News from the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC)

Header photo: A head of northern giraffe in Uganda's Kidepo Valley National Park
Credits: Michael Brown

Species are protagonists when nature comes into the conversation. Whether your perception of human relatedness with nature identifies you as part of nature or as a different entity, species play a significant role for human wellbeing. In this sense, to expose the work developed on species conservation is key to acknowledging interlinkages of human and biodiversity and halt species extinctions. Find the concept note of the Species Journey and expect more information about over 50 species related sessions at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi. 

A groundbreaking assessment has officially recognised four distinct giraffe species, overturning previous classifications of the world’s tallest land mammal as a single species. The taxonomic review, undertaken by the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group (GOSG) Taxonomic Task Force, marks a major milestone in the giraffe taxonomy and reshapes how giraffe diversity is understood and conserved.

The report, “Conservation Status, Trade and Enforcement Efforts for Pangolins” prepared by experts from the IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group for the CITES Secretariat, recognised that all eight pangolin species remain at high risk of extinction due to overexploitation and habitat loss, but the absence of updated population estimates and limited management in landscapes with pangolins mean the full scale of the situation is not yet understood.

The IUCN SSC CEC Behaviour Change Task Force has released a new report, titled “Mainstreaming behaviour change in biodiversity conservation: Needs, barriers and ways forward”, addressing how to integrate behaviour change strategies into species conservation efforts worldwide. This comprehensive study was directly developed and structured according to the SSC Species Conservation Cycle (Assess-Plan-Act-Network-Communicate).

Leading scientists, conservationists, and policy experts from five continents, including members of the SSC Freshwater Fish Specialist Group, SSC Freshwater Conservation Committee and the SSC Global Center for Species Survival hosted by the Indianapolis Zoo, convened at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe for a high-level meeting to advance international efforts to protect migratory freshwater fish and the ecosystems they depend on.

The CSS Asian Elephant, in collaboration with the SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group and Odisha Forest Department, organised a workshop on Human-Elephant Coexistence at Bhubaneswar on 21-22 August 2025. The programme was inaugurated by Hon’ble CM of Odisha in the presence of MoS FE&CC Odisha. Human Elephant Interaction is an important area of research, collaboration, and management initiatives in the State, keeping in view the large number of human and elephant casualties every year in the State.

The Center for Species Survival France, hosted by the French Association of Zoos (AFdPZ), is looking for a Species Survival Officer. The position will help to dramatically expand the understanding of the conservation needs of French wildlife species nationally and globally. Apply by October 31.

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) © 2025

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