IUCN SSC Viper Specialist Group
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Overview and description
- Description:
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Vipers are among the most persecuted vertebrates by humans and 25% of assessed viper species are threatened. The VSG works towards a better understanding and protection of vipers. By bringing together ...
Group leadership
Dr Jose Jesus SIGALA-RODRIGUEZ
More about the Specialist Group
The VSG’s main role is to bring together global experts to address information gaps in viper knowledge, identify the most important conservation priorities, and promote assessment and action for individual species. Vipers are rarely considered as focal flagship species at national and international levels, therefore much of viper research and conservation occurs through local projects or initiatives. The VSG helps provide a network among these local projects ...
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MISSION
Viper Specialist Group (VSG), is a platform from which conservation biologists can work to increase our scientific understanding of viper biology and can implement conservation actions to prevent declines and extinctions.
Specialist Group work
The VSG focuses on identifying and addressing threats to viper species as well as identifying opportunities for conservation. We contribute to regular assessment of the status of viper species, seeking to incorporate new taxonomic data and reduce gaps in our knowledge of viper species distribution and population trends.
Understanding and addressing threats to vipers through focal committees
Vipers face multiple threats as well as unique opportunities for promoting and facilitation conservation. The VSG has initiated focal committees dedicated to several aspects critical to viper conservation.
Vipers on the IUCN Red List
To inform conservation efforts, VSG assesses species for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
VSG Annual Report
Learn about VSG’s work and results in 2022.
Previous reports:
VSG Annual Report 2021
VSG Annual Report 2020
VSG Annual Report 2019
VSG Annual Report 2018
VSG Annual Report 2016-2017
PROJECT | Greek Meadow Viper conservation
In coordination with our Red List Unit, we aim to assess or reassess as many species of vipers as we can in this quadrennium, focusing on several areas of the world, like Europe, Mesoamerica, southeast Asia and parts of Africa.