iucn/ssc re-introduction specialist group (rsg) environmental research & wildlife development...

IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group (RSG)

Environmental Research & Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA),

P.O. Box 45553,

Abu Dhabi - UAE

Tel: 00-971-2-681-7171 / Fax: 00-971-2-681-0008 / Mob.: 00-971-50-562-4984

E-mail: FLaunay@erwda.gov.ae / PSoorae@erwda.gov.ae

WWW: http://iucn.org/themes/ssc/sgs/rsg/index.htm

RSG: CD ROM - why is it necessary?

• High mailing costs, a large number of publications and a limited and diminishing stock of past newsletters was a factor in producing a CD which contains all of RSG’s various publications produced over the years.

• We hope this CD will provide a suitable reference source and future updates are planned.

• If you are interested in providing relevant material for future issues please contact the RSG Secretariat for further information.

RSG: CD ROM - main features . . .

• There is a menu that cascades open to show the various options available on this CD.

• 14 issues of the Re-introduction NEWS have to be viewed in a web browser and the rest can be viewed as Adobe Acrobat PDF documents.

• The relevant software can be installed from the home page of the CD.

RSG: organizational support . . .

We would like to thank the following organizations

for their support in the production and

distribution of this CD

National TropicalBotanical Garden

RSG: within IUCN & SSC ...

IUCN

SSC

6 Commissions:1. World Commission on Protected Areas2. Environmental Economics & Social Policy3. Education & Communication4. Environmental Law5. Ecosystem Management6. Species Survival Commission (SSC)

SSC Disciplinary & Thematic Specialist Groups & Task Forces - over 120 in number

Thematic Specialist Group e.g. IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group (RSG)

RSG: in the logo ...

• The plant is Ruizia cordata

(Reunion Islands);

• a parrot (several projects

globally);

• the Arabian oryx (Oman &

Saudi Arabia);

• the black-footed ferret USA;

• a frog (several projects

globally).

RSG: mission statement ...

To combat the ongoing and massive loss of biodiversity by using re-introductions as a responsible tool for the management and

restoration of biodiversity through actively developing and promoting sound inter-

disciplinary scientific information, policy, and practice to establish viable wild populations in their natural habitats.

RSG: brief history ...

The group was founded in 1988 due to an increasing number ofre-introduction projects worldwide.

The RSG was previously hosted at the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) HQ in Nairobi, Kenya & was Chaired by Mark Stanley Price since 1988.

The RSG, since 2000, has been hosted by the Environmental Research & Wildlife Development Agency

(ERWDA) HQ in Abu Dhabi, UAE & is now being Chaired by Frederic J-P Launay.

RSG: the structure of the group ...

• The group has an organizational structure comprising a Chair, Vice-Chair and Program Officer. There are various Taxon and Regional Section Chairs.

• RSG comprises of a network of over 300 members worldwide.

• There are over 200 subscribers, in addition to the above, who subscribe to its mailing list.

• There are also over 150 subscribers to its e-mail server site worldwide.

RSG: organizational structure ...IUCN/SSC RE-INTRODUCTION SPECIALIST GROUP

ChairFrederic Launay

Section ChairsVice ChairMike Maunder

Regional Chairs

West, Central & East Europe and

North Asia Mike Jordan

South & East Asia Sanjay Molur

West & Central Asia and North Africa

Fred Launay

Oceania Doug Armstrong

North America & Caribbean

Devra Kleiman

Meso- & South America Vacant

Africa (sub-Saharan)Mark Stanley Price

Birds Phil Seddon

Reptiles/Amphibians Pritpal

Soorae

Fish Heather Hall

Invertebrates Vacant

PlantsMike Maunder

Mammals Luke Hunter

RSGMembership

Over 300 members

worldwide

Program OfficerPritpal Soorae

RSG: major functions of the group ...

• Review and comment on the technical aspects of re-introduction proposals and projects.

• Encourage governmental and non-governmental organizations to conduct viable re-introduction projects according to policy guidelines.

• Prepare and disseminate: newsletter, guidelines and policy statements.

• Maintain a viable international network to assist the RSG in carrying out its Mission.

RSG: funding and cooperation ...

• African Wildlife Foundation, USA & KENYA

• American Society of Primatologists, USA

• Denver Zoological Foundation, USA

• Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, CHANNEL ISLANDS

• Environmental Research & Wildlife Development Agency, UAE

• Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, USA

• International Primatological Society, USA

• Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation, USA

• National Commission for Wildlife Conservation & Development, SAUDI ARABIA

• Primate Society of Japan, JAPAN

• Sultanate of Oman, OMAN

• The Harcroft Foundation, CHANNEL ISLANDS

• Turner Endangered Species Fund, USA

• Toronto Zoo, CANADA

• Walt Disney Foundation Company, USA

The following organizations have supported RSG with core funds and for specific projects over the years

RSG: strategic planning session March 2002 ...

The RSG held a Strategic Planning Session workshop in March 2002 at ERWDA HQ in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This important workshop set out new directions and goals for the RSG (full report available on the

main menu of the CD).

Workshop session Participants during a field trip

RSG: percentage distribution of members worldwide ...

33%Western Europe

6%Africa

9% - West Asia

2%Meso & South

America

24%North America &

Caribbean

7% - S. & E. Asia

17% - Oceania

2% - East Europe & North

Central Asia

RSG: newsletter on re-introductions ...

• The RSG has produced 22 issues of its newsletter, Re-introduction NEWS, since 1990.

• In recent years thematic issues focussing on reptiles/amphibians, carnivores, birds and primates have also been published.

RSG: policy statements ...

• An IUCN Position Statement on the Translocation of Living Organisms was published in 1987.

• This Position Statement then initiated the drafting of the more detailed IUCN Guidelines for Re-introductions.

RSG: policy statements ...

• The RSG produced the IUCN Guidelines for Re-introductions in 1995.

• These guidelines were prepared after an extensive international review process and became official IUCN Policy.

RSG: policy statements ...

• During 1998 the IUCN Guidelines for Re-introductions were translated into 5 additional languages:

1.French

2. Spanish

3. Chinese

4. Russian

5. Arabic

RSG: practitioners directory 1998 ...

• The RSG also produced the Re-introduction Practitioners Directory 1998 which gives contact information for re-introduction projects worldwide.

• This was done in conjunction with the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation & Development (NCWCD), Saudi Arabia.

RSG: live confiscated animals policy ...

• The RSG also spearheaded the effort to produce the IUCN Guidelines for the Placement of Confiscated Animals, which became official IUCN Policy in 2000.

• During 2002 they were also translated into French and Spanish. The RSG host organization, ERWDA translated these guidelines into Arabic and printed a bi-lingual Arabic-English booklet.

• This booklet is being widely distributed to relevant agencies in Arabic speaking countries in the West Asia region.

RSG: species- and taxon-specific guidelines ...

• The RSG has developed IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group: Guidelines for Nonhuman Primate Re-introductions, which were finalized in 2002.

• The RSG is also in the process of developing African Elephant Re-introduction Guidelines in conjunction with the IUCN/SSC African Elephant Specialist Group.

• The RSG is also consulting with other SSC Specialist Groups to develop species or taxon-specific guidelines.

RSG: databases ...

• The RSG Secretariat maintains a bibliographical database of its library.

• In the main menu there is a document, RSG Literature Database v1.0, which has over 1,790 entries of articles from the RSG library.

• The RSG Secretariat also maintains a database of its 300 plus members and general mailing list.

• This allows easy access to contact information for networking purposes.

Bibliography Membership

RSG: conclusion ...

• We hope this brief presentation has provided you with an insight into the functions of the RSG and some of its publications.

• To obtain more information on RSG, to subscribe to its newsletter and e-mail discussion list please contact the RSG Secretariat.