[RWG] NEWS: SSC E-Bulletin Nov/Dec 2005

[Olivia Kwong]

From: "MCMULLIN Andrew" <Andrew.McMullin at iucn.org>
Subject: SSC E bulletin Nov/Dec

Dear Chair

Please circulate to your Specialist Group members
IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) E-Bulletin November-December 2005
This issue and all previous issues are available on the SSC website:
http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/

In this issue

NEWS

RABBIT DECLINE THREATENS ENDANGERED PREDATORS AND ECOSYSTEMS
WILDLIFE CONFERENCE GIVES CONSERVATION BOOST TO WEST AFRICA'S 'FORGOTTEN' 
ELEPHANTS
MAURITIAN BIODIVERSITY WINS A REPRIEVE

ANNOUNCEMENTS

DAVID GIVEN - A HUGE LOSS TO INTERNATIONAL PLANT CONSERVATION
IMPORTANT RED LIST NOTIFICATION
PRESIDENTIAL AWARD TO AFRICAN ELEPHANT SPECIALIST GROUP REGIONAL 
CO-ORDINATOR
SPECIALIST GROUP GRANTS FOR ORCHID CONSERVATION
NEW ARRIVALS
SSC DOMINATES INDIANAPOLIS PRIZE LINE-UP

MEETINGS

RED LISTING EUROPES FUNGI

PUBLICATIONS

TOP 50 MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND PLANTS THREATENED WITH EXTINCTION
NEW STUDY PINPOINTS EPICENTRES OF IMMINENT EXTINCTIONS

NEWS

RABBIT DECLINE THREATENS ENDANGERED PREDATORS AND ECOSYSTEMS
Diseases killing off rabbits are bringing rare eagles and the world's most 
endangered cat to the brink of extinction, says a report from conservation 
groups including several SSC Specialist Groups. Myxomatosis and rabbit 
haemorrhagic disease, combined with habitat loss and over-hunting, have 
brought rabbit numbers in Spain and Portugal to as low as 5% of population 
estimates 50 years ago. The Iberian Lynx, whose diet consists of 80-100% 
rabbits, has seen its own numbers fall to little more than 100 adults, 
according to the latest official figures, partly due to rabbit decline. 
The Iberian imperial eagle, another rabbit specialist predator has 
declined to around 150 pairs. The report, Reversing Rabbit Decline, calls 
for the rabbit to be reclassified under the IUCN Red List of Threatened 
Species, given that it is currently classified as Least Concern and this 
does not adequately reflect its recent and rapid decline in Spain and 
Portugal.
Full story: 
http://www.iucn.org/en/news/archive/2005/12/rabbit_decline_release.pdf

WILDLIFE CONFERENCE GIVES CONSERVATION BOOST TO WEST AFRICA'S 'FORGOTTEN' 
ELEPHANTS
An agreement aimed at boosting the fortunes of Africas forgotten elephants 
emerged from the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) meeting in 
November. Twelve countries in West Africa, home to the regions last 
remaining populations of elephants signed the treaty which together with 
its associated action plan, sets targets and timetables for improving 
elephant habitats, boosting the numbers of fragile populations, setting up 
wildlife corridors, and a range of other measures covering cross-border 
cooperation.
Full story: www.iucn.org/en/news/archive/2005/11/cms_elephants.pdf

MAURITIAN BIODIVERSITY WINS A REPRIEVE
The Prime Minister of Mauritius announced recently that he would stop 
construction of a highway that would have cut through the countrys second 
largest track of remaining native forest, and pass through Ferney Valley, 
home to half of the world's Mauritius kestrel population - once one of the 
worlds rarest birds. Ferney Valley harbours more than 130 species of 
native plants and ferns, half of which are endemic to Mauritius. IUCN 
supported local environmental NGOs campaigns to halt the road, warning of 
the catastrophic effect on the native biodiversity. Only 1.6% of the 
original Mauritian forest remains. Members of SSCs Indian Ocean Island 
Plant Specialist Group provided technical advice on the unique flora found 
in this area.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

DAVID GIVEN - A HUGE LOSS TO INTERNATIONAL PLANT CONSERVATION
IUCN and the international plant conservation community have lost one of 
their champions, David Given. He died peacefully on 27 November, 
surrounded by his family, after losing a two-year battle against cancer. 
David's passing is a huge loss to both New Zealand plant conservation and 
to the wider environmental community. He served on the SSC Steering 
Committee and Chaired the Plant Conservation Committee (PCC) from 1997 to 
2004. A world expert on ferns, he was also Chair of the Pteridiophyte 
Specialist Group until devoting more time to the PCC.
Full tribute: http://www.iucn.org/en/news/archive/2005/11/david_given.pdf

IMPORTANT RED LIST NOTIFICATION
The Red List Programme has issued a notification concerning the 2006 Red 
List update and future updates leading up to the next IUCN World 
Conservation Congress in 2008. It outlines the recent mini upgrade of the 
Red List website, guidelines for submission of assessments, and explains 
the global species assessment projects. The notice is available on the Red 
List website www.iucnredlist.org  follow the Whats New link from the home 
page.

PRESIDENTIAL AWARD TO AFRICAN ELEPHANT SPECIALIST GROUP REGIONAL 
CO-ORDINATOR
Lamine Sebogo, regional coordinator of the SSC African Elephant Specialist 
Group has been presented with a national award of Burkina Faso (where he 
is based) by the countrys President for his work in driving the 
development of the Strategy for the Conservation of West African Elephants 
which involves several governmental bodies in the region.

SPECIALIST GROUP GRANTS FOR ORCHID CONSERVATION
Orchid Conservation International, the charity established by SSCs Orchid 
Specialist Group, is offering grants for projects directly related to 
orchid conservation. It will either provide a single grant of 5,000, or 
make several smaller awards, depending on the projects submitted. Projects 
considered for funding will include those such as establishing and 
maintaining organizations and practices that protect orchids and their 
habitats; studies of wild orchid populations; propagation techniques, and 
educational projects. More information from Philp Seaton 
(philip at seatonorchids.freeserve.co.uk).

NEW ARRIVALS
SSC Shark Specialist Group
Claudine Gibson has joined the Shark Specialist Group as Programme 
Officer. She has a first degree in Ecology and Conservation and a masters 
degree in Global Aquatic Biodiversity: Monitoring and Conservation from 
the University of Hull (UK). Claudine has spent over five years working 
and volunteering with various NGOs in biodiversity conservation.
Sarah Valenti has also joined the Shark Specialist Group recently, as the 
Groups first Red List Officer. She has a first degree in Oceanography with 
marine biology from the University of Southampton. Sarah looks forward to 
working towards the completion of the Red List assessments for 
chondrichthyan fishes and the wider communication of the results.

Species Programme Finance Assistant
Sonia Galan is the new Finance Asssistant in the Species Programme. Sonia 
is Spanish, has worked for WWF in Switzerland, Assa Abloy Treasury in 
Geneva, and as a social worker in an Indian orphanage.

SSC Freshwater Programme Intern
Anna McIvor has joined the SSC Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment 
Programme in Cambridge UK on an internship. Anna has a PhD from Cambridge 
University and her main focus will be to help implement the Darwin 
Initiative Project looking at the integration of biodiversity, livelihoods 
and economic valuation assessments for wetland conservation at two sites 
in East Africa and Cambodia.

SSC DOMINATES INDIANAPOLIS AWARD LINE-UP
The Indianapolis Zoo has announced the names of the six finalists chosen 
to compete for the Indianapolis Prize, a prestigious new award that will 
be given every other year to an individual who has made significant 
strides in animal conservation efforts. The first Indianapolis Prize will 
be announced at a gala ceremony on September 30, 2006. Four of the six are 
associated with SSC: Holly Dublin, SSC Chair, George Archibald, Crane 
Specialist Group Chair, David Mech, Wolf Specialist Group Chair, and Simon 
Stuart, former head of the Species Programme and now head of the SSC 
Biodiversity Assessment Unit.

MEETINGS

RED LISTING EUROPES FUNGI
Representatives from 20 countries participated in the European Council for 
the Conservation of Fungi meeting of European Macrofungal (which includes 
edible mushrooms) Red Listing in November. A working group was established 
to start the project and secure funding. This group will be chaired by 
Anders Dahlberg, Chair of the SSC Fungi Specialist Group. More information 
from Anders (anders.dahlberg at ArtData.slu.se).

PUBLICATIONS

TOP 50 MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND PLANTS THREATENED WITH EXTINCTION
Majorca, Ibiza, Sicily, Crete, Malta  for many, these islands conjure up 
images of dream holiday destinations. But the natural beauty that draws 
thousands of visitors to these islands every year is being fast eroded. 
Many of the close to 25,000 Mediterranean native plants that make the 
region one of the worlds 34 biodiversity hotspots are disappearing. A new 
conservation tool The Top 50 Mediterranean Island Plants, produced by SSC 
lays out a conservation strategy for species from the familiar hyacinth, 
carnation, and violet families, along with less known, intriguingly-named 
plants such as moon trefoil, Lefkara milkvetch, Troodos rockcress, and 
Caseys larkspur.
Top 50 website: www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/plants/Top50/index.html

NEW STUDY PINPOINTS EPICENTRES OF IMMINENT EXTINCTIONS
New research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of 
Sciences (www.pnas.org), shows that safeguarding 595 sites would save 
hundreds of Earths species. The study identifies 794 species threatened 
with imminent extinction, each of which is in need of urgent conservation 
action at a single remaining site. IUCN Red List data (especially for the 
amphibians and mammals) contributed significantly to the identification of 
sites and several Species Programme staff are among the authors.

SEASONS GREETINGS TO ALL READERS AND BEST WISHES FOR 2006 FROM THE STAFF 
OF THE IUCN SPECIES PROGRAMME
***************************************************************
If you would like more information on any of the items included in this 
issue or wish to submit an item to future issues, please contact Anna Knee 
(alk at iucn.org) or Andrew McMullin (mcmullina at iucn.org); tel: +41 (0)22 999 
0153.