More about the Specialist Group

We will implement three strategic programmes of work to encourage people to care, research and help to 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 at Durrell and in the United States at Texas A&M University. They are responsible for driving the taxonomic and ecological research for the group and promoting conservation actions. Together they have a wide range of experience in carrying out species-level and site-level conservation projects. Re:wild will be involved in a strategic role, helping with the design and decisions associated with these various programmes of work. Their experience in capacity building, explorations, and habitat conservation will be invaluable for 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, has been working hard to complete the IUCN Red List reassessments for small mammals. To date, we have reassessed more than 2,800 species. We have used results from the Red List work to locate particularly high densities of Globally Threatened and Data Deficient species, so that we can focus our efforts on these key regions.

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 used 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 champion organisations or individuals 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 specie champion 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. But how can we get the zoo community more involved?

• Firstly, we need to better understand why certain species are currently held in collections.
• Once we have this information, we plan to undertake a number of ex-situ needs assessments, which will involve bringing experts together for a series of regional planning workshops to garner support for small mammals. Through these workshops we plan to develop regional initiatives, between ex-situ institutions and field conservation projects, to finance conservation within wild habitats and to increase the representation of small mammal species facing extinction across global zoo collections and captive breeding facilities.

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 ites 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.