News from the IUCN Species Survival Commission and the IUCN Species Programme
May 2009
The monthly e-Bulletin supplementsSpecies, the published newsletter of the Species Programme and the SSC. It aims to keep staff, members and the wider IUCN network up-to-date with Species news and announcements. 2008 issues are available on the Species homepage.
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Headline News
Workshops provide hope for Asian wild cattle, buffalos and pigs
Ten-year plans to conserve four of Indonesia’s most threatened species were agreed at two workshops hosted in part by the Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group in May. The mountain anoa (Bubalus quarlesi) and lowland anoa (Bubalus depressicornis) – two species of dwarf buffalo, as well as the babyrousa (Babyrousa spp.), a wild pig, and banteng (Bos javanicus), a wild cattle species, are all threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008. Poaching and habitat destruction and degradation are among the major threats to these species, which have been identified by the Indonesian Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation as high priorities for species conservation. Full story
International Biodiversity Day sounds the alarm on invasive species
International Biodiversity Day, celebrated each year on May 22, pays tribute to the global importance of biodiversity, both as an asset for posterity and a vital resource for people and their livelihoods. This year, International Biodiversity Day focused on alien invasive species as major threats to biodiversity. Biological invasions are the result of species that are introduced to a new ecosystem in which they are not indigenous often causing great harm to their new environments. The IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) is a network of leading specialists who provide technical advice to policy makers on invasive species issues (see: ). Full story
Europe’s amphibians and reptiles under threat – IUCN
One fifth of Europe’s reptiles and nearly a quarter of its amphibians are threatened, according to new studies carried out by IUCN for the European Commission. The studies, released on International Biodiversity Day, are the first European Red Lists for amphibians and reptiles, and reveal alarming population trends. More than half of all European amphibians (59 percent) and 42 percent of reptiles are in decline, which means that amphibians and reptiles are even more at risk than European mammals and birds. Full story
Manage corals - Minimize climate change
A better assesment of the threats to coral reefs along with improved management will give corals a much higher chance of survival in the face of warming oceans, says IUCN’s latest report. “We already know that climate change is destroying coral reefs through warming waters that cause coral bleaching and through acidifying oceans that hinders coral skeleton growth. We also know that if we want to save these beautiful living entities we must do something about it immediately,” says Gabriel Grimsditch, IUCN Corals Expert. Fullstory
More Critically Endangered birds on IUCN Red List
The latest evaluation of the world’s birds reveals that more species than ever are threatened with extinction, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. BirdLife International, which conducted the research for the IUCN Red List, found 1,227 species (12 percent) are classified as globally threatened with extinction. The good news is that when conservation action is put in place, species can be saved. The IUCN Red List now lists 192 species of bird as Critically Endangered, the highest threat category, a total of two more than in the 2008 update. Full story
World Migratory Bird Day
On the 9th and 10th of May thousands of people around the world took part in World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD). The theme “Barriers to Migration” aimed to highlight the effects that man made structures such as power lines, tall buildings, wind turbines and communication masts can have on migratory birds. During migration birds face a number of natural barriers such as tall mountains, seas, and deserts. In addition man-made structures are adding additional risks to their journey. As well as blocking the natural migration route for the birds, collisions with these structures are responsible for the deaths of millions of birds each year. Full Story
Corals – an ecosystem at risk
Over one-quarter (27%) of the world’s 845 species of reef-building corals have been listed as threatened on the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™, and an additional 20% are considered Near Threatened. Reef-building corals are essential habitat for many species of fish and invertebrates making them the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the ocean. Coral reefs in the Caribbean region have been impacted by recent, rapid population declines of two key species: Staghorn Coral (Acropora cervicornis) and Elkhorn Coral (Acropora palmata), both of which have been listed as Critically Endangered. Full story
Specialist Group News
Cat SG – project of the month
Consequences of different forest management strategies for felids in Sabah, Malaysia submitted by Andreas Wilting and Azlan Mohamed. Click for details
Dragonfly SG
The Red List assessment work of the Dragonfly SG was highlighted recently on the BBC webpages and published in Biological Conservation. The Dragonfly SG used the sampled approach, assessing 1500 species as a first step to generating a Sampled Red List Index. – detailshere
Crop Wild Relative SG
Latest newsletter (issue 7, April 2009) now available - here
Announcements
Biodiversity monitoring and conservation: Symposium, Zoological Society of London, 18-19 June 2009
"Biodiversity monitoring and conservation: bridging the gaps between global commitment and local action" will assess the methodologies and techniques currently available to monitor biodiversity, go on to explore those which are likely to be available in the future, and finally examine how best to ensure that biodiversity monitoring and responses to biodiversity change are incorporated effectively into policy and practice at national and local levels. Full details
Extinction Sucks
Extinction Sucks is a unique co-production between WWF and Babelgum to bring high-quality conservation programming to web audiences. Two intrepid women are challenged to do something that will have a profound and lasting impact on the survival of a species. The online video programmes see the conservationists raise funds for WWF programmes protecting rhinos in Nepal, elephants in India, sea turtles in Australia, and Asiatic black bears in Vietnam. The series is being broadcast over a six week run - more details
Website worth a look
Half of all animal and plant species live in a single country and nowhere else. This site highlights those plants and animals whose survival depends solely on the actions of a single nation. It provides checklists of endemic species of many countries.
Publications
Libellula Atlas of the Odonata of the Mediterranean and North Africa
This atlas gives the distribution of Odonata in Africa north of the 18th northern parallel, the Levant, Anatolia and the whole of Mediterranean Europe. Some nearby areas like Portugal, The Canary Islands, Madeira, Serbia, Macedonia, Bulgaria and parts of the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq and Iran are included as well. Records, shown via a 50 km x 50 km UTM MGRS grid, are categorized according to their date - prior to 1980 and from 1980 onwards. 179 species are presently recognized in this area. The atlas covers 182 taxa, each with a color distribution map, Red List and dissemination table. Colour photos show up to four taxa each species treated. More details
The Gibbon Journal Nr. 5
Now available on the website of the Gibbon Conservation Alliance - click for details
European Red List of Amphibians
Temple, H.J. and Cox, N.A. 2009 European Commission viii+32pp
The European Red List is a review of the conservation status of c.6,000 European species according the IUCN regional Red Listing Guidelines. This publication summarises results for Europe’s 85 native species of amphibians. Nearly a quarter of these species are threatened with extinction at the European level as a result of threats including habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation, pollution, climate change and invasive alien species. Download in pdf format or order from IUCN publications catalogue.
European Red List of Reptiles
Temple, H.J. and Cox, N.A. 2009 European Commission viii+32pp
The European Red List is a review of the conservation status of c.6,000 European species according the IUCN regional Red Listing Guidelines. This publication summarises results for Europe’s 151 native species of terrestrial and freshwater reptiles illustrated with. About one fifth of these species are threatened with extinction at the European level as a result of threats including habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation, pollution, overharvesting and deliberate persecution. Download in pdf format or order from IUCN publications catalogue.
Guidelines for the in situ re-introduction and translocation of African and Asian rhinoceros
Emslie R.H, Amin R, Kock R, (editors)(2009),. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN, vi+115p
These guidelines seek to share and synthesize knowledge and experience of rhino translocations in Asia and Africa. Compiled jointly by the African Rhino Specialist Group, the Asian Rhino Specialist Group and Wildlife Health Specialist Group with the Reintroduction Specialist Group providing generic reintroduction guidelines, the aim is to provide decision makers and senior wildlife managers with a best practice advice tool. PDF of the GuidelinesNotes on the Saltwater Crocodile, (Crocodylus porosus) in the Republic of PalauBrazaitis P. et al 2009 Bulletin of the PeabodyMuseum of Natural History 50(1):27-48
Odonata enter the biodiversity crisis debate: The first global assessment of an insect group Clausnitzer V et al (2009) Biological Conservation 142 (2009) 1864-1869
A global assessment of endemism and species richness across island and mainland regions Kier G et al PNASdetails
Other IUCN News
Expert Panel onClimate Change Impacts on Biodiversity
Professionals from IUCN, WWF,Ramsar, UNEP and the Mission of the Netherlandsattended an expert panel discussion on biodiversity and climate changeheld at IUCN headquarters on1 May 2009.The discussion highlighted the biodiversity "bottom line", the effects of sea level rise,thoughts onex-situ conservation strategies, and opportunities for action in the conservation sector. This workshop was thesecond in a series ofevents aimed to enhanceIUCN'scapacity, knowledge-sharing, and delivery on climate change in 2009. Jean-Christophe Vié & Wendy Foden made a presentation on the impacts of climate change on species view presentation
Jerker Tamelander (IUCN Tanzania/CORDIO) gave a presentation on the impacts of climate change on coastal ecosystems: view here
Wendy Elliot (WWF-Int Species) gave a presentation on conservation responses to impacts of climate change: view here. For more information please contact .
For more information or if you wish to submit an item please contact
Claire Santer– SSC Membership & Administrative Assistant, Species Programme.