Shark specialists prioritize recovery of worlds largest, most threatened rays

05 June 2014
The Shark Specialist Group (SSG) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has released a global
strategy to prevent extinction and promote recovery of sawfishes, which have been devastated worldwide by overfishing
and habitat loss. The strategy is being launched at the Sharks International conference in Durban and coincides with
announcements that two West Africa countries -- Guinea and Guinea Bissau -- are proposing the listing of sawfishes
under the Convention on Migratory Species in November, which could significantly boost protections.
The sawfishes, revered for millennia by coastal cultures around the world, now face greater extinction risk than any
other family of marine fish,
Sawfish -- warm water, shark-like rays characterized by long, toothed snouts (rostra) -- are the largest of the rays,
reaching over seven meters in length. Once found in the coastal waters and rivers of more than 90 tropical and
subtropical countries, all five species are today classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List
of Threatened Species Mortality from targeted and incidental fishing is the main threat to sawfish. Their rostra, which
they use to detect and wound prey, are easily entangled in many types of fishing gear, particularly trawls and gillnets.
The destruction of key habitats, such as mangroves, also poses a threat to sawfish survival.
IUCN Red List raises more red flags for threatened species
12 June 2014
Almost 80% of temperate slipper orchids and over 90% of lemurs are threatened with extinction, according to the latest
update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The newly assessed Japanese Eel has been listed as Endangered,
while the Brazilian Three-banded Armadillo the mascot of the 2014 FIFA World Cup remains Vulnerable as its
population continues to decline. The global assessment of temperate slipper orchids, occurring in North America, Europe
and temperate Asia, reveals that 79% of these popular ornamental plants are threatened with extinction. This is mainly
due to habitat destruction and over-collection of wild species for local and international trade, despite the fact that
international trade in all species of slipper orchids is regulated. Temperate slipper orchids are among the best-known and
most widely illustrated of all flowering plants, with characteristic slipper-shaped flowers which trap insects to ensure
pollination. Slipper orchids are popular in the multimillion-dollar horticultural industry. Although the industry is
sustained by cultivated stock, conservation of wild species is vital for its future.
Illegal trade puts more World Heritage sites in danger
18 June 2014
Elephant and rhino poaching, triggered by the international demand for ivory and rhino horn, continues to escalate in
Selous, which is one of the largest remaining wilderness areas in Africa. Its elephant population dropped from 70,000 in
2005 to 13,000 in 2013, and a recent survey shows a decline of almost 90% compared to 1982, the year the site was
inscribed on the World Heritage List. Selous black rhino population has also declined dramatically. Illegal wildlife
trade and elephant poaching in particular remain at an alarmingly high level and Tanzania is one of the source countries
that are most heavily affected by it,
Protection of key Timneh parrot breeding area underway
20 June 2014
The Timneh Parrot breeding season is now underway on the Bijags islands of Guinea-Bissau, according to SOS Grantee
Rowan Martin of the World Parrot Trust, an IUCN member. The Vulnerable Timneh Parrot(Psittacus timneh) has long
been subject to high levels of trapping for the pet trade, leading to dramatic declines in populations.
While breeding should boost the population, it is during this time Timneh Parrots are especially vulnerable to poaching chicks taken from nests and raised by hand make highly desirable pets. A large proportion of the remaining Timneh
Parrots in Guinea-Bissau nest on Joo-Vieira island within the Joo-Vieira Poilo National park, which is part of the
Bijags archipelago. It is here that vital nest monitoring and protection work is taking place as part of an SOS funded
project coordinated by the World Parrot Trust and implemented in Guinea-Bissau by the national Institute of Biodiversity
and Protected Areas (IBAP) in collaboration with researchers at ISPA Instituto Universitrio, Portugal.
Iconic Okavango Delta becomes 1,000th World Heritage site
22 June 2014
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Botswanas Okavango Delta, one of the most iconic natural areas on the planet, has been listed as 1,000th World
Heritage site today. The decision follows the recommendation of IUCN, UNESCOs advisory body on nature.
The Okavango Delta has long been considered one of the biggest gaps on the World Heritage list and IUCN is proud to
have been able to provide support to this nomination, says Julia Marton-Lefvre, IUCN Director General. We
congratulate Botswanas authorities on their extraordinary commitment to make this historic listing a reality.
The delta sustains the populations of some of the most threatened large mammals such as the Cheetah,
the Whiteand Black Rhinoceros, the Wild Dog and the Lion. It harbours 24 species of globally-threatened birds and is
key to the survival of Botswanas 130,000 elephants the largest population of the species in the world.
Systemic pesticides pose global threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services
24 June 2014
The conclusions of a new meta-analysis of the systemic pesticides neonicotinoids and fipronil (neonics) confirm that they
are causing significant damage to a wide range of beneficial invertebrate species and are a key factor in the decline of
bees.
Neonics are a nerve poison and the effects of exposure range from instant and lethal to chronic. Even long term exposure
at low (non-lethal) levels can be harmful. Chronic damage can include: impaired sense of smell or memory; reduced
fecundity; altered feeding behaviour and reduced food intake including reduced foraging in bees; altered tunneling
behaviour in earthworms; difficulty in flight and increased susceptibility to disease. The analysis found that the most
affected groups of species were terrestrial invertebrates such as earthworms which are exposed at high levels via soil and
plants, medium levels via surface water and leaching from plants and low levels via air (dusts). Both individuals and
populations can be adversely affected at even low levels and by acute (ongoing) exposure. This makes them highly
vulnerable to the levels of neonics associated with agricultural use. The next most affected group is insect pollinators
such as bees and butterflies which are exposed to high contamination through air and plants and medium exposure levels
through water. Both individuals and populations can be adversely affected by low or acute exposure making them highly
vulnerable. Then comes aquatic invertebrates such as freshwater snails and water fleas which are vulnerable to low and
acute exposure and can be affected at the individual, population and community levels.
While vertebrate animals are generally less susceptible, bird populations are at risk from eating crop seeds treated with
systemic insecticides, and reptile numbers have declined due to depletion of their insect prey. Microbes were found to be
affected after high levels of or prolonged exposure. Samples taken in water from around the world have been found to
exceed ecotoxicological limits on a regular basis.
Javan Rhinos: Rangers protect the unseen
27 June 2014
Like the semi-mystical Saola, the Critically Endangered Javan Rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) is rarely seen. That does
not dishearten the 16 members of Java's 4-man Rhino Protection Units (RPUs), however. Trekking hundreds of
kilometers through the dense jungle of Ujung Kulon National Park (UKNP) each year, these teams are successfully
protecting this unique creature from poachers not one has been killed this century. SOS grantee, the International Rhino
Foundations (IRF) Bill Konstant details just how elusive these creatures are.
Enforcement paying off for the Atlantic humpback dolphin of Western Africa
30 June 2014
Like many threatened species, the Vulnerable Atlantic humpback dolphin (Sousa teuszii) is under pressure from
anthropogenic activities. Industrial and commercial scale fishing forces locally-based artisanal fishers to within 200
metres of the beach using their nets in critical habitat for this poorly understood marine mammal. In a recent field
report SOS Grantee and IUCN Member, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) reports on the impact of routine and
frequent surveillance patrols in the waters of Conkouati-Douli National Park (CDNP), in the Republic of Congo one of
two project sites- to deter and intercept the trawlers that are deemed the root cause of the problem.
From despair to repair: Dramatic decline of Caribbean corals can be reversed
02 July 2014
With only about one-sixth of the original coral cover left, most Caribbean coral reefs may disappear in the next 20 years,
primarily due to the loss of grazers in the region, according to the latest report by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring
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Network (GCRMN), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP). Climate change has long been thought to be the main culprit in coral degradation. While it does
pose a serious threat by making oceans more acidic and causing coral bleaching, the report shows that the loss of
parrotfish and sea urchin the areas two main grazers has, in fact, been the key driver of coral decline in the region.
An unidentified disease led to a mass mortality of the sea urchin in 1983 and extreme fishing throughout the 20th century
has brought the parrotfish population to the brink of extinction in some regions. The loss of these species breaks the
delicate balance of coral ecosystems and allows algae, on which they feed, to smother the reefs.
IUCN Red List wins 2014 Prince Albert II of Monaco Prize for Biodiversity
22 July 2014
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is honoured this year, as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary, with the
announcement that it will receive the 2014 Prince Albert II of Monaco Prize for Biodiversity. The Prince Albert II of
Monaco Foundation works for the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development. The
Foundation supports initiatives conducted by public and private organizations within the fields of research, technological
innovation and activities to raise awareness of the social issues at stake. It funds projects in three main geographical
regions: the Mediterranean Basin, the Polar Regions and the Least Developed Countries.
One tenth of bird species flying under the conservation radar
24 July 2014
More than 350 newly recognised bird species have been assessed by BirdLife International for the first time on behalf of
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Worryingly, more than 25% of these newly recognised birds have been listed
as threatened on The IUCN Red List - compared with 13% of all birds - making them urgent priorities for conservation
action. Species such as Belem Curassow (Crax pinima) from Brazil and Desertas Petrel (Pterodroma deserta) from
Madeira have been listed as Globally Threatened. In the case of the Blue-bearded Helmetcrest (Oxypogon cyanolaemus),
a beautiful hummingbird from Colombia, it may already be too late, as the species has not been seen for nearly 70 years.
one species of Ostrich had been recognised and was assessed as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. However, Somali
Ostrich (Struthio molybdophanes), which is found in Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya, is now recognised as a
distinct species and listed as Vulnerable. The colourful Bugun Liocichla (Liocichla bugunorum) is known from only
three small areas in the Himalayas of eastern India, where just a few pairs have been located. Following the recent
construction of a road through its habitat, and damage caused by uncontrolled fires, the species has been re-classified as
Critically Endangered. Thanks to successful conservation efforts, Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) is recovering in
Europe, but globally it is declining because of poisoning, disturbance and collisions with powerlines, resulting in it being
assessed as Near Threatened rather than Least Concern.
The Sumatran Rhino: Another 200 years? It's your call!
25 July 2014
Have you ever seen a Sumatran Rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)? It is often said, we protect what we know and love,
so SOS thought to share a short video of this unique, charismatic and Critically Endangered rhino species to show just
what SOS is trying to do - protect threatened species, their habitats and the people who depend on them. And as
International Ranger Day approaches (July 31), we also highlight the role of the Rhino Protection Units who work
tirelessly to guard the last few Sumatran Rhino from poachers.
Eating pangolins to extinction
29 July 2014
The enigmatic pangolin, or scaly anteater, is literally being eaten out of existence according to the latest update of The
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, which shows that all eight species are now threatened with extinction.
Resembling an artichoke with legs and a tail, the pangolin is the worlds only truly scaly mammal. Their scales act as
armour against natural predators but offer no defence against poachers.
The IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Pangolin Specialist Group, which is hosted by the Zoological Society of
London (ZSL), warns that pangolins are now the most illegally traded mammal in the world, with more than one million
individuals believed to have been snatched from the wild over the past decade.
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The illegal trade in pangolin species has reached an epic scale, with the Chinese and Sunda pangolins now classified as
Critically Endangered. As the populations of the four Asian pangolin species plummet, traders are now looking to Africa
to meet the growing demand.
All eight pangolin species are now listed as threatened with extinction, largely because they are being illegally traded to
China and Viet Nam
Madagascar's reptiles: Highly threatened but not yet over the edge
12 August 2014
Reptiles are among Madagascar's most bewildering creatures but nearly 40% of them are facing an elevated risk of
extinction according to The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Madagascar is renowned for its unique animals and
plants, most of which occur nowhere else on Earth. Few tourists leave the island without being astonished by a glimpse
of its colourful chameleons, giant snakes and otherworldly leaf-tail geckos. However, most of Madagascar's wildlife is
affected by habitat destruction. Forest clearance is the main threat to the island's snakes and lizards including
chameleons and geckos. All Malagasy species of tortoises and freshwater turtles were classed as Critically Endangered.
They occur at least partially inside protected areas, yet illegal collection of some species for food in Madagascar and the
collection of others for the international pet trade have seen their populations decline over the years.
New nature reserve provides sanctuary for threatened Siberian Taimen
14 August 2014
The Wild Salmon Center (WSC), Khabarovsk Wildlife Foundation (KWF), and other partners have succeeded in
winning approval for the creation of the Tugursky Nature Reserve, which will protect nearly 80,000 acres of critical
habitat within the Tugur Watershed in the Russian Far Easts Khabarovsk Region. A regional decree was signed by the
Governor of Khabarovsk to establish the Reserve. The Tugursky Nature Reserve will safeguard key habitat for over 20
species of fish including Chum and Pink Salmon and the threatened Siberian Taimen as well as brown bears, foxes,
Blakiston's Fish-owl, Osprey, Steller's and White-tailed Sea-eagles.
Study describes five new species of Amazonian Saki Monkey
01 September 2014
A major taxonomic revision of the saki monkeys (genusPithecia) has revealed the existence of five new saki species.
Saki monkeys are a secretive group of primates native to the tropical forests of South America. They are often hunted for
food, even though their elusive behaviour makes them difficult to find.
Primates are major components of tropical rain forest systems, and are of great importance as seed dispersers, predators,
and sometimes even as prey. Saki monkeys, like many rain forest primates, are excellent indicators for the health of
tropical forest systems
IUCN calls for immediate action to prevent the Vaquitas extinction
16 September 2014
Despite conservation efforts, numbers of Vaquita, a small porpoise found only in Mexico, have continued to decline,
from around 600800 animals in the early 1990s to about 100 animals today, according to the latest report of the
International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita (CIRVA).
The IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Cetacean Specialist Group (CSG) has submitted an official statement to
the 65th Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), drawing attention to the risk of the Vaquitas
imminent extinction.
IUCN Red List warns about climate change extinctions
06 October 2014
A new study shows that The IUCN Red List would provide several decades of warning time for species that might go
extinct because of climate change. Currently, there are 22,176 species listed as threatened (Vulnerable to Critically
Endangered) on The IUCN Red List and of these, about 21% are classified as Critically Endangered.
United Nations issues guidelines to minimize risk of invasive species
14 October 2014
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The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity(CBD) has adopted new guidelines to prevent and control
biological invasions by pets, aquarium and terrarium species, live bait and live food. The new guidance is largely based
on input from the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG). Species
invasions are a major and growing driver of biodiversity loss. Alien invasive species contributed to the extinction of 54%
of the 170 extinct animal species on The IUCN Red List for which the cause of extinction is known, and were the main
cause for 20% of these extinctions. The introduction of alien invasive species is continuously increasing as a result of
growing international trade. Amphibians traded as pets or food are responsible for the spread of the deadly chytrid fungus
that is causing the decline of wild amphibians globally. The Common Earthworm, a popular bait species, is detrimentally
affecting the forest ecosystems of North America, and invasive crayfish species introduced for food are harming farming
ecosystems in many areas. The Red Swamp Crayfish alone threatens two Critically Endangered and six Endangered
species globally.
Tiger conservation programme launches call for proposals
15 October 2014
IUCNs Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHCP) is launching a call for field-based projects for tiger
conservation. Nine tiger range countries are eligible for funding under this programme and multidisciplinary projects
delivered by collaborative partnerships are encouraged. The five-year programme is funded by the German government
through the KfW Development Bank. The aim of the ITHCP is to deliver field-based projects aimed at tiger conservation
through addressing some of the issues described. By developing sustainable alternative livelihoods for local
communities, the pressure on forest resources can be reduced. At the same time the quality of protected areas can be
improved so that they support greater numbers of prey and ultimately healthier tiger populations. Reducing the direct
conflict between tigers and humans should alleviate some of the pressures on both parties, enabling a more harmonious
coexistence. In addition to this, the programme aims to tackle the poaching of wild tigers.
New commitments for the conservation of migratory species
28 October 2014
Internationally coordinated conservation measures for the worlds migratory species will be discussed next week at
the 11th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of
Wild Animals (CMS). The IUCN Delegation, including participants from the Regional Office for South America and
experts from the Species Survival Commission (SSC), will provide technical advice to Parties on the submitted
proposals.
A total of 32 species have been newly proposed for listing on Appendix I, which requires strict protection, and/or on
Appendix II, which requires coordinated management by the countries in which the species migrate. The total list
includes three terrestrial mammals, two marine mammals, five birds and 22 fishes.
Among the listing proposals are several shark and ray species including all three species ofThresher Sharks, the
Endangered and Critically Endangered Sawfishes, the EndangeredScalloped Hammerhead and Great Hammerhead, and
the Silky Shark. The Vulnerable Reef Manta Ray is also proposed for listing along with the nine Mobula ray species,
which are all threatened by fisheries and the emerging international market for their dried gill rakers.
The Polar Bear, African Lion, and European Eel are proposed for listing on Appendix II. Polar Bears are under pressure
from the effects of climate change, African Lion numbers have dropped by 30 percent over the last two decades, and the
European Eel has suffered declines due to overfishing and dams which obstruct migratory pathways.
The global population of the Great Bustard, one of the heaviest flying birds of the world, has been proposed for
Appendix I. The range of the Great Bustard once stretched across the grassland and agricultural zones of Eurasia and
Northern Africa, from Manchuria to Portugal and Morocco. Their range is now highly fragmented, and in many countries
only a handful of dwindling breeding or wintering populations remain. These birds face a variety of threats, including
collisions with overhead cabling, illegal hunting, destruction of eggs and chicks by agricultural machinery, and habitat
conversion. The proposal to list the entire global population of Great Bustards on Appendix I will secure additional
protection for severely threatened populations in signatory states throughout Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa.
Trade and Emerging Infectious Diseases in Amphibians
07 November 2014
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According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, amphibians are the most threatened vertebrate group on earth.
The following joint statement by the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG) and
theAmphibian Survival Alliance (ASA) draws attention to the devastating impact of introduced disease and the urgent
need for preventative measures. Amphibians are considered to be the most threatened vertebrate class in the world, with
at least one in three species threatened with extinction. Amphibians have experienced declines and extinctions
throughout the globe, with habitat loss and disease identified as key threat factors. These are concerning enough on their
own, but even more so in combination with other threats, such as trade. Unregulated and unmonitored global amphibian
trade is considered a major mechanism for dispersal of invasive species, including non-native emerging infectious
diseases (EID). There are currently no global safeguard standards to ensure that amphibians in the international trade are
monitored and tested for amphibian diseases. This means that amphibian populations in unaffected areas are at a very
high risk of being impacted by EIDs that may be transported by amphibian hosts in the pet trade.
Bangladesh creates new Marine Protected Area for Dolphins, Whales, Sharks and Turtles
07 November 2014
On November 3rd 2014, the Government of Bangladesh declared the countrys first Marine Protected Area, Swatch of
No Ground, to safeguard whales, dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, and other oceanic species under the Wildlife (Conservation
and Security) Act, 2012. The creation of the Swatch of No Ground Marine Protected Area (SoNG-MPA) occurs as the
worlds conservation community prepares to meet at the World Parks Congress, a global event held every 10 years for
the purpose of promoting safeguarding the earths most valuable natural places and formulating solutions to conservation
challenges.
'Game-changing visual record' of Great Barrier Reef published
14 November 2014
IUCN World Parks Congress, Sydney, November 14 2014 - The Catlin Seaview Survey, in which IUCN is a partner,
announced today that a complete visual and data record from its expeditions along the Great Barrier Reef is now
available to anyone to use through the Catlin Global Reef Record. High-definition database
The Great Barrier Reef records, collected in collaboration with scientists from the Global Change Institute (GCI) at The
University of Queensland, now include more than 100,000 images from 32 locations along the length of the UNESCO
World Heritage Marine Site. The library of data and images is the most extensive published visual record of the Great
Barrier Reef and includes 360-degree images, accurately GPS located.
IUCN identifies threatened freshwater biodiversity sites in the Mediterranean
14 November 2014
Out of the 167 freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas identified, mapped and validated throughout the Mediterranean region,
75 percent were found outside the boundaries of any pre-existing protected areas or other KBAs, according to the main
results of an IUCN assessment revealed today at the IUCN World Parks Congress taking place in Sydney, Australia.
Seagrass habitat declining globally
09 December 2014
Seagrasses are one of the most rapidly declining ecosystems on Earth. These underwater marine coastal plants are losing
7% of their known area per year. This alarming loss was confirmed at the 11th International Seagrass Biology Workshop
(ISBW11) in Sanya, China last month, where 100 leading seagrass scientists and conservationists met to discuss and
update the global status of this critical habitat. Seagrass losses pose a further danger to already-threatened species that
depend on seagrass for food and habitat, including sea turtles, dugongs and sea horses. Seagrass habitats are a nursery for
many fisheries species and stabilize and filter shallow coastal environments. The food security of coastal people
worldwide depends on healthy seagrass meadows. Additionally, ocean carbon is stored in seagrass meadows, preventing
its release into the atmosphere where it would contribute to global climate change.
IUCN welcomes Burundi as a new State Member
19 January 2015
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IUCN extends a warm welcome to the Republic of Burundi, which has officially announced its decision to become a
Member of IUCN by endorsing the IUCN Statutes. The Ministry for Water, Environment, Land Management and Urban
Development confirmed the Governments decision and has designated the Burundian Office for the Protection of the
Environment (OBPE) as its liaison with the IUCN Secretariat. In order to guarantee the conservation of natural
ecosystems, Burundi, a member of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment, has ratified several
international conventions including: the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Ramsar Convention, the
Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
(ACCNNR), the World Heritage Convention (UNESCO), the Washington Convention (CITES), the United Nations
Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC).
The outbreak of the Ebola virus caused some setbacks for the project but we are finding our way through
Edward Aruna, Project Coordinator for an SOS funded Sierra Leone sea turtle conservation project
18 February 2015
The by-catch threat and insufficient awareness of locals about laws protecting threatened sea turtle species have severely
affected local populations of these species according to Edward.
With support from SOS, the Reptile and Amphibian Program Sierra Leone (RAP-SL) is working with coastal
communities to reduce these threats through awareness raising, law enforcement, beach and by-catch monitoring, and
planting of indigenous trees along nesting beaches to prevent erosion. While tree planting is important, RAP-SL
considers education and sensitization as the prime tool in order to save the turtles.
Despite the fact that Sierra Leone was threatened by the West Africa Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak, RAP-SL
forged ahead with activities that contribute to awareness raising among locals. During the months of the EVD outbreak
(September 2014-January 2015), Edward reports on achieving the following objectives:
The outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa including Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, coupled with the present
harmattan (a cold-dry and dusty trade wind), are causing some setbacks in the projects progress but we are finding our
way through.
Wildlife crime - its everyones challenge
03 March 2015
Statement by IUCN Director General, Inger Andersen on World Wildlife Day.
The world is currently facing an unprecedented crisis of wildlife loss. Species have never been more threatened than they
are today, with extinction rates 100 to 1,000 times above their natural level and humans are to blame. The IUCN Red
List of Threatened Species identifies many causes of this extinction crisis. Most important is loss and degradation of
natural habitats, but other major threats include climate change, invasive species, pollution and the unsustainable
exploitation of species.
Illegal wildlife trade not only threatens large charismatic animals like rhinos, tigers and elephants, but also greatly
reduces populations of species that have received less attention. These include pangolins, turtles, cycads, orchids and
trees used for timber upon which the livelihoods of millions depend.
Great British win: world's largest marine reserve to be established around Pitcairn Islands
19 March 2015
IUCN joins other leading conservation groups in congratulating the British Government for its decision to create the
worlds largest marine reserve around the Pitcairn Islands, a UK Overseas Territory (OT) in the South Pacific. Taking its
Overseas Territories into account, Great Britain is responsible for the fifth largest area of ocean in the world. The UK
OTs harbour 94% of the countrys biodiversity.
Nearly one in ten wild bee species face extinction in Europe while the status of more than half remains unknown IUCN report
19 March 2015
The first-ever assessment of all European wild bee species shows that 9.2% are threatened with extinction, while 5.2%
are considered likely to be threatened in the near future. A total of 56.7% of the species are classified as Data Deficient,
as lack of experts, data and funding has made it impossible to evaluate their extinction risk. The assessment was
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published today as part of The IUCN European Red List of Bees and the Status and Trends of European Pollinators
(STEP) project, both funded by the European Commission. It provides for the first time information on all 1,965 wild
bee species in Europe, including their status, distribution, population trends and threats. Intensive agriculture and farming
practices have caused a sharp decline in the surface area of dry steppes, which house the Vulnerable Andrena
transitoria bee a formerly common eastern Mediterranean species that spreads from Sicily to Ukraine and into Central
Asia. Ploughing, mowing or grazing of flowering plants, as well as the use of insecticides have led to a 30% population
decline of the species over the last decade, and its extinction in certain countries. For instance, intensive silage
production at the expense of hay-cropping causes losses of herb-rich grasslands and season-long flowering, which
constitute important sources of forage for pollinators. The widespread use of insecticides also harms wild bees and
herbicides reduce the availability of flowers on which they depend. The use of fertilisers promotes rank grassland, which
is low in flowering plants and legume species the preferred food resources for many bee species. The report also
includes an assessment of the Western Honeybee (Apis mellifera) the most well-known pollinator. The Western
Honeybee has a native distribution throughmuch of Europe but it is uncertain whether it currently occurs as a truly wild,
rather than domesticated species. As the Red List only covers wild not domesticated species, it has been assessed as
Data Deficient. Further research is needed to distinguish between wild and non-wild colonies, and to better understand
the impacts of malnutrition, pesticides and pathogens on honeybee colonies, according to IUCN.
Dead Shrimp Blues - the imperilled status of freshwater shrimps
25 March 2015
Almost 28% of the worlds 763 freshwater shrimp species, a group which support the livelihoods of some of the worlds
poorest communities, are threatened with extinction according to The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The study
makes key conservation recommendations including the need to adopt integrated water resource management (IWRM)
principles, environmental flowconcepts, and comprehensive environmental and social impact assessments (EISAs) to
ensure that freshwater biodiversity is incorporated into the decision making processes that affect freshwater systems. The
main threats to freshwater shrimp include urban and agricultural pollution, human intrusions and disturbance (which
particularly impact cave dwelling species), invasive species, dams and water abstraction, and impacts from mining. Of
unique significance amongst freshwater invertebrates is the collection of wild populations for the ornamental aquarium
trade, which is an important threat to the colourful species found in the ancient lakes of Sulawesi. Freshwater shrimps
are extensively harvested for human food, especially by the poorest communities in tropical regions, where they often
dominate the biomass of streams playing a key role in regulating many ecosystem functions, Two species, The
Pasadena Freshwater Shrimp (Syncaris pasadenae) from California and Macrobrachium leptodactylus from Java, were
declared Extinct.
Turning the tide on nest poaching of Timneh parrots in Guinea-Bissau
01 April 2015
As another breeding season for Timneh parrots gets underway in the Bijags islands, hopes are high that the nest
monitoring team can build on the successes of the previous year. In late 2014 the return of a poached chick to its nest,
and its re-adoption by its parents, provides a heart-warming conservation story and a tangible sign that the strategy of
employing former parrot trappers is paying conservation dividends. The Bijags islands, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
off the coast of Guinea-Bissau, is home to the largest known concentration of nesting Timneh parrots, Psittacus timneh.
This globally Vulnerable species is endemic to a handful of West African countries where the pet trade and habitat loss
have taken a heavy toll on populations.
Declining Great Apes of Central Africa Get New Action Plan for Conservation
07 April 2015
The number of gorillas and chimpanzees in Central Africa continues to decline due to hunting, habitat loss, and disease,
combined with a widespread lack of law enforcement and corruption in the judicial process, according to a new
conservation plan by IUCN, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), WWF, and partners. While national and
international laws protect the Critically Endangered Western Lowland Gorilla and the Endangered Central Chimpanzee,
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both subspecies continue to be threatened by hunters and traders seeking to supply the illegal commercial market and
demand for bushmeat, particularly in urban areas.
Habitat loss driven by the regions growing human population and the expansion of extractive industries and industrial
agriculture is another danger to great apes. And between the 1990s and 2005, Ebola outbreaks in northeastern Gabon and
western Congo are thought to have killed thousands of gorillas and chimpanzees.
Commercial agriculture and forestry could have a net positive impact on biodiversity IUCN report
16 April 2015
The report, No Net Loss and Net Positive Impact: Approaches for Biodiversity, finds that under certain conditions,
applying No Net Loss (NNL) and Net Positive Impact (NPI) approaches to agriculture and forestry landscapes associated
with companies operations and supply chains could have a greater impact in reducing biodiversity loss than in other
sectors.
According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, agriculture impacts 8,482 threatened species globally, while
forestry impacts 7,953 threatened species, compared to the infrastructure and extractive sectors, which impact up to
4,688 and 1,692 threatened species respectively.
Adopting the NPI approach would require companies in the agriculture and forestry sector to take a systematic and
scientific approach to evaluate their biodiversity impacts, establish biodiversity conservation goals and implement
actions to realise these goals, according to the report.
Both NNL and NPI are increasingly recognised as biodiversity goals for development projects that strive to either
balance the biodiversity impacts (NNL) or outweigh the negative impacts with conservation gains (NPI). The NPI
approach involves using a mitigation hierarchy for managing biodiversity risk. The report concludes that an NPI
approach could potentially be applied by companies operating in the agriculture and forestry sectors where the goal is to
enhance or protect native wildlife, including species of conservation concern, and improve crop diversity, crop
productivity and the efficiency of natural resource use on-site, combined with protecting natural habitats off-site from
conversion.
Eye on Earth Summit in Abu Dhabi to Boost Environmental Information for Decision-makers
14 April 2015
Over 650 delegates from government, UN bodies, the non-governmental sector, private sector, academia and civil society
will gather in Abu Dhabi between 6 and 8 October for the Eye on Earth Summit 2015, to bridge the information gap
policy makers face in designing plans for sustainable development.
The experts gathered will explore solutions and actions necessary for greater access to, and sharing of, environmental,
social and economic data to support sustainable development. The Summit will address the profound impact that rapid
economic and industrial development is having on natural resources, biodiversity and consumption patterns around the
world. These global challenges require international collaborative action to find transformative solutions that span
political boundaries and help secure a sustainable future for all. One of the critical first steps and the focus of Eye on
Earth Summit 2015 - is to address the need for evidence-based decision-making that can benefit from the available
wealth of scientific data, information and knowledge, if they are made more accessible to all.
Eye on Earth is a collaborative effort between the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi through the Abu Dhabi Global
Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI), and the Eye on Earth Alliance, a partnership of organisations that aim to build
and mobilise global support for access to environmental data. As part of its ongoing expansion, the Alliance has recently
grown to include, in addition to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Group on Earth Observations
(GEO), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Resources Institute (WRI).
All species great and small must be preserved
20 May 2015
The potential for advances in antifouling and adhesion technology derived from the study of Blue Mussels may result in
massive fuel savings to marine vessels and advances in adhesives with medical applications. Fiddler crabs, common in
salt marshes and mangrove forests throughout the world, help mangrove trees grow larger, taller and thicker, which in
turn helps sequester more carbon. These are only two of the many examples of unexpected and unanticipated benefits
obtained from even the most common species, according to the study.
International Day for Biological Diversity 2015: Biodiversity for Sustainable Development
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22 May 2015
Every year on May 22, people around the world celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity, a day aimed at
increasing understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. From habitat loss and overexploitation to illegal wildlife
trade and climate change, a whole host of very real and damaging threats is facing the planets incredible biodiversity.
Combatting these issues lies at the core of IUCNs work and feeds into the organisations mission of a just world that
values and conserves nature. The 2015 theme of Biodiversity for Sustainable Development strikes a particular chord
with IUCN. This is a key year for sustainable development and action on climate change, which started with an important
meeting in Sendai on disaster risk reduction. It will continue with major decision-making events, with governments
expected to reach a new agreement on climate change at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP-21) in Paris. Conservation, restoration and sustainable
management of biodiversity and ecosystems generate nature-based solutions to climate change and sustainable
development, yielding economic, social and environmental co-benefits.
Limnos Plump Bush-cricket rediscovered
02 June 2015
For the first time since its description in 1927, the Limnos Plump Bush-Cricket (Isoypha lemnotica) has been
rediscovered on the Greek island Limnos. The Limnos Plump Bush-Cricket is endemic to the Greek Aegean island
Limnos (sometimes also called Lemnos). Since its description, the species has never been seen or collected again, but as
with so many insect species, no-one had searched specifically for it. Luc was able to record the song and found that the
species is even quite common on Lemnos. Bioacoustics helped to get a clearer picture of its distribution. By visually
searching for the species, Luc found ten localities of this species, but on 15 further localities, he could here its specific
song.
The species is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. The new information will be fed into the European
Red List of Orthoptera project, which is currently in progress - aiming at completing the Red List assessments of 1088
grasshopper, cricket and bush-cricket species that occur in Europe.
Critically Endangered spider saved from planning development
10 June 2015
IUCN is delighted that the petition launched by Buglife-The Invertebrate Conservation Trust to save the Critically
Endangered Horrid Ground-weaver from planning development was a huge success! Buglife announced yesterday that
this incredibly rare spider has been given a fighting chance of survival, after an appeal to build new houses in an old
quarry was dismissed.
The Horrid Ground-weaver (Nothophantes horridus) is a tiny money spider which has only been found in three sites in
Plymouth, United Kingdom. One of these sites has already been built on and lost and proposals to build a new
development of 57 new houses on the second site, Radford Quarry also a County Wildlife Site, would have destroyed
the spiders habitat and pushed it closer to extinction. In light of the species dire situation, it was assessed as Critically
Endangered on The IUCN Red List last week.
IUCN launches second call for Tiger conservation projects
10 June 2015
After a successful first call for proposals in October last year, IUCN's Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme
(ITHCP) is now calling for a second round of proposals from eligible applicants.
The Endangered Tiger (Panthera tigris) now persists in only 6% of its former range. Three of the nine subspecies (Bali,
Caspian and Javan) became extinct in the last century with a fourth subspecies (South China) not seen in the wild since
the 1970s. In a concerted effort to conserve remaining tiger populations, the 13 tiger range countries came together at the
International Tiger Forum in St Petersburg, Russia in 2010 and pledged to double tiger populations by 2022.
Conservation successes overshadowed by more species declines IUCN Red List update
23 June 2015
Successful conservation action has boosted the populations of the Iberian Lynx and the Guadalupe Fur Seal, while the
African Golden Cat, the New Zealand Sea Lion and the Lion are facing increasing threats to their survival, according to
the latest update of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Ninety-nine percent of tropical Asian slipper orchids
some of the most highly prized ornamental plants are threatened with extinction.
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Launch of New Funding for Mangroves for the Future

10 June 2014 | Event
IUCN, UNDP and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) today announced the launch of
the third phase of the Mangroves for the Future (MFF) regional initiative with new funding from Sida. The new phase
will run from 2014-2018 and will build on the significant achievements realized by MFF over the past seven years.
IUCN Asia Regional Director Aban Marker Kabraji and AnnaMaria Oltorp Head of Development Cooperation, Sida
launched MFF Phase 3 at a signing ceremony held in Bangkok. With the inclusion of Cambodia in 2013, MFF now has
10 member countries (Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Thailand and
Vietnam) championing the sustainable management of coastal ecosystems as key natural infrastructure which support
human well-being and security. MFF will focus on the development of resilience in ecosystem-dependent coastal
communities and develop shared understanding and capacity for building community resilience to natural disasters and
climate change related impacts. MFF will also continue to build on its efforts to influence coastal management policy
with an increased emphasis on soft governance, as well as to expand its knowledge management and capacity
development activities providing hands-on training and learning opportunities for coastal management practitioners
around the region.
Leaders for Nature India organized first Master Class
15 July 2014 | News story
eaders for Nature - India, implemented by the IUCN country office in India, is a business engagement network that
stimulates and facilitates companiesin transiting towards a sustainable green Indian economy, by incorporating natural
capital in their core business. In providing the necessary knowledge and tools developed by IUCN, its members and
commission experts from around the world, and through peer-to-peer learning, Leaders for Nature sensitizes companies
to the true value of nature and incorporating it in their strategic decisions. Leaders for Nature - India is a joint initiative of
IUCN, Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Hivos and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI). The Master Class was based
on the Biodiversity Ecosystem training developed by the World Business Council on Sustainable Development
(WBCSD) and was modified for the Indian audience. Ms Bette Harms, Coordinator Leaders for Nature Academy,
facilitated the training, participatory exercises and post session discussions.
Call for application: Water Futures II
24 August 2014 | Article
Bangladesh and India share the largest river networks in South Asia. These 54 trans-boundary rivers directly influence
the lives and living of over half a billion people. Management of basin and regional level natural resource challenges is
limited to practitioners in this region. Moreover, the curricula of universities, colleges and training institutes in
Bangladesh and India, have a focus on national issues. Rather, attention is not given to trans-boundary water
management concerns.
What are the reasons to participate in the Dialogue the goals and objectives
Overall objective of the Dialogue is to promote a deeper and nuanced understanding of riparian issues and common
concerns. Specific objectives include:

To build future leaders in water resource management in both countries;

To equip young scholars and professionals with practical tools and skills for designing problem solving initiatives at
local, national and regional levels;
To provide opportunities to emerging practitioners to learn cross-country and cross-sectoral strategic, managerial and
technical initiatives for sustainable water management, including food and environmental security;
Provide a platform for open discussions on common problems, prospects and challenges relating to sustainable water
resource management.
Tiger conservation programme launches call for proposals
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15 October 2014 | Article

The aim of the ITHCP is to deliver field-based projects aimed at tiger conservation through addressing some of the issues
described. By developing sustainable alternative livelihoods for local communities, the pressure on forest resources can
be reduced. At the same time the quality of protected areas can be improved so that they support greater numbers of prey
and ultimately healthier tiger populations. Reducing the direct conflict between tigers and humans should alleviate some
of the pressures on both parties, enabling a more harmonious coexistence. In addition to this, the programme aims to
tackle the poaching of wild tigers.
The Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Purashkar 2012 awarded to Aaranyak
04 February 2015 | Article
The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India has formally handed over to Aaranyak
(IUCN Member) the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Purashkar (IGPP) 2012 at a function held at Ganga Auditorium of the
Ministry on 2nd February 2015. Aaranyak has been an IUCN Member since 2010, which strives to protect nature and its
resources ranging from animal and plant species, forests, various water bodies, mountains, as it believes that welfare of
communities is intricately linked to pristine nature. Aaranyak works to secure a future for all species that are under any
sort of threat. It banks on scientific means, law, advocacy , community engagement, education and much more, in its
endeavour to protect land, water, and climate that are vital for survival of all animal and plant species.
MFF India starts new SGF projects!
17 February 2015 | Article
Mangroves for the Future (MFF) India has initiated Cycle IV of the Small Grant Facility (SGF) projects.
The Call for Concept Notes was published on 1 November 2014, with an extended deadline of 27 November. The
projects were selected through a rigorous evaluation, process by the National Coordination Body (NCB), Chaired by the
Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). Project partners were required
to undergo a Project Cycle Management (PCM) training prior to selection. Each project is 12 months long, starting on 15
January. The projects address the overarching theme of Building of Community Resilience; they similarly contribute to
Indias National Aichi Targets 6, 7, 9 and 10.
The selected projects and partners are given below.
1. Promoting Sustainable Marine Tourism in Grande Island, Goa (World Wildlife Fund, WWF India)
2. Mangrove based aquaculture for vulnerable coastal communities in Sorlagondi, Andhra Pradesh, India (Praja Pragathi
Seva Sangham, PPSS)
3. Role of coastal ecosystems in enabling resilience of coastal communities following a natural disaster in Andhra Pradesh
(Institute of Economic Growth, IEG)
4. Community based conservation of Mangroves in Gujarat for the better quality of life (Gujarat Ecological Society, GES)
Mangroves pivotal to protection of Bengal communities
11 March 2015 | Article
A study has revealed that rice croplands which are protected by mangroves provide a stronger resistance to cyclones and
therefore help support human lives in countries affected by tropical weather conditions.
The study, which took place at the Bhitarkanika National Park in India, a region which is frequently struck by intense
tropical cyclones, also discovered that the productivity of rice croplands was greater in the years following a cyclone
compared to the year of impact.
This provides further proof of the value of preservation and expansion of mangrove buffers in protected areas as they
offer a pathway to the reduction of the impact of cyclones on rice crop productivity and crucially help support human
lives and food security for a large population of people in the developing world. As one of the worlds disaster-poverty
hotspots, Bhitarkanika NP is an area in which 39% of the population sit below the poverty line. A key goal for disaster
management in this region is therefore to ensure that cyclone impacts do not turn into long-term disasters. The findings
that mangroves play a key role in protecting the croplands could prove crucial for the future of both the local human and
the diverse animal population which live in the areas such as the leopard cat, rhesus monkey and smooth Indian otter.
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An integrated fisheries mangrove approach to addressing food security and poverty allieviation in coastal India
23 March 2015 | Article
Aquaculture around the world has grown at an impressive rate in the last decade. It has helped to produce more fish, kept
the prices of fish relatively stable, and made seafood more accessible to consumers. With over 16% of global animal
protein sourced from fish, and rising trends in demand for good quality seafood, aquaculture must step up to meet the
need. However, producing more fish sustainably without degrading the environment and depleting natural resources
remains a challenge. Irresponsible and destructive aquaculture practices continue to threaten the industry. In India shrimp
aquaculture met with devastating consequences in the 1990s as a result of disease outbreaks, leaving hundreds without
livelihoods. In 1996 the Supreme Court put a halt to intensive shrimp farming; 60% of landowners were forced to
abandon their farms. Investment is needed in India and around Asia, to implement newer, eco-friendly technologies and
models, and their adaptation to local conditions.
In 2010 a project on Integrated Mangrove Fishery Farming Systems (IMFFS), was applied under the Mangroves for the
Future Initiative, implemented by IUCN India Country Office, in partnership with the M.S. Swaminathan Research
Foundation. IMFFS was first piloted in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, in abandoned shrimp farms on privately owned
land. The process involves the building of local infrastructure such as bunds and embankments for mangrove plantation.
The farm is fed with mangrove-based fishery seeds and organic inputs for their development. Sea bass and other
organisms are grown on smaller fish and plankton conveyed by tidal influx, in replacement of synthetic feed and at no
cost to the farmer. The tidal water replaces saline pond water on a periodic basis, a self-cleansing and energy efficient
method of production. As such, the Aquaculture Authority of India is considering this ecosystem-based model to
fisheries for eco-labelling.
The system does not compromise on quality and size of produce; both of which are comparable to wild catch. Farmed
fish sell at a price market prices, and have the potential to sell for more. Enterprising beneficiaries have started
multispecies aquaculture systems within the ponds, including crab culture. Some are sowing and selling ornamental
mangrove-associated plants for additional income. IMFSS translates into a sustainable source of revenue for
impoverished families and has provided hope to those forced to abandon their previous livelihoods in shrimp farming,
without undue damage to the coastal ecosystem. It simultaneously addresses a pressing need: the increasing demand for
quality seafood in India, and by the global export market. So convinced are farmers of the system that several are willing
to provide their land for free, as demonstration sites.
The Foundation is now reproducing the model along the east coast of India with the Climate Adaptation Fund, and the
support of the Government of India. MFF is working with local partners, Praja Pragathi Seva Sangham, to implement the
model amongst marginalised fisher communities in Andhra Pradesh, towards poverty alleviation and food security.
Putting a price on the seagrass wetlands of Palk Bay, Tamil Nadu
23 March 2015 | Article
IUCN India, in partnership with the GIZ and the Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, are implementing a
project to economically valuate the ecosystem services provided by the seagrass beds of Palk Bay. This is the first time a
project of this nature will be undertaken for seagrasses in India.
Palk Bay lies adjacent to the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park and Biosphere Reserve, in South India. Unlike its
neighbour, Palk Bay does not enjoy any formal protection measures. Yet its marine habitats and biodiversity are no less
deserving of conservation. The seagrass beds of Palk Bay provide vital services including flood mitigation, water
filtration, and breeding and feeding grounds for fish and various other organisms. Competing demands for fisheries,
aquaculture, urbanisation and industrial development have put great pressure on the seagrass ecosystem.
Maharashtra rises to the challenges of whale shark conservation
03 June 2015 | Article
Marking a significant start to whale shark conservation in Maharashtra, the Mangrove Cell, Forest Department of
Maharashtra, and IUCN India collaboratively organised a stakeholder workshop for the development of a management
and conservation plan for whale sharks in Maharashtra. This is the first of its kind for a marine species in the state. The
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workshop was held in Mumbai on 30 May 2015, and brought together conservation experts, industries, fisher community
leaders and Government representatives.
The Whale Shark, listed as Vulnerable under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, is one of 16 species identified by
the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). Research on the distribution of whale sharks
across the west coast of India, was attained through a Small Grant project under the Mangroves for the Future initiative
in India; the project was implemented by IUCN Members, Wildlife Trust of India. Whale sharks are found to aggregate
in Minicoy (Lakshadweep Islands), Netrani (Karnataka), Malvan (Maharashtra), and Saurashtra (Gujarat). Maharashtra
records amongst the highest incidences of incidental catch along the west coast of India; Gill net, Purse-seine and Trawl
nets are the primary causes for entanglement. The Forest Department of Maharashtra approached IUCN to work towards
a management and conservation plan for the whale shark. The objective was to maintain existing levels of protection for
the whale shark in Maharashtra while working to increase the protection, and conservation, afforded to the whale shark
within the Indian coastal waters.
Sanjay Gandhi National Park: The Heart and Lungs of a Wild Mumbai
10 June 2015 | Article
Sanjay Gandhi National Park is among the rarest of national parks, surrounded on three sides by one of the densest cities
on the planet Mumbai, India. An amazing array of flora and fauna exist within the parks boundaries, providing
aesthetic, historic and cultural value as well as ecological benefits to the populous city. There may be no other place like
it on Earth. Protecting this unique treasure has required local residents, grassroots organizations, and the park itself to
strive for a balanced relationship between people and nature.
The park is perhaps best known for its leopards, and for the Bengal tiger that entered the northern reaches of the park in
2003. The wandering tiger was of great interest since a tiger had not been seen in the area for 75 years. Conservationists
pointed to an enhanced natural corridor to the north as an explanation for the migration of the tiger, and connectivity
began to enter local conservation discussions more frequently. Partly as a result of the tigers appearance, support for the
protection and restoration of Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary to the north has since grown in importance as a critical
migratory corridor to ensure long-term viability for Sanjay Gandhi National Parks diverse wildlife.
Flora and Fauna
Sanjay Gandhi National Park receives about 2,000 mm of annual rainfall which supports diverse vegetation growth and
varied habitat. Many endangered species of flora and fauna live here. There are as many as 1,300 species of plants, more
than 150 species of butterflies, 40+ reptile species and nearly 40 varieties of snakes. Perhaps most impressive is the array
of mammals 40 species and more than 250 species of birds that live within this urban protected area. Within SGNP,
one can spot macaque monkeys, barking deer, spotted deer, mouse deer, four-horned antelope, striped hyenas,
porcupines, flying-foxes, crocodiles, pythons, cobras and vipers. Amazingly, at least 21 individual leopards have been
identified within the parks boundaries in one of the largest cities on Earth.
IUCN launches second call for Tiger conservation projects
10 June 2015 | News story
After a successful first call for proposals in October last year, IUCN's Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme
(ITHCP) is now calling for a second round of proposals from eligible applicants.
The Endangered Tiger (Panthera tigris) now persists in only 6% of its former range. Three of the nine subspecies (Bali,
Caspian and Javan) became extinct in the last century with a fourth subspecies (South China) not seen in the wild since
the 1970s. In a concerted effort to conserve remaining tiger populations, the 13 tiger range countries came together at the
International Tiger Forum in St Petersburg, Russia in 2010 and pledged to double tiger populations by 2022.
The first call for concepts was launched in October last year, and resulted in a number of concepts being received from
across the nine countries eligible for funding under this programme: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia,
Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal and Viet Nam. The concepts were submitted by some very strong partnerships between
NGOs, Government Departments and local communities, and were innovative and of high quality. Competition was
fierce and unfortunately not all proposals could be funded. The project proposals shortlisted under the first call are
currently being finalized by applicants. Today, on 10 June 2015, IUCN is launching a second call for proposals.
RAJESH NAYAK