The Species Information Service mobilising the information power of the IUCN/SSC network

SSC A CTIVITIES Monitor and evaluate the status of species Identify threats Prioritise actions to reverse threats Produce Action Plans Contribute to global conservation policies, for example - invasive species Provide advice to IUCN members, governments, NGOs IUCN Species Survival Commission

SSC-SIS Background

IUCN/ SSC-SIS Background The Challenge –A pressing need for current information on species at varying geographic scales The Opportunity –Mobilising and empowering the SSC network, the world’s most comprehensive source of scientific and management expertise on species, to provide the necessary information for effective conservation and sustainable development

SSC-Species Information Service What is SIS? The Species Information Service (SIS) is the information management strategy of IUCN’s Species Survival Commission. It enhances conservation activities worldwide through the efficient collection, management, exchange and analysis of high-quality species data and information.

SSC-SIS Timeline May 1994 “IUCN/SSC Data Management Scheme Background Paper” (Author: Andrew Smith) Oct 2001 Oracle commits its support to the technical development of SIS Feb 1997 Release of the first Concept Evaluation software tool for data standardization May 1994 SSC’s Steering Committee appoints first Data Management Working Group Aug 1999 Beginning of new software tool development Oct 2000 presentation of SIS concept and software tool at the Amman World Congress Aug 2001 Finalized long term funding strategy and 10 years implementation plan Nov 1998 First evaluation of the SIS concept with the Specialist Groups and Partner Organisations March 1998 SSC Strategic planning meeting rates SIS as the First Priority March 2000 Data model finalised and data structure implemented May 2001 Central Service Unit established in Rome Nov 2000 SSC data gathering projects (GAA, AVD) work within the framework of SIS July 2001 RL Data transfered into SIS What have we been doing up to now

Release of Global Amphibian Assessment Product Delivery Release of the Global Biodiversity Review Release of Red List update 2007 CD- ROM SIS information used to complete CITES COP 14 Analyses First customized products delivered Red List 2006 release including updated analysis Release of the Global Reptile Assessment Release of the Global Mammal Assessment Release of Red List update 2005 CD- ROM SIS information used to complete CITES COP 13 Analyses Release of Red List update 2004 CD-ROM Pilot project on Protected Areas and threatened species in Africa SIS management team in place Release of version 1.0 of stand alone SIS software Development of WESIS System Development WESIS implemented with full functionality WESIS subscription service begins Development of WESIS Training of at least 50 Specialist Group focal points SSC-SIS Timeline What we want to do

Data custodian model Connectivity Data standards Data documentation Spatial data capture Modular data scheme Analytical tools Data accessibility SSC-SIS characteristics Data is managed in the context of a distributed data custodian model, with an aim to manage data as close to the source as possible (Specialist Group nodes), thus capturing the most current information available and ensuring ownership and quality assurance protocols are followed.

Data custodian model Connectivity Data standards Data documentation Spatial data capture Modular data scheme Analytical tools Data accessibility State-of-the-art Internet technologies will connect SSC members operating from all corners of the earth, enabling them to benefit from advances in information technology. Real-time connections, built on a web-based platform, ensure data currency and quality, and a "living" database that evolves with changes inherent to natural systems SSC-SIS characteristics

Data custodian model Connectivity Data standards Data documentation Spatial data capture Modular data scheme Analytical tools Data accessibility The SIS software tools allow SSC Specialist Groups and others to collect and organize their data in a standardized form. Data standards enables data quality control, data exchange and integrated data analyses.

SSC-SIS characteristics Data custodian model Connectivity Data standards Data documentation Spatial data capture Modular data scheme Analytical tools Data accessibility Objective and scientifically rigorous data quality can only be guaranteed through explicit documentation of data sources. SIS is designed to keep track of all data sources of individual pieces of information such as bibliographic references, contact person, organisations.

SSC-SIS characteristics Data custodian model Connectivity Data standards Data documentation Spatial data capture Modular data scheme Analytical tools Data accessibility SIS data management model stores explicit spatial information to monitor the spatial and temporal changes in species status; data is captured on a variety of ecological scales, in standardized formats, to enable biodiversity analyses at a variety of scales (from local to global).

SSC-SIS characteristics Data custodian model Connectivity Data standards Data documentation Spatial data capture Modular data scheme Analytical tools Data accessibility The data structure has been designed to accommodate data on the diverse ecological and biological conditions in which species (from fungi to ants to elephants to marine fish) live. The modular data structure enables Specialist Groups to create data types more specific to their needs.

SSC-SIS characteristics Data custodian model Connectivity Data standards Data documentation Spatial data capture Modular data scheme Analytical tools Data accessibility The power of SIS resides in the ability to mobilize information and to support current and future biodiversity analyses. The geographic component allows data to be integrated with complementary data sets (e.g., topographic and land use data). Flexible data management ensures exchange with and support to the multiple existing initiatives, networks and databases.

SSC-SIS characteristics Data custodian model Connectivity Data standards Data documentation Spatial data capture Modular data scheme Analytical tools Data accessibility Web publication ensures access to the information for millions of users in key audiences – the private sector, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, international treaties, scientists, academicians and students.

SSC-SIS Products –Enhanced “traditional” products –Baseline species data sets –Species biodiversity analyses –Customized products

–Enhanced “traditional” products –Baseline species data sets –Species biodiversity analyses –Customized products Distribution range of the Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) SSC-SIS Products

–Enhanced “traditional” products –Baseline species data sets –Species biodiversity analyses –Customized products Environmental suitability model for Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) SSC-SIS Products

–Enhanced “traditional” products –Baseline species data sets –Species biodiversity analyses –Customized products Mammals species richness in Africa SSC-SIS Products

SSC-SIS Who will use it All those in the global community involved in conservation, including: –scientists, wildlife managers, researchers, and education establishments –international environmental treaties and agreements –governments, bilateral agencies and multilateral agencies –Non Governmental Organizations –private sector

The Way Forward IUCN/SSCIUCN/SSC - provides the expert network that generates the data IT CommunityIT Community - provides the information infrastructure FoundationsFoundations - provide the financial and institutional support The PartnershipThe Partnership - to turn data into information, into knowledge, into conservation action

Taxonomic Tree Taxonomic Window Objects Window How SIS software works European Otter (Lutra lutra)

Taxonomic Tree Taxonomic Window Objects Window How SIS software works

The Objects Window Taxon notes Life history notes Habitat description: The Habitat Module involves the characterisation of the ecology of a species. Habitat information is organised in two data types: 1. Categorical information (e.g. types of forests, ecological areas etc) 2. Measurements (e.g. altitude, average rainfall etc) The objective of the module is to characterise the seasonal lifecycle of a species, broken up into months and with related ecological features attached. Global habitat maps are used to identify the locations of the different habitat types around the world.

Habitat types Authority File 1 – Suitable (Red on map) 2 – Moderately Suitable (Yellow on map) 3 – Unsuitable (Black on map) 9 – Unknown (Grey on map)

Habitat types Qualifiers Each habitat type can be further detailed with a list of qualifiers

The Objects Window Featured Based Distribution: This module facilitates the management of distribution data based on feature maps (e.g. country maps, BRUs, WWF ecoregions, etc.). Distributions are thus obtained by selecting the features in which the taxon occurs.

The Objects Window Geographic Range: This module is used to manage Geographical ranges which can be freely drawn by the user as polygons on a base map. When the module is activated, an image of the world complete with major features (e.g. national borders, major rivers and the larger urban areas) is displayed to guide the user draw the distribution.

The Objects Window Red List Assessment: The Red List assessment module allows storage of all of the parameters (including documentation) required to define the status of the species. The module is built to accommodate assessments based on all versions of the IUCN Red List Criteria (as defined in IUCN 1994 and 2001), plus all of the data existing on assessment previous to the IUCN criteria. The module also incorporates the RAMAS® Red List fuzzy engine licensed from Applied Biomathematics.

Version Specify the RAMAS® Red List version which is used to calculate the Threat Status Assessor(s) The assessor(s) are one or more people who assess the status of a taxon and place it into an IUCN Red List Category based on the Red List Criteria Evaluator(s) For IUCN Red Listing authorities, there should be at least two evaluators. The evaluators are two or more people appointed by a designated IUCN Red List Authority to verify Red List assessments for a particular taxon, group of taxa or geographic region. The evaluators may be the same as the assessors but are required to conduct their evaluations or assessments in accordance with the agreed terms of reference for Red List Authorities to ensure wide consultation and transparency in the assessment process

Lutra lutra

European otter Lutra lutra

The Objects Window Conservation Measures: Allows to specify details about specific actions and measures either needed or already in place, concerning the species conservation.

The Objects Window Threats: Allows the user to specify details about a specific Threats concerning Taxa or Conservation Action initiatives.

The Objects Window Use/Trade: This Module stores information relevant to the associated uses and trade activities of a taxon. It also includes CITES listing

General data on use/trade Data about source of specimens in commercial trade Data about purpose/type of use CITES Status Data about offtake/harvest trends Data about primary forms removed from the wild

The Objects Window Contact: The Contact Data module has been designed in order for users to be able to manage their contact information efficiently and comprehensively. Within the context of SIS, contact objects are used to define assessors, evaluators, species and populations experts and any person that is able to contribute to the knowledge and the conservation of a specific taxon or a population.

The Objects Window Organisation: This module is used to manage information on Organisations. In SIS, organisation objects are used to define a contact's affiliation and important focal points for a specific taxon's conservation as well as Red List assessors and evaluators.

The Objects Window Reference: Bibliographic information is to be used as a point of reference for, and justification of the information entered in the database.