IUCN SSC Species E-Bulletin

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November 2023

News from the IUCN Species Survival Commission

Headline News

Recognizing Contributions of Botanic Gardens, Aquariums, and Zoos

We proudly recognize and applaud the significant contributions of botanic gardens, aquariums, and zoos in their critical mission of conserving wild animals, fungi, and plants. We also encourage all entities, including government agencies, to actively collaborate with these institutions. This collective effort, guided by the One Plan Approach, exemplifies our commitment to a unified strategy for saving species from the brink of extinction.

SSC EDGE Internal Grant & Madagascar Grant

On the Edge proudly allocates $100,000 to advance conservation efforts for evolutionarily distinct species and lineages. This year's grants include $60,000 for SSC EDGE internal projects and $40,000 for SSC EDGE Madagascar initiatives. Check out the results.

Results 2023

A decade protecting the oceans

The IUCN Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force celebrates its 10th anniversary, having identified 242 Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs). Despite global recognition, some IMMAs face immediate threats, including war-related damage and the imminent extinction of the vaquita porpoise. Urgent action is needed to protect these critical habitat

ASSESS

Rhino Population Trends and Ongoing Conservation Initiatives

Rhino populations in Africa experienced growth, reaching 23,290 by the end of 2022, marking a 5.2% increase from the previous year. Despite this positive trend, illegal poaching remains a substantial threat, resulting in the unlawful killing of 561 rhinos in 2022. South Africa, boasting the highest rhino population, witnessed 448 poaching incidents, with Namibia and Kenya also reporting cases of illegal poaching.

Plan

IUCN's Global Species Action Plan

Explore the IUCN's Global Species Action Plan and discover how governments, businesses, and communities can collaborate for effective species conservation. This comprehensive guide offers valuable insights into sustainable agriculture, climate change mitigation, and more.

Firefly conservation in peril

Expressway expansion in Guangzhou, China, jeopardizes the habitat of ten firefly species crucial for biodiversity. The IUCN SSC Firefly Specialist Group expects the Chinese Government to review the expressway expansion plan carefully. This includes efforts to preserve firefly habitats or consider developing firefly tourism, as seen in other regions of China.

Act

Enhancing Lemur Conservation in Madagascar

IUCN Save Our Species has extended its SOS Lemurs initiative with a 9.5 million CHF second phase until 2029. This initiative collaborates with Malagasy civil society for lemur conservation, focusing on protection, habitat preservation, and supporting local livelihoods.

SOS Lemurs

Communicate

Position Statement on Shark Control Programs and Shark Culls

We acknowledge the global trend of employing lethal methods to mitigate human-shark interactions. Numerous governments implement shark control programs or culls in response to perceived threats. In response, we advocate for non-lethal approaches as the preferred and informed response. We urge managers and governments to explore alternative methods when addressing human-shark interactions.

Commission Statement

IUCN Commission Membership Experience Survey

IUCN Commissions are committed to improving our interaction and engagement with you, our members. To help inform how Commissions work, we urge you to please take part in the first of an annual member experience survey. Your valuable input will be used to improve and plan future Commission membership initiatives. The survey takes about ten minutes to complete the survey, and your valuable input will be used to improve and plan our future work to better support Commissions. Please note that your responses will be kept strictly confidential, combined with the rest of the respondents’, and will be reported as a group.

Please click below to access the survey in the different languages. English, French, Spanish.

Network

A Call to Action for Conservation Collaboration

Become an IUCN Commission member to collaborate with experts, share knowledge, and contribute to cutting-edge conservation initiatives. Enjoy networking, visibility, and discounted access to major events. Apply now and be part of the change!

Commission Member

Safeguarding Asian Elephants

We've partnered with the Wildlife Trust of India and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium to launch a unique Center for Species Survival (CSS) in India, specifically dedicated to Asian elephants. As the first Center focused on a single species, it will be a central hub for research, conservation planning, public awareness, and capacity-building.

Pioneering Conservation: Center for Species Survival in Biodiversity Banking

In collaboration with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, we have established the Center for Species Survival in Biodiversity Banking. Unlike traditional taxonomic focuses, this Center prioritizes strategic approaches and aims to guide global partners, enhance genetic diversity preservation, and provide training in biobank establishment.

Dublin Zoo's New Center for Species Survival

We inaugurated a new Center for Species Survival in collaboration with Dublin Zoo. This Center will serve as a global hub for species conservation efforts, with a particular emphasis on native Irish wildlife. Ireland boasts a diverse biodiversity of over 31,000 recorded species, but a significant portion is currently threatened with extinction due to factors such as habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and invasive species.

Training

IUCN Global Standard Professional Certificate Course

Join the IUCN Global Standard Professional Certificate course starting on January 23, 2024. Gain expertise in sustainable project development, learn to apply the Global Standard and contribute to addressing global challenges. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and make a meaningful impact.

Certificate Course

WildTeam UK online workshops

The next WildTeam online training workshops are available for booking:

Project Management for Wildlife Conservation
22nd Jan - 4th Mar, 2024 (3.5 hours of learning per week)
Monitoring and Evaluation for Wildlife Conservation
20th Feb - 26th Mar, 2024 (3- 3.5 hours of learning per week)
Project Planning for Wildlife Conservation
26th Feb - 8th Apr, 2024 (4 hours of learning per week)
Grant Writing for Wildlife Conservation
13th Mar - 1st May, 2024 (4 hours of learning per week)
Stakeholder Engagement for Wildlife Conservation
16th Apr - 21st May, 2024 (3.5 hours of learning per week)

Full details

Newsletters

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