IUCN SSC Cactus and Succulent Plants Specialist Group
Overview and description
- Description:
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We promote the conservation of succulent plants across the globe by guiding new research, acting as a source of information and education, hosting regular workshops, and more. In mid - 2017 we ...
Group leadership
Dr Barbara GOETTSCH
Mr Raul PUENTE-MARTINEZ
More about the Specialist Group
Currently the CSSG have members in Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, and South America. Established in 1984, the CSSG belongs to a wide network of working groups managed by the IUCN SSC, the global authority on the threats facing the natural world (catalogued via the IUCN Red List), and the conservation measures needed to protect it. In mid-2017 the CSSG held a workshop at Desert Botanical Garden, with the shared goals of producing an authoritative list of ...
The mission of the Cactus and Succulent Plants Specialist Group (CSSG) is to contribute to the conservation of cactus and succulent plants through better understanding of their taxonomy, ecology and threats. Improving national legislation of threatened succulent species, and bettering trade controls to counter the various risks and exploitation they face. Better educating on how we should conserve and use such species sustainably.
Specialist Group work
The CSSG is part of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)'s Species Survival Commission (SSC); the IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest international conservation organisation, and the global authority on both the status of the natural world and the measures needed to protect it.
Assess the threats facing the cactus family
One of our major goals and undertakings has been assessing the risks facing the cactus family.
CSSG on the IUCN Red List
To inform conservation efforts, CSSG assesses species for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
CSSG Annual Report
Learn about CSSG’s work and results in 2022.
Previous reports:
CSSG Annual Report 2021
CSSG Annual Report 2020
CSSG Annual Report 2018
CSSG Annual Report 2016-2017
Featured Projects
- Publication of a Paper entitled "High proportion of cactus species threatened with extinction" published in October 2015 in the journal Nature Plants reached 100 citations in March 2020.
This important study that highlights the main results from the Global Cactus Assessment has been key in our efforts to raise awareness on the extinction risk of cacti among the general public. Because of this study, we now know cacti are among the most threatened taxonomic groups assessed to date; with 31% of species threatened, cacti are more at risk than birds or mammals.
In addition, this work shows the main threats that are deteriorating and destroying cacti and its habitat, which is essential information to plan effective conservation actions. It also shows that the development of global species assessments for major plant groups can be done with relatively moderate resources. The number of citations reached is evidence of the impact such studies can have in conservation efforts.
- The exhibition ‘Copiapoa, Patriarchs of the Andes’
organised by member Andrea Cattabriga during ‘La Festa del Cactus’, one of the most important Italian commercial exhibitions specializing in succulents. The photographic exhibition, dedicated to the genus Copiapoa, targeted the 3,500+ succulent enthusiasts from all over Europe who visited the exhibition to raise awareness on how their consumer behaviour can fuel illegal poaching and smuggling markets, which are driving many of the species in this genus to extinction.
The creators of this photographic exhibition are Marco Giani, Engineer from Tradate (Italy), Cesar Cabero, Agronomist from Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Carlos Quevedo, Professor of History and Literature from Santiago (Chile). To participate in the sensory experience of an eagle’s flight over the habitat of Copiapoa in Chile, check this video.
At a glance
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