News from the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC)

Header photo: Balsas river Cichlid (Amphilophus istlanus) 

More than 12 IUCN SSC Specialist Groups participated at the UN Convention on Migratory Species COP 15 in Campo Grande, Brazil. 15 listing proposals presented by the Parties were adopted by COP 15. The IUCN SSC is committed to supporting Parties and the CMS with the best available knowledge, data and tools to ensure that commitments translate into effective results for migratory species.

_{Photo: IUCN delegation at CMS COP 15, by Qiunli Liu}

Between May 13 and 20, Vivek Menon, Chair of IUCN SSC visited Morocco to meet national IUCN SSC members and IUCN Members. He participated in the opening ceremony of the IUCN SSC Crocodile Specialist Group Meeting in Agadir; and at the event 'Strategic Dialogue with Moroccan IUCN Members’ with the DG Abderrahim Houmy of ANEF Morocco, and IUCN Members Imen Meliane and Brahim Haddane. In this event, Vivek Menon introduced the Commission to young attendants and extended the invitation to become part of the SSC Network.

On the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity, the Spanish Congress of Deputies hosts today the official presentation of Spain's National Red List, an assessment that evaluates the extinction risk of more than 1,500 species. The event brought together more than 80 experts from scientific bodies, political officials, and wildlife managers to discuss extinction challenges and conservation strategies both in captivity and in the wild.

The nonprofit American Botanical Council (ABC) has presented its ABC Steven Foster Botanical Conservation and Sustainability Award for 2026 to botanist, taxonomist, and medicinal plant conservationist Uwe Schippmann, PhD, co-chair of IUCN SSC Medicinal Plant Specialist Group. The ABC Steven Foster Award was created in 2022 and recognizes excellence in conservation and sustainability efforts related to medicinal and aromatic plants.

The Species Survival Commission (SSC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Fundación Parque Jaime Duque announced a groundbreaking partnership to create a new IUCN SSC Center for Species Survival, as a major step forward in strengthening its commitment to the conservation of Colombia’s biodiversity and threatened species.

The latest European Red List assessment has been launched. This document presents an updated regional evaluation of the conservation status of 420 most commonly used medicinal plant species across Europe. It identifies species threatened with extinction at the European and EU27 Member State levels so that appropriate policy and conservation actions can be taken to improve their status, based on the best available evidence.

The IUCN SSC Vulture Specialist Group and Wildlife Health Specialist Group are proud to announce the recent publication of The Vulture Emergency: Non‑Steroidal Anti‑Inflammatory Drug risks to Health and Biodiversity. Published by the World Organisation for Animal Health, this work underscores the critical conservation implications of veterinary drug use and aligns squarely with IUCN’s mission to safeguard biodiversity through science‑based action.

Great ape conservation depends not only on long-term commitment, but also on strong standards and evidence-based guidance. SGA members play a vital role in developing best practice guidelines to ensure research, tourism, and development activities are conducted responsibly and ethically. These guidelines are essential for reducing risks to ape populations, supporting local communities, and improving long-term conservation outcomes.

Recognizing the need to provide a tool for facilitating the incorporation of fungi into national and global conservation policies and actions, experts in the global mycological

community came together as the Global Fungal Conservation Network (GFCN) to develop the Global Strategy for Fungal Conservation (GSFC). Find the Strategy draft for consultation here.

IUCN and its Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the Species Survival Commission, alongside the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the workshop combined expert presentations and facilitated sessions with a range of practical exercises, creating an interactive platform for participants to share real-world case studies and critically reflect on their national experiences with IAS. 

A new collaboration between IUCN SSC and Future For Nature creates new opportunities for the next generation of conservation leaders. This partnership encourages youth to be part of the world’s largest voluntary expert network on nature conservation. Future For Nature awardees will now have the ability of becoming a member of their relevant taxonomic or thematic specialist group and the Young Professional Task Force of the IUCN SSC through an automatic nomination from the IUCN Commission Chair.

_{Photo by Robert Meerding}

Celebrated on the 5th and 6th of May, 2026, in Arles, France. Laurent Tatin, member of the IUCN SSC Grasshopper Specialist Group, and Camilla Crifò, leader of the LIFE SOS Criquet de Crau project organized this event focused on the challenges of insect reintroduction and conservation and how to address them. Co-chairs of the IUCN SSC Invertebrate Conservation Committee, Camila Leandro and Axel Hochkirck were part of the opening and closing sessions. After the congress, attendees visited conservation sites, including the managed population of the Critically Endangered Crau Plain Grasshopper.

IUCN SSC leaders encompassed diverse video messages to celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB), highlighting the importance of saving species for ecosystems and human and wellbeing. IUCN SSC leaders became the voice for fungi, aquatic fungi, mushrooms, brackets, puffballs, vultures, raptors, tortoises, freshwater turtles, mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, as well as gekkota lizards, to spread the word of their role in our ecosystems.

The IUCN Species Survival Commission is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of two new grants. The IUCN SSC Network Support Microgrants, designed to support the core operations and coordination of SSC Specialist Groups. The IUCN SSC Species Impact Microgrants, to support short-term conservation projects and activities that deliver immediate and direct impact on the conservation of species both in wild and in captivity.

Look out for the launch on 1st June on the SSC social media channels!

Applications are now open for the 2027 EDGE Fellowship - a 28-month fellowship supporting early-career conservation leaders working to protect some of the world’s most Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species. The 2027 cohort is particularly special, as it immediately follows ZSL’s 200th anniversary and marks the beginning of EDGE’s 20-year celebrations.

Honduras will bring together academics, conservationists, community leaders, managers, students, the private sector, artists, and journalists to discuss and propose innovative strategies that promote the protection and sustainable development of the region's biodiversity and freshwater ecosystems.

Save the date! Preparations are underway for the 2nd International Conference on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence, set to take place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 2 to 4 March 2027. This exciting gathering will once again unite a diverse range of participants from governments, NGOs, intergovernmental organisations, indigenous and local communities, business and development sectors, and academic research institutions from across the globe.

Save the date! The second ever World Species Congress will be held on May 19, 2027. Whether you are working in field conservation, species recovery planning, habitat restoration, breeding and reintroduction, policy, community engagement, education, research, or many other fields dedicated to species recovery, this Congress is designed to connect and support those working to reverse biodiversity loss.

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) © 2026

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