IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group (RSG) Environmental Research & Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA), P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi - UAE Tel: / Fax: / Mob.: / WWW:

RSG: CD ROM - why is it necessary? High mailing costs, a large number of publications and a limited and diminishing stock of past newsletters was a factor in producing a CD which contains all of RSG’s various publications produced over the years. We hope this CD will provide a suitable reference source and future updates are planned. If you are interested in providing relevant material for future issues please contact the RSG Secretariat for further information.

RSG: CD ROM - main features... There is a menu that cascades open to show the various options available on this CD. 14 issues of the Re-introduction NEWS have to be viewed in a web browser and the rest can be viewed as Adobe Acrobat PDF documents. The relevant software can be installed from the home page of the CD.

RSG: organizational support... We would like to thank the following organizations for their support in the production and distribution of this CD National Tropical Botanical Garden

RSG: within IUCN & SSC... IUCN SSC 6 Commissions: 1. World Commission on Protected Areas 2. Environmental Economics & Social Policy 3. Education & Communication 4. Environmental Law 5. Ecosystem Management 6. Species Survival Commission (SSC) SSC Disciplinary & Thematic Specialist Groups & Task Forces - over 120 in number Thematic Specialist Group e.g. IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group (RSG)

RSG: in the logo... The plant is Ruizia cordata (Reunion Islands); a parrot (several projects globally); the Arabian oryx (Oman & Saudi Arabia); the black-footed ferret USA; a frog (several projects globally).

RSG: mission statement... To combat the ongoing and massive loss of biodiversity by using re-introductions as a responsible tool for the management and restoration of biodiversity through actively developing and promoting sound inter-disciplinary scientific information, policy, and practice to establish viable wild populations in their natural habitats.

RSG: brief history... The group was founded in 1988 due to an increasing number of re-introduction projects worldwide. The RSG was previously hosted at the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) HQ in Nairobi, Kenya & was Chaired by Mark Stanley Price since The RSG, since 2000, has been hosted by the Environmental Research & Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA) HQ in Abu Dhabi, UAE & is now being Chaired by Frederic J-P Launay.

RSG: the structure of the group... The group has an organizational structure comprising a Chair, Vice-Chair and Program Officer. There are various Taxon and Regional Section Chairs. RSG comprises of a network of over 300 members worldwide. There are over 200 subscribers, in addition to the above, who subscribe to its mailing list. There are also over 150 subscribers to its server site worldwide.

RSG: organizational structure... IUCN/SSC RE-INTRODUCTION SPECIALIST GROUP Chair Frederic Launay Section Chairs Vice Chair Mike Maunder Regional Chairs West, Central & East Europe and North Asia Mike Jordan South & East Asia Sanjay Molur West & Central Asia and North Africa Fred Launay Oceania Doug Armstrong North America & Caribbean Devra Kleiman Meso- & South America Vacant Africa (sub-Saharan) Mark Stanley Price Birds Phil Seddon Reptiles/ Amphibians Pritpal Soorae Fish Heather Hall Invertebrates Vacant Plants Mike Maunder Mammals Luke Hunter RSG Membership Over 300 members worldwide Program Officer Pritpal Soorae

RSG: major functions of the group... Review and comment on the technical aspects of re-introduction proposals and projects. Encourage governmental and non-governmental organizations to conduct viable re-introduction projects according to policy guidelines. Prepare and disseminate: newsletter, guidelines and policy statements. Maintain a viable international network to assist the RSG in carrying out its Mission.

RSG: funding and cooperation... African Wildlife Foundation, USA & KENYA American Society of Primatologists, USA Denver Zoological Foundation, USA Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, CHANNEL ISLANDS Environmental Research & Wildlife Development Agency, UAE Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, USA International Primatological Society, USA Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation, USA National Commission for Wildlife Conservation & Development, SAUDI ARABIA Primate Society of Japan, JAPAN Sultanate of Oman, OMAN The Harcroft Foundation, CHANNEL ISLANDS Turner Endangered Species Fund, USA Toronto Zoo, CANADA Walt Disney Foundation Company, USA The following organizations have supported RSG with core funds and for specific projects over the years

RSG: strategic planning session March The RSG held a Strategic Planning Session workshop in March 2002 at ERWDA HQ in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This important workshop set out new directions and goals for the RSG (full report available on the main menu of the CD). Workshop session Participants during a field trip

RSG: percentage distribution of members worldwide... 33% Western Europe 6% Africa 9% - West Asia 2% Meso & South America 24% North America & Caribbean 7% - S. & E. Asia 17% - Oceania 2% - East Europe & North Central Asia

RSG: newsletter on re-introductions... The RSG has produced 22 issues of its newsletter, Re- introduction NEWS, since In recent years thematic issues focussing on reptiles/amphibians, carnivores, birds and primates have also been published.

RSG: policy statements... An IUCN Position Statement on the Translocation of Living Organisms was published in This Position Statement then initiated the drafting of the more detailed IUCN Guidelines for Re- introductions.

RSG: policy statements... The RSG produced the IUCN Guidelines for Re-introductions in These guidelines were prepared after an extensive international review process and became official IUCN Policy.

RSG: policy statements... During 1998 the IUCN Guidelines for Re- introductions were translated into 5 additional languages: 1.French 2. Spanish 3. Chinese 4. Russian 5. Arabic

RSG: practitioners directory The RSG also produced the Re-introduction Practitioners Directory 1998 which gives contact information for re- introduction projects worldwide. This was done in conjunction with the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation & Development (NCWCD), Saudi Arabia.

RSG: live confiscated animals policy... The RSG also spearheaded the effort to produce the IUCN Guidelines for the Placement of Confiscated Animals, which became official IUCN Policy in During 2002 they were also translated into French and Spanish. The RSG host organization, ERWDA translated these guidelines into Arabic and printed a bi-lingual Arabic-English booklet. This booklet is being widely distributed to relevant agencies in Arabic speaking countries in the West Asia region.

RSG: species- and taxon-specific guidelines... The RSG has developed IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group: Guidelines for Nonhuman Primate Re-introductions, which were finalized in The RSG is also in the process of developing African Elephant Re-introduction Guidelines in conjunction with the IUCN/SSC African Elephant Specialist Group. The RSG is also consulting with other SSC Specialist Groups to develop species or taxon-specific guidelines.

RSG: databases... The RSG Secretariat maintains a bibliographical database of its library. In the main menu there is a document, RSG Literature Database v1.0, which has over 1,790 entries of articles from the RSG library. The RSG Secretariat also maintains a database of its 300 plus members and general mailing list. This allows easy access to contact information for networking purposes. Bibliography Membership

RSG: conclusion... We hope this brief presentation has provided you with an insight into the functions of the RSG and some of its publications. To obtain more information on RSG, to subscribe to its newsletter and discussion list please contact the RSG Secretariat.