IUCN SSC Cactus and Succulent Plants Specialist Group
IUCN COMMISSION GROUP

IUCN SSC Cactus and Succulent Plants Specialist Group

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Overview and description

Description:
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 ...
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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 partnered with the Desert Botanical Garden in Arizona, USA, which acts as a host institution to aid us in leading, promoting, and furthering cactus and succulent conservation efforts worldwide.

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Group leadership

Dr Barbara GOETTSCH
Red List Authority Coordinator
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Barbara Goettsch is a Dr in Ecology graduated from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. Through academic institutions, non-government organizations and the Mexican Federal Government, she has contributed to several research projects on Plant Conservation. She worked for Mexico’s National Institute of Ecology, her activities included managing the country’s List of Threatened Species, collaboration with Mexican institutions to represent Mexico in International Conventions such as CITES, collaborative work prioritising, planning, coordinating and financing research projects for CITES species such as Guayacán (Guayacum sanctum) and Candelilla (Euphorbia antiyphilitica). Her passion for cacti dates back to the early days of her carrier. She has been specialising on this group for over 14 years. Her vast field experience, mainly in the Chihuahuan Desert, places her as one of the ten most prolific botanical collectors of this group of plants. In 2001 she became a member of the IUCN Cactus and Succulent Specialist Group. Her interest in the conservation of cacti drove her to direct the Global Cactus Assessment for the IUCN Red List and for this effort she was honoured with the Harry Messel Award for Conservation Leadership in 2012. Since 2010 she has been a member of the IUCN Red List Committee.
Barbara Goettsch is a Dr in Ecology graduated from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. Through academic institutions, non-government organizations and the Mexican Federal Government, she has ...
Mr Lucas MAJURE
Co-Chair
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Mr Raul PUENTE-MARTINEZ
Red List Authority Coordinator

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 ...

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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 cactus names to clean up the family’s complex taxonomy, to globally assess the risks facing the agave family, and to form a partnership to help these and future aims come to fruition.

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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

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One of our major goals and undertakings has been assessing the risks facing the cactus family. 

CSSG on the IUCN Red List

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To inform conservation efforts, CSSG assesses species for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Annual Report

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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.

Hesperoyucca newberryi, flower closeup black background. Credit: Wendy Hodgson

plant specialist groups - thematic break out. Credit: IUCN SSC Cactus and Succulent Plants Specialist Group (CSSG)

 

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