IUCN SSC Small Mammal Specialist Group

More about the Specialist Group

We implement three strategic programmes of work to encourage people to care, research and help conserve small mammals.

We have a strong and dedicated team in place to deliver these three programmes of work. The SMSG has teams in the UK based at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and in the United States at Texas A&M University. We are responsible for driving the taxonomic and ecological research for the group and promoting conservation actions. Together we have a wide range of experience in carrying out species-level and site-level conservation projects. Re:wild provides valuable core funding for the group and plays a strategic role, helping with the design and decisions associated with these various programmes of work. Their experience in capacity building, expeditions, and habitat conservation are invaluable for the implementation of our strategy.

1. Building conservation capacity in key small mammal regions

By identifying key geographical regions in which to begin conservation efforts, we can maximize the benefits provided to a whole suite of small mammal species. The SMSG, alongside many other important partners, works hard to complete the IUCN Red List reassessments for small mammals. We have used results from the Red List work to locate regions with particularly high densities of Globally Threatened and Data Deficient species, so that we can focus our efforts on them.

2. Developing champions for key small mammal species

Individuals and small organisations can play a huge role in championing species conservation efforts and in developing site-level protection programmes. We use a variety of prioritisation methods to identify key species on which to focus our work. We are now working to recruit and support champions to spearhead conservation efforts for these highly threatened small mammal species. Our aim is to provide support and build the capacity needed for champions to conserve these species: this could include assistance with funding and training, support for research activities, providing networking opportunities and facilitating action planning. We want to excite people about small mammals and to support our species champions in their work and ambitions to study and conserve priority species, with the aim that they will then go on to inspire other researchers and conservationists to work on small mammals too.

3. Promoting small mammal conservation within the world’s leading zoos

We believe zoos should be playing a much greater role in captive breeding for conservation purposes and provide greater funding and expertise to conservation efforts in the field. We work to engage zoos in taking up opportunities to link their animal collections with projects internationally. Highlighting projects which need support is an important part of what we do. So far, we have had successful funding from zoos for workshops and key species projects. 

Objectives

• Knowledge. To strengthen the taxonomic and ecological knowledgebase for the small mammals and to identify their conservation status and needs through the IUCN Red List process.
• Capacity. To equip scientists and conservationists with the skills, tools and knowledge they need to conduct field research on high-priority small mammals and to plan and deliver conservation actions.
• Conservation. To promote field conservation actions for the most threatened and evolutionarily distinct small mammal species and in sites which support globally important assemblages of small mammals.
• Awareness. To raise the profile of the small mammals in the conservation community to ensure they are appropriately represented in high-level conservation processes and strategies.
• Operational Effectiveness. To develop responsible governance and effective coordination of the SMSG, supported by sustainable sources of finance, and to grow the SMSG leadership and membership to ensure it is geographically, thematically and taxonomically representative.