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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), Sérgio Henriques (invertebrates), Samuel Ivande (birds), Andrea Echeverry-Alcendra (amphibians & reptiles), Coralie Palmer (Marine) and Kelly Griese (PR). 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.

About our work

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 thousands of conservationists joined together in the 165+ 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

1
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 Are Lightning Bugs Disappearing from Indiana’s Night Skies? Fantastic Freshwater: 50 Landmark Species for Conservation
3
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 Fantastic Freshwater

Meet our team

Andrea Echeverry GCCS
Andrea Echeverry-Alcendra

Reptile and Amphibian Coordinator

Andrea has more than 14 years of experience working in zoos and aquariums and is especially interested in cross-cutting and collaborative science to promote reptiles and amphibians’ conservation under the “One Plan Approach”, which links in situ and ex situ methods and tools. She brings to her role her knowledge of illegal wildlife trade, husbandry, data management, conservation science and restoration ecology. Andrea is a member of various Specialist Groups of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC), World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP), and Commission on Education and Communication (CEC).

EXPERTISE: Species conservation action, Species conservation science

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 scientific writing. He brings over 10 years of this experience to his role at the Global Center.

EXPERTISE: Species conservation action, Species conservation science

Monika Bohm
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 species. She has published papers on topics including climate change vulnerability and extinction threat and is a certified Red List trainer, involved in workshops around the world. She has been both a postdoctoral research assistant and research fellow at the Zoological Society of London and is a member of numerous IUCN SSC Specialist Groups.

EXPERTISE: Freshwater species, Species conservation science

Coralie Palmer
Coralie Palmer

Marine Conservation Coordinator

Coralie brings over 20 years of experience working in the field of conservation biology. She has a strong focus on working collaboratively and inclusively with a broad range of stakeholders and communities, extensive experience facilitating research, outreach and policy development and a commitment to equity and environmental justice. Coralie’s research has focused on mangrove, seagrass, and coral reef ecosystems, with fieldwork for the Environmental Justice Foundation in Vietnam and Bangladesh. Originally from the UK, Coralie has lived in India, Egypt, Australia and the USA. Coralie has served as a Director for the Indiana Wildlife Federation and currently serves as President of the Indiana Native Plant Society.

EXPERTISE: Marine species

Sergio 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 Specialist Group.

EXPERTISE: Species conservation action, Species conservation science

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 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.

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 understand the complexities of conservation.

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