo Miguel Pérez Mungia (Mexico); Edward Boles
(Belize); Silvia Echeverria Saenz, Fatima Reyes, Bernald
Pacheco Chaves, Fresia Villalobos and Anny Chaves (Costa
Rica); Dagoberto Pérez and José Miguel Sermeño Chicas (El
Salvador); Anna Cristina Bailey (Guatemala); Lucia Isabel López
Umaña (Honduras); and Ernesto García, Aydee Cornejo and
Juan Bernal (Panama). Work to date has produced the first
version of a book that is expected to be published in 2014.
Topiltzin Contreras MacBeath

Chair, Freshwater Conservation Sub-Committee
Figure 1. Diagram showing goals and actions of the FCSC.

Invertebrate Conservation Sub-Committee
(ICSC)
Our aim is to tackle the enormous challenge of how to manage

conservation action for the most species rich taxonomic groups
on Earth. Michael Samways (S. Africa) stepped down as chair of
the group in 2013; Axel Hochkirch (Germany) was appointed as
the new chair in November 2013.
Currently, there are 10 invertebrate Specialist Groups (SG) in

place (Bumblebee SG, Butterfly SG, Cave Invertebrate SG,
Coral SG, Dragonfly SG, Freshwater Crab and Crayfish SG,
Grasshopper SG, Horseshoe Crab SG, Mollusc SG and South
Asian Invertebrate SG). The Terrestrial Invertebrate Red List
Authority (TIRLA) coordinates assessments for all other taxa.
The creation of new SGs will depend on the identification of
potential leadership. A Spider SG is currently being planned.
A total of 2,442 invertebrate species have been assessed in

2013; including 631 mollusc species, 371 sea cucumber
species and 1,440 arthropods. These assessments mainly
reflect the activities of the existing Specialist Groups. We
currently instigate assessments for other taxa (ice crawlers,
abalones) to broaden the scope of The IUCN Red List. Strategic
conservation planning has been started for a crayfish species,
molluscs and a grasshopper species. Three publications were Cycas papuana. © J. Donaldson
submitted to scientific journals in 2013. The first one deals with
prioritization of taxa for future Red List assessments and the
second one with the problem of data deficiency for many
invertebrate species (27% of all mollusc species, 36% of all Plant Conservation Sub-Committee (PCSC)
crustaceans and 30% of all dragonflies have been assessed as
DD). A commentary stating the necessity to conduct Our aim is to mobilize and guide plant assessments and
invertebrate species inventories in protected areas has been conservation action within IUCN, and to work with the network
published in Science. of IUCN SSC Plant Specialist Groups to stem the loss of global
plant diversity. Currently, the PCSC comprises 13 members
We will be attending the World Parks Congress, to foster made up of ten plant specialist group chairs, and three
invertebrate conservation in protected areas. A new ICSC representatives of organisations involved in plant conservation
strategy will be developed in 2014, and the next meeting of the assessments and/or plant conservation. This represents a
ICSC will take place in April 2014. Our website can be accessed subset of the broader plant community within IUCN, where
here and you can follow us on Facebook here. there are 26 plant specialist groups and three Red List
Authorities.
Dr Axel Hochkirch
Chair, Invertebrate Conservation Sub-Committee There is a considerable amount of Red Listing activity within the
plant Specialist Groups. The PCSC does not undertake Red
Metioche bolivari from Mahé (Seychelles). © Axel Hochkirch
Listing, but we have been active in trying to smooth the
processes for undertaking and publishing plant assessments,
raising awareness of plant assessment issues with the IUCN
SSC Red List Committee, and prioritizing assessments in order
to understand the global status of plants.
Plants for People is a major new initiative to assess the

conservation status of at least 1,500 priority species from four
plant Specialist Groups (6,000 species in total). Members of the
PCSC have been working with the Global Species Programme
(GSP), the SSC, and the four relevant SSC Specialist Groups
(Crop Wild Relatives, Medicinal Plants, Global Trees and Palms)
to mobilize funding and get the project up and running.
Report of the IUCN SSC Sub-Committees 97

For Save Our Species (SOS) funded plant projects, the PCSC various engagements with other marine SGs and SSC sub-
has been working with the working group to include assessed committees, especially those of Conservation Planning,
plant groups in the strategic direction for funding. Cycads were Invertebrates, Invasive Species and Sustainable Livelihoods. We
included in 2012 and both cycads and conifers were included in also contribute to KBA (Key Biodiversity Areas) discussions in
2013, leading to the funding of eight conservation projects relation to marine species. Specific projects address bycatch
involving cycads and conifers ranging from 25,000 to 64,000 species, building on three reviews already completed and
CHF per project. considering a number of IUCN Resolutions on the issue. We
would like to see a more integrated—One IUCN—marine
The next meeting of the PCSC will probably take place in programme during the current quadrennium.
September 2014, linked to the Botanists of the 21st Century
conference being organized by UNESCO in Paris. We are also We produce, with the support of the Global Species
planning to participate in the World Parks Congress, to raise the Programme, a Marine Species Newsletter and this will be
profile of plant conservation in protected areas. Our website can shared via the new Union Portal.
be accessed here.
Yvonne Sadovy de Mitcheson and Claudio Campagna
John Donaldson Co-Chairs, Marine Conservation Sub-Committee
Chair, Plant Conservation Sub-Committee
IUCN Red List Committee (RLC)

Marine Conservation Sub-Committee (MCSC)
Introduction
The core purpose of the MCSC is to connect and facilitate on The IUCN Red List Committee is the key decision-making body
marine and ocean matters across IUCN; including regional that provides oversight and guidance for The IUCN Red List of
offices, focal points and with IUCN partners. Threatened Species™. The IUCN Red List Committee sets the
standards of scientific quality for the Union’s work on
During 2013, we convened several meetings and advanced biodiversity assessments, develops guidelines on the
priority areas of the MCSC. At the Specialist Group (SG) Chairs application of these standards, develops a strategy for
meeting in the United Arab Emirates in early 2013, we convened effectively expanding taxonomic and geographic coverage,
fish-related marine SGs as well as all marine SGs, to strengthen advises and assists uptake of IUCN Red List data in decision-
connections between groups and to identify key concerns and making, and builds collaboration with other organizations
issues. In December we met with MCSC membership, working on biodiversity assessments. The IUCN Red List
reconstituted for the new quadrennium. Our focus was to Committee meets in-person once per year; inter-sessionally,
advance our core areas of communication, bycatch, trade, much of the work is conducted via email, virtual meetings, or in
wildlife spectacles and positive change for threatened marine separate meetings of its working groups.
species.
Composition and structure
Areas being developed further include better engagement with The IUCN Red List Committee is designed to include
Regional Fishery Management Organizations for threatened representatives of the three pillars of IUCN: the IUCN Species
species of commercial importance; support for the ongoing Survival Commission, the IUCN Secretariat (especially the
IUCN SSC Global Marine Species Assessment, especially Global Species Programme), and The IUCN Red List
building on the outcomes of assessments, and integrating Partnership (many of whom are also IUCN Members). Current
species into spatial planning, and encouraging collection of IUCN Red List Partners are: BirdLife International; Botanic
trade data for commercial species. Ongoing work involves Gardens Conservation International; Conservation International;
NatureServe; Microsoft; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza
The Marine Conservation Sub-Committee at IUCN HQ, December 2013. University of Rome; Texas A&M University; Wildscreen; and
Zoological Society of London. The IUCN Red List Committee
continues to seek expressions of interest from new Partners,
and has held preliminary discussions with prospective Partners
during 2013.
Much of the active work of The IUCN Red List Committee is

conducted within its working groups. The Red List Technical
Working Group (RLTWG) is the key technical body that strives to
ensure consistency and rigour in the assessment process. The
National Red List Working Group (NRLWG) works to build
linkages between the global IUCN Red List and assessments
done at the national level. In 2013, The IUCN Red List
Committee established two new Working Groups: a Data
Access Working Group (DAWG), to advise on use of IUCN Red
List data in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of Use,
and a Red List Informatics Working Group (RLIWG) to facilitate
better coordination among IUCN Red List Partners and others
on overcoming major technological stumbling blocks.

Stuart Butchart has indicated his intentions to step down as Guidelines, as well as the “IUCN Red List Mapping Standards
Chair of the Red List Technical Working Group at the end of and protocols” which are in development.
2013, a position he has held since 2009. A replacement Chair
remains to be found for this critical position; a Chair is also Data Access Working Group
sought for the newly established Data Access Working Group An informal meeting of the Data Access Working Group took
(which has been operating informally since its establishment place mid-2013 to discuss matters relating to: i) agreeing
in early 2013), failing which the functions will be absorbed into conditions under which reposting of IUCN Red List data on
the RLC. Appointment of a Chair to replace Ben Collen on external websites for non-commercial uses is permissible;
the National Red List Working Group is expected soon, but ii) discussing any needed revisions to the Terms and Conditions
awaits further development of the National Red List Alliance of Use; and iii) establishing a mechanism for tracking permission
(see below). waivers granted for use of IUCN Red List data. The outcomes of
this meeting have been endorsed by The IUCN Red List
Finally, Jeff McNeely stepped down as Chair of The IUCN Red Committee and will be implemented over the coming months.
List Committee at the end of 2012 after serving for the 2009–
2012 quadrennium; Mike Hoffmann took over as Chair in 2013. Informatics Working Group
A number of institutional and personal changes in Still in its infancy, the RLIWG will have its first meeting on 27
circumstances have necessitated a few changes in membership January 2014. Under the Chairmanship of Lucas Joppa, the
on the Committee: Barbara Goettsch (SSC plants preliminary membership of the working group has been
representative), Bruce Beehler (formerly with CI), Richard constituted, including representatives of IUCN Red List Partners
Edwards (formerly with Wildscreen), and Piero Genovesi (co- as well as external collaborators. One of the first priorities of the
opted; Global Invasive Species Database) all stepped down in RLIWG will be proposing an agreed set of priority technology
2013, and Rajeev Raghavan (as SSC freshwater representative), needs for resolution.
Russ Mittermeier (with Peter Paul van Dijk as alternatve) as the
CI representative, and Domitilla Raimondo (as SSC plants National Red List Working Group
representative) joined; the Wildscreen representative will be Following the adoption of IUCN Congress Resolution 5.018, a
clarified once a new CEO is recruited. One co-opted slot will be number of IUCN Members came together to propose the
filled in early 2014 to bring on additional expertise in dealing with establishment of a partnership of organizations convened
and advising the investment and development banks. around promoting national Red Listing. This National Red List
Alliance will be governed by an overarching Memorandum of
Further details on membership, structure and the Terms of Understanding, and strategic oversight of the Alliance will be
Reference governing both the RLC and its individual Working provided by a Coordinating Body, which itself will be subject to
Groups may be found here: www.iucn.org/redlistcommittee an agreed set of Terms of Reference. This Coordinating Body
will serve as the NRLWG into the future.
2013 key activities
Other
The IUCN Red List Strategic Plan: 2013-2020 In addition to the above, The IUCN Red List Committee has
In 2012, IUCN Members passed Congress Resolution 5.017, been advising on, among others: the development of The IUCN
which provides general guidance to the activities of the RLC Red List training course and materials; protocols for regional
over the coming quadrennium. Key among these was a directive Red Listing; and implementing a mechanism for making all
to “… complete the preparation of the Red List Strategic Plan IUCN Red List species accounts permanently archived,
that would clarify agreed strategic priorities for The IUCN Red searchable and traceable via making all available as
List to the year 2020”. The Strategic Plan puts the goals of The downloadable PDFs with attached DOIs.
IUCN Red List into action, and forms a component of the IUCN
Species Strategic Plan 2013–2016. However, The IUCN Red List Towards 2014
Strategic Plan extends to 2020, reflecting the need for a longer- The IUCN Red List Committee will meet sometime in the first
term perspective, especially because the Convention on half of 2014, in the 50th anniversary year of The IUCN Red List
Biological Diversity has agreed a Strategic Plan for Biodiversity of Threatened Species™. Key agenda items include, among
2011–2020, including the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. The others: strategic use of IUCN Red List updates for media
Strategic Plan sets forth ten key Results (each encompassing a outreach and publicity; better engaging with finance institutions
suite of targets) as measures of success. on the efficient use of IUCN Red List data in decision-making
(EIAs, offsetting purposes etc); the need for a formal taxonomic
Red List Technical Working Group policy (e.g., a protocol or criteria or some such that groups are
The Red List Technical Working Group met in-person 4–6 encouraged or compelled to apply to ensure some critical
December 2013, with part of the meeting jointly held with the appraisal of proposed splits, mergers new species designations
Standards and Petitions Sub-committee. The two major items and so forth); strategically targeting and supporting countries
on the agenda were: 1) follow-up to the mapping workshop held with high diversity and endemism for increasing the number of
in November 2011 and ensuing research, specifically to finalize species on The IUCN Red List; and considerations for allowing
recommendations on how to calculate EOO from distribution assessments in other languages. Needless to say, there will also
maps (for assessing species using the B1 criterion); and 2) be considerable activity around The IUCN Red List 50th
providing clarity on how to define what is “wild”, specifically as anniversary.
concerns managed populations and conservation
translocations. The outcomes of these discussions will be Mike Hoffmann
reflected in future revisions of The IUCN Red List User Chair, IUCN Red List Committee
Report of the IUCN SSC Sub-Committees 99

Species Conservation Planning Sub-Committee Office, and the Karl Mayer Foundation, for which we are most
(SCPSC) grateful.
The SCPSC has existed since 2010. Its main purposes are to Mark R. Stanley Price
introduce and develop the SSC approach to developing species Chair, Species Conservation Planning Sub-committee
conservation strategies and to encourage Specialist Groups as
the primary audience to develop conservation strategies for their
priority species. Standards and Petitions Sub-Committee
In 2013, SCPSC members played significant roles, usually as We are responsible for ensuring the quality and standards of
facilitators, in a variety of planning events, covering species such The IUCN Red List, developing guidelines for the application of
as the brown howler monkey, the western Derby eland, The IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, and ruling on
Edward’s pheasant, the okapi in the Democratic Republic of petitions against the listings of species on The IUCN Red List.
Congo, dama gazelle in the Sahara, the Caucasus goitred
gazelle, and the Eastern bongo workshop on an inter-regional Guidelines: The Standards and Petitions Sub-Committee
basis. Our Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) (SPSC) released version 10 of Red List Guidelines in February
members ran further planning events. We also provided input to and another version (10.1) with minor changes in September.
a programme of training for species conservation planning in the The SPSC then met in December 2013, to discuss a number of
Maghreb, through participation in workshops in Tunisia and major issues, including:
Algeria, run by the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation. 1. Managed and introduced populations (“What is Wild?”),
involving conditions under which subpopulations that are
During the year, SCPSC membership was expanded with managed or those resulting from conservation translocations
representatives of the other SSC Sub-Committees; the full (assisted migration) can be included in an IUCN Red List
SCPSC met in August 2013, and laid out a schedule of actions. assessment.
These are being progressed by a series of small working 2. Attitude settings, involving appropriate default settings for risk
groups. The Chair participated in the first meeting of the Climate tolerance and dispute tolerance, which are particularly
Change Specialist Group (CCSG) in December, which will lead relevant for assessments based on uncertain data.
to a comprehensive approach to including climate change in 3. The proper use of habitat models for estimating AOO and
species conservation planning. He is also on a working group of EOO; and dealing with discontinuities in species distributions
the Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG) as part of a push to when estimating EOO.
implement the Amphibian Conservation Action Plan. 4. Clarification of the use of the “severe fragmentation” for insular
species, and the use of pre-disturbance generation length for
Activities in 2013 contributed to the current IUCN Species exploited populations.
Strategic Plan’s specific targets through introducing planning to,
and assisting, more Specialist Groups; the planning The results of these discussions have been incorporated into
methodology is being developed to handle the diverse version 11 of The IUCN Red List Guidelines, which is now under
conservation situations in which planning is needed, further review by the Red List Committee and the Red List Technical
ensuring climate change receives adequate attention; with Working Group.
CBSG, we are well on the way to having 40 species
conservation strategies completed and endorsed by the end of Consultations: SPSC provided comments on various issues,
the quadrennium. A major focus for 2014 will be to stimulate including those related to polar bears, marine species, insular
planning for invertebrate animals, plants and aquatic species. species, amphibians, and IUCN Red List training materials.
Our core work has been possible through the generosity of the Misconceptions: SPSC is contributing to a general paper on
Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi, through the SSC Chair’s common misconceptions about The IUCN Red List criteria,
categories, and process.
Western Giant Eland (Tragelaphus derbianus ssp. derbianus) Critically Uncertainty: SPSC is coordinating a review of methods for
Endangered on The IUCN Red List. © Derbianus CSAW/Tom Junek calculating uncertainties for parameters used in IUCN Red List
assessments.
Climate change: SPSC is involved in ongoing work for

quantifying the impact of climate change on species extinction
risks, and is contributing to activities of the Climate Change
Specialist Group (CCSG).
H. Resit Akçakaya
Chair, Standards and Petitions Sub-Committee

Publications Summary
2013 Jamaican Iguana: species French: http://www.iucnredlist.org/documents/
recovery plan, 2006–2013 reg_guidelines_fr.pdf
Lemurs of Madagascar: a English: https://portals. Spanish: http://www.iucnredlist.org/
strategy for their iucn.org/library/sites/ documents/reg_guidelines_sp.pdf
conservation 2013–2016 library/files/ Arabic: http://www.iucnredlist.org/documents/
English: https://portals.iucn. documents/2013-028.pdf RL-2011-001-Ar.pdf
org/library/efiles/
documents/2013-020.pdf
Vital but vulnerable: climate Grauer’s gorillas and
change vulnerability and chimpanzees in eastern
Elephants in the Dust: The human use of wildlife in Democratic Republic of
African Elephant Crisis Africa’s Albertine Rift Congo (Kahuzi-Biega,
English: https://portals.iucn. English: http://www.iucn.org/ Maiko, Tayna and Itombwe
org/library/sites/library/files/ dbtw-wpd/edocs/SSC- landscape: conservation
documents/2013-002.pdf OP-048.pdf action plan 2012–2022
English: https://portals.iucn.
org/library/sites/library/files/
Global re-introduction Assessment of the socio- documents/2012-080.pdf
perspectives: 2013: further economic value of French: https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/
case-studies from around freshwater species for the library/files/documents/2012-080-Fr.pdf
the globe northern African region
English: https://portals.iucn. English: https://portals.iucn.
org/library/sites/library/files/ org/library/sites/library/files/ IUCN situation analysis on
documents/2013-039.pdf documents/2012-042.pdf East and Southeast Asian
French: https://portals.iucn. intertidal habitats, with
org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2012- particular reference to the
Great apes and FSC: 042-Fr.pdf Yellow Sea (including the
implementing ‘ape friendly’ Bohai Sea)
practices in Central Africa’s English: https://portals.iucn.
logging concessions Bonobo (Pan paniscus): org/library/sites/library/files/
English: https://portals.iucn. conservation strategy documents/SSC-OP-047.pdf
org/library/sites/library/files/ 2012–2022 Chinese: http://www.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/
documents/SSC-OP-049.pdf English: https://portals.iucn. edocs/SSC-OP-047-Zh.pdf
French: https://portals.iucn. org/library/sites/library/files/ Korean: https://cmsdata.iucn.org/
org/library/sites/library/files/documents/SSC- documents/2012-083.pdf downloads/47_mackinnon_etal_2012_
OP-049-Fr.pdf French: https://portals.iucn. intertidal_report_web_korean.pdf
org/library/sites/library/files/
documents/2012-083-Fr.pdf
Guidelines for Priceless or worthless?:
reintroductions and other 2012 published since Species 54 the world’s most
conservation translocations threatened species
English: https://portals.iucn. IUCN Red List categories English: https://portals.
org/library/sites/library/files/ and criteria, version 3.1, iucn.org/library/sites/
documents/2013-009.pdf second edition library/files/documents/2012-096.pdf
English: http://jr.iucnredlist.
org/documents/redlist_cats_
Invasive alien species: the crit_en.pdf Spineless: status and
urban dimension: case French: http://www. trends of the world’s
studies on strengthening iucnredlist.org/documents/ invertebrates
local action in Europe redlist_cats_crit_fr.pdf English: https://portals.iucn.
English: https://portals.iucn. Spanish: http://www.iucnredlist.org/ org/library/sites/library/files/
org/library/sites/library/files/ documents/redlist_cats_crit_sp.pdf documents/2012-064.pdf
documents/2013-027.pdf
Guidelines for application of The conservation status and

IUCN Red List criteria at distribution of reptiles of the
regional and national levels: Arabian Peninsula
version 4.0 English: https://portals.iucn.
English: http://www. org/library/sites/library/files/
iucnredlist.org/documents/ documents/RL-53-002.pdf
reg_guidelines_en.pdf

Publications Summary 101

>>Primary Activities Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus).
By the end of 2013, SOS was funding 48 Threatened Species © M.J. McGill-WWT
Grants and an additional two Rapid Action Grants. It had also
begun work to reach the broader global community of those
who love nature through the power of social media, events and
storytelling. These 48 projects are implemented by 38 grantees >>Emergency Conservation Action
including local NGOs, regional and international operators too. In 2013, SOS also funded two Rapid Action Grants (RAGs),
In total, SOS had either allocated or disbursed almost $6 million which are designed to fund shorter term, more immediate
in small and medium sized grants between its inception in 2010 conservation work. The first of these supported the LEO
and the end of 2013, supporting projects that help protect Foundation by training and equipping ecoguards in
mammals, amphibians, birds, plants, fish and reptiles in 50 Cameroon’s Bouba-Ndjida National Park, tackling the
countries, including the marine and freshwater environments. increased threat of poaching to lions and elephants. Bouba-
Ndjida was the site where, between January and March 2012,
SOS’ primary activity is funding either new or established poachers killed around 450 elephants – one of the largest
conservation projects that fulfill our selection criteria, are single slaughters of elephants on record in Africa in recent
shortlisted following evaluation by members of the Species times. This event was a chilling reminder of the challenge
Survival Commission (SSC) and representatives of donors, and facing the men and women who work on the frontlines to
are finally approved by the SOS Donor Council. This primary protect our wild heritage; fortunately SOS was in a position to
activity is done through the Threatened Species Grant (TSG) support LEO Foundation’s ongoing work in the area.
programme which funds projects for one to two years in
keeping with strategic directions publicised through an annual Also tackling wildlife crime, the second RAG funded the
Call for Proposals. The Council met in May 2013 to review and training and support of rangers, protecting Siamese Rosewood
approve shortlisted grant candidates from the Second Call for from poaching in Than Lap National Park in Thailand. By
Proposals announced by SOS in late 2012. The directions in investing in the park’s rangers and by developing park-based
these Calls are informed by The IUCN Red List of Threatened monitoring as well as reporting mechanisms, the project will
Species™ which explains why, in our communications, SOS is rapidly improve the effectiveness and safety of patrolling as
presented as the actionable answer to the challenges and well as increasing their frequency.
issues identified by The IUCN Red List.
The Second Call for Proposals allowed SOS to extend funding >>Conservation Successes
in 2013 into four new strategic directions for its TSG 2013 was another year of conservation successes for SOS.
programme; threatened tropical terrestrial Asian vertebrates, A selection of notable highlights begins with a project funding
threatened small marine mammals, threatened cycads and grantee Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust which involved a daring
threatened freshwater African animals. and innovative headstarting programme that reaped rewards
for the Critically Endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Project
The Third Call for Proposals which closed in August 2013 was, staff managed to hatch 20 eggs in Russia’s far eastern
as expected, over-subscribed. Again it extended the range and Chukotka region; a fantastic achievement which is essential to
reach of SOS funding to eligible projects under the strategic the future stability of the species.
directions of; threatened cycads and conifers, threatened
sharks and rays and threatened central and western African In Baja California’s Sierra San Pedro Martír, grantee San Diego
vertebrates. These new projects will begin in 2014. Zoo Global reported identifying its third California condor chick

born in the wild to captive reared parents. Decimated by lead- Temps on an island in the Rhone, SOS nature ran for one
poisoning, the California condor’s return to the skies over the month, reaching several thousand visitors in that time.
Pacific American seaboard is a remarkable tale of passionate
people, dedication and hope. The excitement surrounding the In August, SOS discovered the power of crowd-funding by
discovery of these wild-born chicks was tempered in July with helping to coordinate the iucn annual ‘Big Swim’ fundraising
confirmation the third chick had not survived a rock fall which event. The annual swim across Lac Léman from France to
had smothered its nesting area. The incident served to remind Switzerland was a perfect fit to raise money for a project by
us all that nature truly is a wild and unpredictable force, and SOS grantee, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, to improve
one to be respected not least for its inimitable ways. protection measures for the Vulnerable Dugongs of Bazaruto
Archipelago National Park, Mozambique. With just three weeks
Half a world away in Africa, Save the Rhino Trust Namibia had of fundraising activity, the team managed to raise $21,000 for
proudly reported 357 consecutive poaching free days in the this project.
Kunene region, thanks to a highly effective patrolling and
monitoring programme whose roots run deep in the region’s
conservancy system which actively involves community >>Growing the partnership
members in conservation initiatives. In July 2013, in Ishaqbini In 2012, Fondation Segré joined the SOS partnership, selecting
Province, north eastern Kenya, grantee Northern Rangelands two projects to be supported under the Second Call for
Trust announced the birth of eight Hirola in a specially built Proposals. Its decision to fund two more projects under the
sanctuary managed by local community members. The fact Third Call for Proposals issued in July 2013, was an encouraging
that all eight babies survived is an indication of the value of sign that SOS can offer a valuable service to foundations
sanctuaries in securing a future for one of the most threatened looking for guidance on biodiversity funding decisions. SOS
antelopes in Africa, as well as benefiting the eco-tourism plans continues to target other foundations in this vein.
of communities in north eastern Kenya.
SOS graciously received a bequest from Dr Susan Mainka
upon her passing. Sue was Director of the IUCN Global
>>Communications and Outreach Species Programme from 2000 to 2004 and was a passionate
In 2013 we increased our public engagement efforts by supporter of action-oriented initiatives like SOS. The team and
reaching out to supporters through social media and events as in particular, Jean-Christophe Vié, who Sue had originally
well as through our existing network of colleagues. As part of hired, were touched deeply by this generosity. Like all
its strategy to attract new donors, SOS aims to communicate donations, this money will be channelled into projects to
these positive messages about wildlife conservation beyond maximise impact.
the conservation community.
The first major development was the enhancement and >>Summary

expansion of the SOS website, launching a DONATE button as SOS is delivering conservation successes. While our ultimate
well as improving the user experience with an interactive map goal is to help protect threatened species, SOS must
and making news content more “shareable” on the web. Also, communicate and attempt to grow the partnership, inviting
in early 2013, SOS launched its social media presence, new donors to secure the necessary support that will fund
steadily building a community of supporters. In December we more projects. SOS is a dynamic instrument in the IUCN
passed the 30,000 friends milestone on Facebook and toolkit that can help transform Red List knowledge into action
approached 1,000 followers on Twitter. on the ground and connect partners with the global
conservation community. As such we continue to work to
In June, SOS nature – a photographic exhibition and series of profile SOS and its grantees’ success stories, while improving
free public talks in the heart of Geneva – celebrated the SOS integration with relevant initiatives that have been
charismatic power of nature and wildlife in an effort to raise implemented by our colleagues across IUCN and the Global
awareness among the wider public. Taking place in La Cité du Species Programme, especially.
Mission to Kenya. © Michel Gunther
Finally, SOS would like to express a big

and warm thanks to SSC members
who have contributed time and
expertise to SOS as well as to our
partners and donors. Truly, without all
these individual efforts we really could
not achieve so much. The challenge
remains to attract new partners in
order to fill the funding gap and
support more projects, leveraging our
combined talents, knowledge and
expertise. Let us continue to do so.
103
Bala De Cañón (Couroupita nicaraguensis) –
Near Threatened. © Sandy Guadalupe

© Chris Lukhaup
Amazing Species: Giant River Prawn
The Giant River Prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, is listed as ‘Least Concern’ on the
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species TM. It inhabits coastal rivers and estuaries, with a
connection to the sea, and its natural range extends eastwards from eastern Pakistan up
to Borneo and Java. While considered a freshwater species, the larval stage of this prawn
depends on brackish water.
Geographical range
Commercial aquaculture of the Giant River Prawn began in the 1960s in Hawaii, and
Knowledge it now has major economic value as a food source in subtropical and tropical regions.
Experts Although this freshwater prawn is extensively fished, it is not thought that this represents
Action a threat to the population due to its wide natural occurrence.
Get Involved
There are no specific conservation actions in place for the Giant River Prawn, although
many parts of its range are likely to occur in protected areas. There have been widespread
King Penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) in front of glacier, South Georgia Island. © Mary Bomford
reports of frequent aquaculture escapees, some of which have successfully established
as breeding populations. It is not currently known if there have been any negative impacts
of this invasion, but in general it is considered to be a “harmless nonindigenous species”.
The production of the IUCN Red List of

Threatened Species™ is made possible
through the IUCN Red List Partnership.
Species
ISSUE 55
2013 Annual Report of the

Species Survival Commission
• Specialist Group Reports • 2013 Snapshots

• Addressing Critical Conservation Issues

Iucn 2014 014

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Iucn 2014 014

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Iucn 2014 014

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Species

Species 2013 Annual Report of the Species Survival Commission

2013 Annual Report of the

• Specialist Group Reports • 2013 Snapshots

The production of the IUCN Red List of

African Elephant Summit provides an independent and science-based review of each

2 IUCN species Annual Report 2013

4 IUCN species Annual Report 2013

Task Force on Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Penny Resignations:

Report of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) Chair 5

6 IUCN species Annual Report 2013

The 82nd IUCN Council meeting took place in Gland on 24–27

Report of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) Chair 7

4. Securing additional funding to support the activities

However, at the beginning of the year, there was still a

Other Activities Relating to the Use of Species

The IUCN SSC Guiding Principles on Trophy Hunting as a Tool

Simon Stuart took part in the TRAFFIC International Trustees

On 12 September 2013 a new conservation partnership,

8 IUCN species Annual Report 2013

Once again, Simon Stuart wishes to thank all of the donors

Report of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) Chair 9

This document reports work carried out by the Global Species

Valuing and conserving nature

Plants: Plants for People (P4P):

10 IUCN species Annual Report 2013

Report of the Global Species Programme Director 11

Marine Biodiversity Unit: Four regional workshops were

12 IUCN species Annual Report 2013

Report of the Global Species Programme Director 13

14 IUCN species Annual Report 2013

Work on linking The IUCN Red List to the Global Invasive

Measuring Conservation Success (New methods for

Report of the Global Species Programme Director 15

Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, BIOFRESH project:

16 IUCN species Annual Report 2013

Report of the Global Species Programme Director 17

The partnership comprises 25 environmental organizations,

18 IUCN species Annual Report 2013

Report of the Global Species Programme Director 19

20 IUCN species Annual Report 2013

encourage participation in the situation analysis. Likewise,

Resolution 025 – Conservation of African elephants

Addressing Critical Conservation Issues 21

22 IUCN species Annual Report 2013

Work has continued on developing SSC policies and

Addressing Critical Conservation Issues 23

Critically Endangered Philippine Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia). © Global Environment Facility

24 IUCN species Annual Report 2013

Addressing Critical Conservation Issues 25

Amphibian Survival Alliance

The implementation of the Amphibian Survival Alliance (ASA) is

26 IUCN species Annual Report 2013

Specialist Groups, Task Forces and Red List Authorities 27

Amphibian Specialist Group

28 IUCN species Annual Report 2013

D. Luke Mahler and María del Rosario Castañeda

Specialist Groups, Task Forces and Red List Authorities 29

30 IUCN species Annual Report 2013