Global CSS - United States: Indianapolis Zoo

Established in 2019, the Global Center for Species Survival team consists of seven conservation experts with a taxonomic or thematic focus, a behaviour change specialist, a public relations specialist and a director. Current team members include Monika Böhm (freshwater), Cátia Canteiro (plants & fungi), Sérgio Henriques (invertebrates), Samuel Ivande (birds), Julia Geschke (amphibians & reptiles), Kelly Griese (PR) and Bill Street (director). The Global Center’s goal is to provide effective support to the SSC network to accelerate the progress from conservation risk assessment and action planning to concrete interventions that will save species. The Global Center also dramatically expanded the capacity to establish and foster partnerships, in particular between SSC Specialist Groups, taxon advisory groups, individual zoos and aquariums and with Association level programs such as AZA’s SAFE.

The Global Center for Species Survival is built upon a partnership and a commitment to conservation. As human pressure continues to drive biodiversity loss, the work of conservationists from around the world becomes more vital in protecting and restoring nature. Only through collaboration can we protect species and the spaces they call home.
That’s why the Indianapolis Zoo partnered with the world’s largest conservation organization – the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – which connects thousands of dedicated species experts under the Species Survival Commission (SSC).
The Global Center for Species Survival supports, connects and communicates the work of more than 10,500 conservationists joined together in the 167 Specialist Groups, Task Forces and Conservation Committees of the IUCN SSC. It is the mission of the Global Center to support the IUCN SSC in influencing, encouraging and assisting societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature. 
The Global Center opened with generous support from Lilly Endowment Inc. In addition to serving as a conservation hub, the Global Center also hosts international meetings and conferences, furthering economic benefit to the community and solidifying the Zoo’s efforts to make Indianapolis one of the most conservation-literate cities in the world.

Supporting the Species Conservation

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Support IUCN SSC Specialist Groups in achieving their targets and goals to save species

The Global Center team supports IUCN SSC Specialist Groups in a variety of ways. From contributing to species assessments and hosting webinars and workshops, to supporting the development of new specialist groups and recruiting new members. We also contribute content to the IUCN SSC’s “one-stop-shop” resource site for SSC members, Specialist Groups and Centers for Species Survival. 

2

Communicate the work of the IUCN SSC to a wide audience

Through the Global Center website, social media, traditional media and direct communication with Specialist Group members, the Global Center team spreads the word about the incredible conservation work of the IUCN SSC to a global audience, utilizing the expertise of our Conservation Coordinators. 

The Online Spider Market is Massive–and Crawling with Issues read more
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Connect Specialist Groups with the IUCN SSC and across the wider conservation world

The Global Center team connects Specialist Groups through workshops, webinars, assessments and publications. 

CPSG Webinars read more

Meet our team

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Bill Street

Bill Street

Director. Bill is a passionate environmental educator, zoologist and conservationist. He has been a leader in zoos and aquariums for over 30 years. He assists and consults with zoological facilities.

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Director. Bill is a passionate environmental educator, zoologist and conservationist. He has been a leader in zoos and aquariums for over 30 years. He assists and consults with zoological facilities.


Monika Böhm

Monika Böhm

Freshwater Coordinator. With more than a decade’s experience supporting freshwater IUCN assessments, Dr Monika Böhm brings vast knowledge on the diverse conservation issues affecting freshwater ...

Freshwater Coordinator. With more than a decade’s experience supporting freshwater IUCN assessments, Dr Monika Böhm brings vast knowledge on the diverse conservation issues affecting freshwater species.

Cátia Canteiro

Cátia Canteiro

Plants and Fungi Coordinator. Cátia has been working with both plants and fungi across the different components of the conservation cycle, including on Red List assessments, environmental impact ...

Plants and Fungi Coordinator. Cátia has been working with both plants and fungi across the different components of the conservation cycle, including on Red List assessments, environmental impact assessments, monitoring studies and ecological restoration.

Sérgio Henriques

Sérgio Henriques

Invertebrates Coordinator. Dr Sérgio Henriques uses his more than 20 years of experience mobilising resources to promote arachnid conservation. He also chairs the IUCN SSC Spider and Scorpion ...

Invertebrates Coordinator. Dr Sérgio Henriques uses his more than 20 years of experience mobilising resources to promote arachnid conservation. He also chairs the IUCN SSC Spider and Scorpion Specialist Group.

Samuel Ivande

Samuel Ivande

Birds Coordinator. Sam is a conservation biologist. With birds as focal species, his work (mostly in West Africa) has included a combination of fieldwork, citizen science, capacity building, and ...

Birds Coordinator. Sam is a conservation biologist. With birds as focal species, his work (mostly in West Africa) has included a combination of fieldwork, citizen science, capacity building, and scientific writing. He brings over 10 years of this experience to his role at the Global Center.

Julia Geschke

Julia Geschke

Reptile and Amphibian Coordinator. Julia has worked with a variety of wildlife species and conservation organisations. She brings her experience with herpetofauna along with expertise in conservation ...

Reptile and Amphibian Coordinator. Julia has worked with a variety of wildlife species and conservation organisations. She brings her experience with herpetofauna along with expertise in conservation funding, policy, and geospatial analysis to her role at the Global Center. 

Justin Birkhoff

Justin Birkhoff

Mammal Conservation Coordinator. Justin has been working in the zoo and conservation space for over ten years, where he has focused on the intersection of in situ and ex situ conservation efforts. His ...

Mammal Conservation Coordinator. Justin has been working in the zoo and conservation space for over ten years, where he has focused on the intersection of in situ and ex situ conservation efforts. His experience ranges from animal husbandry to collection management and planning. Justin is a firm believer in the integrated IUCN One Plan approach to conservation, making his role as the Mammal Conservation Coordinator a phenomenal fit. He has a passion for connecting communities with conservation and supporting conservation practitioners in maximizing their impact.
 

Laura Perry

Laura Perry

Behaviour Change Coordinator. Laura has worked on the themes of human-wildlife conflict and coexistence around the world, particularly as they relate to human behaviour change. She has worked across a ...

Behaviour Change Coordinator. Laura has worked on the themes of human-wildlife conflict and coexistence around the world, particularly as they relate to human behaviour change. She has worked across a range of social science methodologies and brings her knowledge of Human Dimensions challenges and opportunities to the team. 

Kelly Griese

Kelly Griese

Communications Coordinator. Kelly is an energetic advocate for the natural world. As the public relations specialist for the Global Center for Species Survival, she is tasked with helping the public ...

Communications Coordinator. Kelly is an energetic advocate for the natural world. As the public relations specialist for the Global Center for Species Survival, she is tasked with helping the public understand the complexities of conservation.