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News from the IUCN Species Survival Commission and the IUCN Species Programme
June 2012
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Securing the web of life The source of our food, medicines and clean water, as well the livelihoods of millions of people may be at risk with the rapid decline of the world’s animal, plant and fungi species. The latest update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™, was released on the eve of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Full story Englishl Frenchl Spanishl Portugese
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Threat to the Amazon’s birds is greater than ever The risk of extinction has increased substantially for nearly 100 species of Amazonian birds, reveals the 2012 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ update for birds released earlier this month by BirdLife International. The new assessment is based on models projecting the extent and pattern of deforestation across the Amazon. Of particular concern are species with longer life spans, such as Rio Branco Antbird (Cercomacra carbonaria), for which even moderate rates of deforestation can be important. Some species, such as Hoary-throated Spinetail (Synallaxis kollari), appear likely to lose more than 80% of their habitat over the coming decades and have been placed in the highest category of extinction risk – Critically Endangered. Full story
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'Rhino under threat’ film premiere in Rio From the massive parks in South Africa and Swaziland, to the crowded streets of Hanoi in Viet Nam, the film Rhino under threat shows the brutality of the current spike in illegal killing of rhino and the impact it is having on local communities. The film investigates what is driving the demand for rhino horn in Asia and the powerful measures being taken by national authorities to fight this crime. UNTV obtained exclusive access to the Environmental Crime Investigation and Air Services of South Africa and to black markets in Hanoi. Full story l SaveOurSpecies project
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Baby born at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary The birth of a Sumatran Rhino in Indonesia, just a few weeks after the start of The International Year of the Rhino, has given extra hope for the conservation of this threatened species. Born on Saturday 23 June at Indonesia’s Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary, Andatu is the first Sumatran Rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) to be born in captivity in Indonesia and only the fifth born in captivity worldwide. Listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™, this breeding success is a significant event in the conservation of the Sumatran Rhino. Video
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A Triumph for Species in the 2012 Rolex Awards Laureate Selection The 2012 Rolex Awards for Enterprise, announced recently at the Science Museum in London, UK, recognize pioneers whose work contributes to protecting the environment, or improving lives. Three of the 2012 Laureates, Sergei Bereznuk, Barbara Block and Erika Cuéllar have won Awards for projects devoted to saving species. Full story
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Lonesome George, a farewell from a friend Anders G.J. Rhodin, M.D., Chairman Emeritus, IUCN Species Survival Commission's (SSC) Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group reflects on the death of George, the last of the Pinta Island Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra abingdoni). "When I saw the news yesterday I was overcome with sadness and spent a great deal of time thinking about Lonesome George and all he had meant to both me personally and to the world of species conservation in general" Read more
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World’s 500+ Alliance for Zero Extinction Sites Provide Wealth of Tangible Benefits to the Human Species A new study published in the journal PLoS ONE assessed, for the first time, more than 500 Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) sites around the world to review the potential and realized benefits which conserving these places would provide not just for species, but for human well being. The researchers determined that protecting habitats in these priority areas to halt the loss of biodiversity will yield multiple benefits to people in terms of ecosystem services such as - climate change mitigation, freshwater, the future “option value” of biodiversity and cultural services. Full story l AZE website
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Experts report highest elephant poaching and ivory smuggling rates in a decade Elephant poaching levels are the worst in a decade and recorded ivory seizures are at their highest levels since 1989, according to a report published today by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The findings, largely based on information submitted by governments, will be presented and discussed at the 62nd meeting of the CITES Standing Committee to be held in Geneva from 23 to 27 July 2012. Full story
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Protecting endangered sharks Endangered sharks in the waters of the United Kingdom (UK) and its overseas territories will be given greater protection following the signing of an international agreement on the conservation of sharks, UK Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon announced last week. Full story
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20 years on, civil society leads in Rio Governments are leaving the UN’s Sustainable Development Summit (Rio +20) with a big deal but little action. Groups of civil society and business have proved they can lead the way towards a sustainable future. full story
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Inze Koné wins a Whitley Award Inza Koné, member of both the Primate and the Hippo Specialist Groups is Head of Biodiversity and Food Security at the Swiss Centre for Scientific research in Ivory Coast and the leader of the Country’s Research and Actions for the Conservation of Primates programme (RASAP-CI). His work helping the people and wildlife of Tanoé has been recognized with a Whitley Award donated by The Shears Foundation Full story
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Bees at the European Parliament In conjunction with European Bees and Pollination week, the Bees Biodiversity Network partnered with the United Nations Environment Programme and Gaston Franco, MEP to hold the International Conference on “Biodiversity, a Culture to Share” this 5th and 6th June in Brussels at the European Parliament. Full story
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Boa & Python The BPSG started in August 2011, and since then it has concentrated on developing the group by appointing core members and working on its corporate image. The BPSG is currently focusing on the significant trade in Southeast Asian pythons, but hopes to encourage and act as a focal point for all researchers working on the natural history and conservation of boa and
python species worldwide. The first issue of Serpens the newsletter of the BPSG is now available Serpens Vol1 No1
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Dragonfly Congratulations to Dragonfly SG member Matjaz Bedjanic from Slovenia who has received a grant from the Rufford Small Grants Foundation for his project: "Distribution Atlas of the Dragonflies of Sri Lanka: focus on the globally endangered species included on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species"
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Seahorse, Pipefish & Stickleback The latest newsletter from Project Seahorse is packed with interesting stuff including a 7 minute video from Chair Amanda Vincent illustrating seahorses and the onion approach to conservation.
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SULi Conservation Force (http://www.conservationforce.org/ ) is seeking in situ conservation projects to fund for: Scimitar horned oryx, Addax, and Dama Gazelle.
If you are working on these species and are seeking conservation funding, please get in touch with SULi Chair rosie.cooney@iucn.org
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Orchids - A Tribute to Professor Emmanuel Asuquo Obot The IUCN community is deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Orhcid SG member, colleague and friend ProfessorEmmanuel Asuquo Obot who died tragically on Sunday 3 June 2012 in the plane crash in Lagos, Nigeria. Professor Obot was the Executive Director of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, an IUCN Member organization, a Steering Committee member of the Commission on Environmental Economic and Social Policy (CEESP) and Chair of the CEESP Theme on Social and Environmental Accountability of the Private Sector (SEAPRISE).
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New mangrove finch fledglings During the last breeding season of the Galapagos Islands' mangrove finch, the SOS project team identified at least 13 fledged nests out of which have emerged around 19 juveniles. This is a real boost for the population which is thought to number only around 100 individuals. The SOS-funded project aims to protect the Critically Endangered Mangrove Finch (Camarhynchus heliobates) by extending the bird's natural range and protecting its habitat, the mangrove forests. Story Video clip
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IUCN Red Listing for Mediterranean seagrasses At present, five of the 59 species of seagrasses assessed at global level are at a high threat of extinction. IUCN organised an IUCN Red Listing workshop on 1 June in Essaouira during the Mediterranean Seagrass Workshop organised by the Ecole supérieure de technologie Essaouira and the polydisciplinary faculty Safi Université Cadi Ayyad (Morocco) and supported by the Mediterranean Seagrass Association – Seagrass 2000. More info
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La Liste rouge des crustacés d’eau douce de France métropolitaine Un quart des espèces de crustacés d’eau douce sont menacées en France métropolitaine. Ce nouveau chapitre de la Liste rouge nationale porte sur des espèces pour la plupart méconnues, qui jouent un rôle essentiel dans les milieux d’eau douce. Au terme de l’étude menée durant trois ans sur les 576 espèces de crustacés d’eau douce de l’Hexagone, près de 28% des espèces apparaissent menacées. voir plus
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Future for Nature Award 2013 - call for candidates Are you an outstanding, talented and young conservationist? Or do you know someone who fits this profile? You or your colleague might be eligible for one of the three Future for Nature Awards of € 50.000 each! Interested? Please apply no later than September 7th, 2012 Full details
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Camera trap photo of the year 2012 If you’re working on a conservation project that uses remote camera technology, why not enter your photos in this competition sponsored by the World Land Trust? You could win a research grant of up to £3,000 for your project. Application deadline 13 July 2012. Full details
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Call for nomination to the technical body of IPBES (the Intergovernmental science-policy) Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services) is now open In establishing IPBES, the 94 interested countries – which are now IPBES Members - also decided to endow it with a technical body called the Multidisciplinary Expert Panel (MEP). This body will advise the Platform’s governing body, on scientific communication matters, it will manage the peer-review process of the assessments produced by the Platform, it will engage scientific community with the work programme of the platform and it will facilitate coordination between the Platform and existing mechanisms. Each UN Region has been asked to nominate 5 candidates for the MEP. Candidates should have scientific expertise in BES with regard to both natural and social sciences and traditional knowledge, experience in communicating, promoting and incorporating science into policy development processes, and the ability to work in international scientific and policy processes. Contact the national IPBES focal point if you wish to nominate a candidate. Submission deadline 30th of September 2012. Contact pierre.commenville@iucn.org for more info.
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Arkive invertebrate photography competition ARKive is working with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) to help highlight the plight of the world’s invertebrates. Through our joint invertebrate photography competition, we hope to increase the availability of invertebrate imagery for conservation purposes. Full details
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MSc courses in Wild Animal Health & Wild Animal Biology One year full time study starting each Autumn, leading to an MSc qualification from the University of London (with exit points at Certificate and Diploma).
MSc Wild Animal Health applicants require a first degree from a recognised veterinary school and learn alongside experts in the field, to acquire knowledge and skills in wild animal management and the epidemiology, treatment and control of disease. Details
MSc Wild Animal Biology applicants require a first degree in Biology or Zoology. Participants acquire an understanding of wild animal health and welfare through practical exposure, and receive training in relevant research methodologies. Details
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ZOOQUARIA - #78 - Summer 2012 The latest edition is a Deer Special and feature articles include:
- EAZA Deer TAG update
- IUCN SSC Deer Specialist Group overview
- Southeast Asian deer species
- Oceanario Lisboa's new sea turtle exhibit
- The debate: is education the primary role of zoos?
Download the PDF or Read Online
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Off the Shelf The latest information on IUCN publications including these titles:
- Strategic adaptive management guidelines for effective conservation of freshwater ecosystems in and around protected areas of the world
- Biodiversity of Tanguar Haor: A Ramsar site of Bangladesh - Volume I: Wildlife
- Conservation and sustainable development: Linking practice and policy in Eastern Africa
- Turks and Caicos iguana conservation and management plan, 2005–2009
- Sites naturels sacrés : Lignes directrices pour les gestionnaires d’aires protégées
- Las praderas de Magnoliofitas marinas del mar Mediterráneo : Resiliencia y contribución a la mitigación del cambio climático, resumen
Click Off the Shelf for details
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WORLD CONSERVATION CONGRESS NEWS
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Early bird fees close 05 July - register now before the price increases The Congress starts with the five-day Forum, a conservation debate hub that is open to all, featuring knowledge cafés, workshops, training courses, poster sessions and five high-profile World Leaders’ Dialogues. The Forum then leads into the three-day Members' Assembly, IUCN's highest decision-making body and a unique global environmental parliament of governments and NGOs. Visit the Congress website for full information on Registration and Forum events. Français I Español
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Countdown to Congress News and updates on Congress including information on Jeju ecotours and links to all aspects of the official programme and events.Countdown to Congress June 2012
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TRAFFIC News Latest here
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IUCN Europe - country focus pages
Take a look at the IUCN Regional Office for Europe country focus pages which feature the work of the national IUCN Members, Committees and experts and the conservation issues they deal with. A different country is featured each month and to date the following have been highlighted.
Moldova l Turkey l Spain l Hungary l Denmark
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Launch of the IUCN @ COP11 Bulletin The aim of this bulletin is to provide regular updates on relevant information for the preparation of IUCN’s participation at the 11th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP11). CBD COP11 will be held in Hyderabad, India, from 8 – 19 October 2012. Click IUCN@COP11 Bulletin for information on the key focus areas for IUCN, side events, registration etc.
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Plans d'action pour les espèces menacées au Maghreb La réunion de démarrage du projet «Élaboration et mise en œuvre de plans d'action d’espèces dans les pays méditerranéens: amélioration de la capacité de gestion pour la conservation d’espèces menacées au Maghreb » a eu lieu le 12 juin 2012, à Alger, en Algérie. Plus d'info
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IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) © 2010
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The monthly e-Bulletin supplements Species, the published newsletter of the Species Programme and the SSC. It aims to keep staff, members and the wider IUCN network up-to-date with Species news and announcements. 2009 issues are available on the Species homepage. Contact us sscmembership@iucn.org
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Photo credits@ IUCN: Header : Intu BOEDHIHARTONO |
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