October 2021

Red Listing and Action Planning for Evolutionarily Distinct Species and Lineages

SSC Groups can apply for up to $10,000 under the SSC EDGE Internal Grant. These grants are available for projects to be undertaken between November 2021 - July 2022, and funds can be used to cover the partial or total cost of the proposed activity. This round of applications will be open until Saturday 16 October 2021.

The IUCN World Conservation Congress concluded in Marseille and online on Friday 10 September, setting the nature conservation agenda for the next decade and beyond.

Catch up on the highlights, as well as testimonials at the Reverse the Red Pavilion.

The IUCN Green Status of Species is a new Global Standard to measure how close a species is to being fully ecologically functional across its range, and how much it has recovered thanks to conservation action. The first 181 IUCN Green Status preliminary assessments are outlined in a Conservation Biology paper.

Read the press release, paper and learn more on the IUCN Red List website.

Photo: California Condor © Eric Kolb / CC BY-NC

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ now includes 138,374 species of which 38,543 are threatened with extinction, according to the latest update released at the IUCN World Conservation Congress.

IUCN SSC Freshwater Fish Specialist Group, Shoal Conservation and the New Mexico BioPark Society and ABQ BioPark created a comprehensive assessment of Caribbean freshwater fishes, revealing that 41% of the 79 species assessed are threatened with extinction. This brings conservationists closer to a global freshwater fish extinction assessment.

Are you interested in hearing insights on how IUCN Save Our Species funded projects from Africa and Asia improve the lives of their local community? Then join the “What Makes Community Livelihoods Work?” webinar on Wednesday 10 November 2021 at 10:00-12:00 am CET.

Keep an eye on IUCN Save Our Species Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts for more information on how to register.

Environmental groups and the Chilean Ministry of Environment joined the Fungi Foundation in committing to promote inclusive "fauna, flora and funga" language and ensure that fungi— which are critical to all life on Earth—are integrated into conservation strategies.

Photo © Martin Ineichen

The increasing rate of infection of African swine fever (ASF) among domestic and wild pigs in the Asia-Pacific region has prompted the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, IUCN SSC and the World Organisation for Animal Health to issue a joint call for countries in the region to develop stronger policies and implement strategies to mitigate the impacts of ASF on wildlife, livestock health, and rural livelihoods.

Photo © Tammo Buss

This Fonfrège and IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) partnership showcases how business can make a difference by highlighting the urgent need to protect wildlife and nature to new audiences. This campaign aims to engage audiences who will influence the policies and spending patterns of tomorrow.

Photo © Fonfrège

Read the article by IUCN SSC African and Asian elephant experts for World Elephant Day 2021, highlighting the challenges these animals face and the urgeny to capitalise on opportunities to protect their future.

Photo © Bernard Dupont / CC BY-SA 2.0

Read recent Crossroads blogs: Post-2020 global biodiversity framework emphasises ‘all-hands-on-deck’ approach, The time is now for natural sponges and Tackling biodiversity loss to achieve green, resilient, and inclusive development.

The next WildTeam workshops are available for booking:

Grant Writing for Wildlife Conservation
Online training workshop, 3.5 hours learning per week
Tuesday 9 November - Tuesday 14 December 2021

Project Management for Wildlife Conservation
Online training workshop, 3 hours learning per week
Wednesday 10 November - Wednesday 15 December

Read the Report and previous editions.

Photo © Luiz Rocha

Read the IUCN SSC June Quarterly Report and previous issues.

Photo © David Rabehevitra

The most recent issue of the IUCN SSC Conservation Translocation Specialist Group's Global Conservation Translocation Perspective was published in April 2021, made possible thanks to Calgary Zoo, Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi, Wildlife Reserves Singapore and the Aspinall Foundation.

Members from the IUCN SSC Iguana Specialist Group have been highlighting the need to address invasive species, with an emphasis on aid response and nonnative iguanas. These letters can be found in the journals Science and Animal Conservation. 

Photo © Chuck Knapp

The new Position Statement signed by the IUCN SSC Asian Species Action Partnership and the IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group calls to bring expertise, funding and innovation together to save one of the world’s rarest species.

Photo © Ban Vangban village and Wildlife Conservation Society

The IUCN SSC Asian Songbird Trade Specialist Group (ASTSG) published a report outlining its work scope and achievements since its inception in 2017 and future plans for the tackling of the Asian songbird crisis. The report provides updates on the songbird conservation efforts led by the ASTSG’s members. Read the press release.

This Competence Register has the potential to transform approaches to capacity development within threatened species recovery and help improve the effectiveness of this branch of conservation and increase its impact.

Dr Phil Platts, member of the IUCN SSC Climate Change Specialist Group, was a co-author on this international study published in Nature. Read the associated press release, and article in The Conversation.

The Red Colobus (Piliocolobus) Conservation Action Plan 2021-2026 has been released by the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group.

Dawn Chorus, Vol 1, Newsletter of the IUCN SSC Asian Songbird Trade Specialist Group

Shark News, IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group magazine, Issue 2 July 2021

Vulture Updates, No 14 – March 2021, IUCN SSC Vulture Specialist Group newsletter