1. IUCN and Biodiversity Assessment
IUCN Species Survival Commission
in collaboration with
Conservation International, BirdLife International, Association for Biodiversity Information and Center for Marine Conservation
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2. SSC 2001 Geography 7,100 members 125 Specialist Groups 2 Task Forces
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3. SSC takes the lead on
Bringing together the world’s scientists to produce…
Red Lists of Threatened Species
Action Plans for species conservation
Conservation action on the ground
Policies and guidelines for conservation action
11/7/2018

4. Programme Priorities Species Information Service Red List Programme
Wildlife Trade Programme
Plant Conservation Programme
Invasive Species
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5. Species Information Service
Standardises geo-referenced data on species
Current data, not only historical
Flexible format adapted to wide variety of species
Builds on existing data and partnerships
11/7/2018

6. SIS Components
Distributed data management model: Specialist Groups (experts) manage data
Software designed to accommodate needs of species with a wide variety of ecological requirements
Central Service Unit supports network implementation, links with partner organizations and other data sets, and carries out high-level analyses.
11/7/2018

7. What can SIS do? Monitor changes in biodiversity over time
Identify sites of conservation concern
Support conservation policy decisions
Enhance understanding of ecosystem dynamics
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8. SIS in 2001 Specialist Groups equipped with software Software launched
Global network of current information on the status of species
11/7/2018

9. Red List Programme Red List Criteria Review
Regional guidelines and workshops
2000 Red List of Threatened Species
Biodiversity indices
11/7/2018

10. Future Species Coverage (1)
all birds reassessed
all amphibians, cycads, all conifers reassessed
2003 – all sharks and rays, carnivorous plants, all mammals reassessed
all reptiles, freshwater molluscs, freshwater fishes, cacti and succulents, all birds reassessed
11/7/2018

11. Future Species Coverage (2)
2005 – selected groups of trees, all palms
2006 – selected groups of orchids and bulbs, all marine fish, terrestrial molluscs, legumes,
2007 – selected groups of bryophytes, all butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies, pteridophytes
11/7/2018

12. Core Datasets (1)
Systematics. Species, Genus, Family, Order, Taxonomic Authority, Synonyms, English and other common names (if any), and Taxonomic Notes
Red Listing. Red List Category, Red List Criteria, Rationale for the Red List Assessment, Reason for any Change from Previous Assessments, Current Population Trend, Date of Assessment, Names of Assessors, and any Notes relating to Red Listing
11/7/2018

13. Core Datasets (2)
General Information. General notes on Geographic Range, Population, Habitat, Threats and Conservation Measures
Species Distribution. An Arc View compatible Geographic Distribution Map (Extent of Occurrence) plus a list of Countries of Occurrence
Major Threats. Each species is coded against an authority file of Major Threat Types
Conservation Actions. Each species is coded against an authority file of Conservation Actions
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14. Core Datasets (3)
Habitat Preferences. Each species is scored against a two-level Habitat Hierarchy, with the lower level responding to the Global Land Cover Characterization (GLCC). Each habitat type in both levels can be given a score according to the suitability of the habitat for the species.
11/7/2018

15. Core Datasets (4)
Use and Trade. For each species, the purpose of use, the primary form taken from the wild, and the source of specimens in trade are scored against authority files; also trends in total wild harvest, trends in domestication/cultivation, and CITES status are scored
Bibliography. A listing of important Literature References
11/7/2018

16. The Global Amphibian Assessment
IUCN Species Survival Commission
Conservation International
AmphibiaWeb
Association for Biodiversity Information
11/7/2018

17. SSC’s focus on amphibians
DAP Task Force
120 Subgroups
Global Amphibian Specialist
Group
Regional Reptile and Amphibian Specialist Groups
Europe, China, Madagascar
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18. Global Amphibian Assessment
The first priority of the SIS and the Red List
At present, data on amphibians are not making a major contribution to the setting of biodiversity conservation priorities
11/7/2018

19. The GAA will:
Assess the status of all 5,000 amphibian species against the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, thus identifying those species that are at risk globally
So far, fewer than 1,500 species have been assessed, mainly in Australia, North America and Europe
11/7/2018

20. The GAA will:
Incorporate all this information in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Incorporate this information in AmphibiaWeb
11/7/2018

21. The GAA will:
Map the distributional limits of all 5,000 species, and will include these in the SIS and in AmphibiaWeb
The new SIS mapping software is being used for this.
11/7/2018

22. The GAA will: Identify the most important geographic areas for:
amphibian diversity
threatened amphibians
range-restricted species
This analysis will be based on the individual species’ distribution maps
11/7/2018

23. The GAA will:
Produce an overall report on amphibian conservation priorities
This report will compare amphibian conservation priorities with mammal and bird conservation priorities
11/7/2018

24. Progress to Date (1) Majority of the necessary funding secured
GAA database developed (SIS-compatible) and is being used by regional coordinators
Regional coordinators in place in 16 regions
Early results available from Africa and Australia
11/7/2018

25. Progress to Date (2)
Work underway in Borneo, Caribbean, China, Europe, Former Soviet Union, Indian Subcontinent, Madagascar and Seychelles, Mainland Southeast Asia, New Guinea and Solomon Islands, New Zealand, Sumatra, Lesser Sunda Islands and Sulawesi, and West Asia.
11/7/2018

26. Next Steps
Implementing the GAA in the Americas, Japan and the Philippines
Recruiting staff
Developing data review procedures
Incorporating trade and use information
Collaboration with AmphibiaWeb and ABI
Developing the Global Amphibian Specialist Group
11/7/2018