Sub-Committees are established by the SSC Chair, in consultation with the SSC Steering Committee, to govern a specific portion of the SSC network or SSC's activities.
Currently there are seven SSC Sub-Committees:
Freshwater Conservation Sub-Committee (FCSC)
The FCSC was established in 2010 in order for the SSC to urgently address the global freshwater biodiversity crisis. The FCSC’s main activities are: (1) coordination of freshwater species conservation activities through the SSC, to highlight emerging patterns and to ensure that increasing attention is given to issues concerning freshwater biodiversity conservation; (2) to make recommendations to the SSC based on the work of the FCSC; (3) to ensure freshwater species conservation issues are aligned within the SSC and the wider IUCN; (4) to assist the SSC by providing authority and credibility in its engagement with policy processes and major freshwater related events; (5) to raise the awareness and increase the profile of the freshwater biodiversity crisis.
Contact: Topiltzin Contreras MacBeath topis@uaem.mx
Invertebrate Conservation Sub-Committee (ICSC)
The ICSC was established in 2005 to tackle the enormous challenge of how to manage conservation action for the most speciose taxonomic grouping on Earth. The ICSC’s responsibilities are the implementation of invertebrate conservation priorities with respect to the SSC’s Mandate and agreed contributions to the IUCN Intersessional Programmes. As such, the SSC ICSC advises the SSC Chair and Steering Committee on implementation of the agreed priorities, identifies other emerging issues of concern for invertebrate conservation and seeks out new and relevant partnerships for invertebrate conservation. The ICSC has worked hard to create an appropriate structure within the SSC network of Specialist Groups in order to achieve these objectives.
Contact: Michael Samways samways@sun.ac.za
Marine Conservation Sub-Committee (MCSC)
The MCSC aims to ensure that decisions taken by policy-makers and resource managers on the management of marine resources are based on sound and scientific knowledge. The MCSC brings together marine experts from SSC, the World Commission on Protected Areas, the IUCN Global Marine Programme and other key partners such as TRAFFIC and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). It acts as a crucial focal point for marine issues, providing an advisory role to the SSC Steering Committee and for initiatives such as the Global Marine Species Asessment and taking on specific marine issues not covered by other components of IUCN.
Contact: Yvonne Sadovy yjsadovy@hkucc.hku.hk or Claudio Campagna ccampagna@wcs.org
Plant Conservation Sub-Committee (PCSC)
The PCSC leads IUCN's efforts in stemming the loss of global plant diversity through its wide-ranging network of plant conservationists. The PCSC is responsible for advising and assisting on the overall prioritisation and programme oversight within the SSC to deliver on its plant conservation responsibilities. The PCSC works to support and facilitate the activities of the SSC Chair, the IUCN Species Programme, and the expert volunteer network of specialist groups, task forces and others, providing overall strategic guidance and direction in accordance with the mandate of the SSC.
Contact: John Donaldson J.Donaldson@sanbi.org.za
Species Conservation Planning Sub-Committee (SCPSC)
Species are the reason for the SSC, and it works largely through its network of Specialist Groups and stand-alone Red List Authorities to increase knowledge about species and to improve their conservation status. Subsequent actions taken to help species depend on sound and rigorous planning; hence, the SSC is taking a strong strategic interest in developing and promoting conservation planning under the diversity of conditions under which species exist. The SCPSC came into existence in 2010 as the SSC mechanism to catalyse effective planning for the conservation of species. The output of the preceding Species Conservation Planning Task Force is contained in the Handbook that describes how to develop a conservation strategy for species under a range of circumstances (range-wide, regional, or national; single or multiple species). It is inclusive of all relevant parties and will result in rigorously tested and realistic actions that can be monitored, evaluated and capable of refinement.
The SCPSC works with the other SSC Sub-Committees and Specialist Groups in order to identify and observe or assist, where possible, in planning events for species most in need. The SCPSC is especially keen to apply and develop the methodology to situations of relatively neglected taxa such as invertebrates, and to aquatic species. This Sub-Committee is also keen to test development of new tools, technologies and approaches to generalise the lessons from every planning event, the subsequent implementation of plans, and to reduce the unit cost of planning for single species. Every opportunity will also be taken to use planning events for training opportunities to develop the global cadre of skilled species planners.
Contact: Mark Stanley Price mark.stanleyprice@zoo.ox.ac.uk
Standards and Petitions Sub-Committee (SPSC)
The SPSC is responsible for ensuring the quality and standards of the IUCN Red List and for ruling on petitions against the listings of species on the IUCN Red List. The SPSC has developed, and regularly updates, the Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, which gives detailed and specific guidance on the correct use of the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. When disagreement about the listing of a particular species on the IUCN Red List leads to a formal petition, the Standards and Petitions Sub-Committee acts as the final judge and makes a binding ruling on the petition. SPSC also gives advice on the interpretation of the Red List Criteria; responds to requests for scientific advice and guidance from the Red List Technical Working Group of the Red List Committee, the IUCN Species Programme and from Red List Partners; reviews Red List training materials and approaches; reviews proposed changes to the Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional Levels; reviews all assessments made using only Criterion E; periodically reviews assessments made by Red List Authorities, Red List Partners and the IUCN Species Programme; and comments on specific assessments forwarded by the IUCN Species Programme.
Contact Resit Akçakaya akcakaya@life.bio.sunysb.edu
The IUCN Red List Committee
The responsibilities of the IUCN Red List Committee are to ensure coordination of the IUCN Red Listing process, and in particular close and effective cooperation among the Species Survival Commission, Global Species Programme, and IUCN Red List Partners. It has responsibility for the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM and advises on the functioning of the Species Information Service (SIS). The IUCN Red List Committee, amongst other things, sets the standards of scientific quality for the SSC’s work on biodiversity assessments, develops guidelines on the application of these standards, ensures that evaluations of petitions against the listing of particular taxa on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM are carried out professionally and impartially, and builds collaboration with other organizations working on biodiversity assessments. The IUCN Red List Committee delegates detailed technical work to working groups and temporary task forces, as needed. Current Working Groups include the National Red List Working Group and the Red List Technical Working Group.
Contact: Jeff McNeely jam@iucn.org
