4.3. Enact measures to prevent extinctions and recover threatened species.
In addition to reversing all the threats and drivers of decline, at least 33% of species are estimated to require specific, targeted actions to prevent their extinction, reverse declines, or enable recovery. Species-specific actions include reintroduction and reinforcement, translocation to expand range, captive breeding or propagation, habitat management, supplementary feeding, provision of breeding sites, and others. There are many examples of species that have been saved from extinction or have had their status improved through effective conservation action. These successful efforts need to be replicated and scaled up to all species that need them.
Subactions
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4.3.1. Implement species recovery plans fully and effectively. - es
Primary tools and resources
IUCN Guidelines on Reintroductions and other Conservation Translocations
These Guidelines define terms and set out guidance on the justification, design, and implementation of any reintroduction or conservation translocation, including (i) reinforcement and reintroduction within a species’ indigenous range, and (ii) conservation introductions, comprising assisted colonisation and ecological replacement, outside a species’ indigenous range. The Guidelines focus on conservation translocations, namely a translocation that yields quantifiable conservation benefit. For this purpose, the beneficiaries should be the population or the ecosystem of the translocated species. Translocation needs rigorous justification. Feasibility assessment should include a balance of the conservation benefits against the costs and risks of both the translocation and alternative conservation actions. There are multiple risks in a translocation, affecting the focal species, their associated communities and ecosystem functions in both source and destination areas; there are also risks around human concerns. Any proposed translocation should have a comprehensive risk assessment.
How to use
- To download the guidelines: https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/10386
- To seek advice on translocations, and for details of training courses, contact the IUCN SSC Conservation Translocation Specialist Group at: https://iucn-ctsg.org/
- A comprehensive set of reintroduction case studies covering a wide range of flora and fauna is included in a series of books Reintroduction Perspectives. These are available to download at: https://iucn-ctsg.org/resources/
Species Recovery Manual for Plants
Botanic Gardens Conservation International and the International Association of Botanic Gardens have jointly published the BGCI and IABG Recovery Manual for Plants to guide projects on plant species recovery. The manual sets out the aims and purpose of species recovery and the steps involved, and indicates good practice. The manual is aimed at conservation practitioners but also includes comprehensive bibliographic references, which enable more in depth reading on the topics covered.
AEWA International Single and Multi-Species Action Planning Format and Guidelines
These guidelines are produced by the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds. The revised version includes Multi-Species Action as well as making AEWA Plans more implementable, accessible, and practical for implementing agencies. The guidelines also recognise the need for activities to be more targeted and aligned with the set objectives and goals.
Other tools and resources
IUCN SSC CPSG Species Conservation Planning Tools Library
The Species Conservation Planning Tools Library is coordinated by the IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) in collaboration with the IUCN SSC Species Conservation Planning Sub-Committee.
The Species Conservation Planning Tools Library is a new resource to connect species conservation practitioners to well-tested planning tools suitable for use in a variety of planning situations. This tools library is intended for use by species conservation experts that seek a practical and accessible reference to the many tools and processes available for designing and implementing a detailed and effective conservation planning approach. This resource will continually respond to the needs of the community and the evolving state of the science in the field of endangered species conservation.
The tools library is the product of a CPSG workshop held in Abruzzi, Italy in 2010. The full report from the workshop is available here.
Guidelines for reintroductions and other conservation translocations
These guidelines are designed to be applicable to the full spectrum of conservation translocations. They are based on principle rather than example and are designed to provide guidance on the justification, design and implementation of any conservation translocation.
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4.3.2. Include national work plans for species in NBSAPs. - es
Primary tools and resources
IUCN Guidelines on Reintroductions and other Conservation Translocations
These Guidelines define terms and set out guidance on the justification, design, and implementation of any reintroduction or conservation translocation, including (i) reinforcement and reintroduction within a species’ indigenous range, and (ii) conservation introductions, comprising assisted colonisation and ecological replacement, outside a species’ indigenous range. The Guidelines focus on conservation translocations, namely a translocation that yields quantifiable conservation benefit. For this purpose, the beneficiaries should be the population or the ecosystem of the translocated species. Translocation needs rigorous justification. Feasibility assessment should include a balance of the conservation benefits against the costs and risks of both the translocation and alternative conservation actions. There are multiple risks in a translocation, affecting the focal species, their associated communities and ecosystem functions in both source and destination areas; there are also risks around human concerns. Any proposed translocation should have a comprehensive risk assessment.
How to use
- To download the guidelines: https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/10386
- To seek advice on translocations, and for details of training courses, contact the IUCN SSC Conservation Translocation Specialist Group at: https://iucn-ctsg.org/
- A comprehensive set of reintroduction case studies covering a wide range of flora and fauna is included in a series of books Reintroduction Perspectives. These are available to download at: https://iucn-ctsg.org/resources/
Species Recovery Manual for Plants
Botanic Gardens Conservation International and the International Association of Botanic Gardens have jointly published the BGCI and IABG Recovery Manual for Plants to guide projects on plant species recovery. The manual sets out the aims and purpose of species recovery and the steps involved, and indicates good practice. The manual is aimed at conservation practitioners but also includes comprehensive bibliographic references, which enable more in depth reading on the topics covered.
AEWA International Single and Multi-Species Action Planning Format and Guidelines
These guidelines are produced by the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds. The revised version includes Multi-Species Action as well as making AEWA Plans more implementable, accessible, and practical for implementing agencies. The guidelines also recognise the need for activities to be more targeted and aligned with the set objectives and goals.
Other tools and resources
IUCN SSC CPSG Species Conservation Planning Tools Library
The Species Conservation Planning Tools Library is coordinated by the IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) in collaboration with the IUCN SSC Species Conservation Planning Sub-Committee.
The Species Conservation Planning Tools Library is a new resource to connect species conservation practitioners to well-tested planning tools suitable for use in a variety of planning situations. This tools library is intended for use by species conservation experts that seek a practical and accessible reference to the many tools and processes available for designing and implementing a detailed and effective conservation planning approach. This resource will continually respond to the needs of the community and the evolving state of the science in the field of endangered species conservation.
The tools library is the product of a CPSG workshop held in Abruzzi, Italy in 2010. The full report from the workshop is available here.
Guidelines for reintroductions and other conservation translocations
These guidelines are designed to be applicable to the full spectrum of conservation translocations. They are based on principle rather than example and are designed to provide guidance on the justification, design and implementation of any conservation translocation.
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4.3.3. Provide full technical and financial support to those responsible for implementation. - es
Primary tools and resources
IUCN Guidelines on Reintroductions and other Conservation Translocations
These Guidelines define terms and set out guidance on the justification, design, and implementation of any reintroduction or conservation translocation, including (i) reinforcement and reintroduction within a species’ indigenous range, and (ii) conservation introductions, comprising assisted colonisation and ecological replacement, outside a species’ indigenous range. The Guidelines focus on conservation translocations, namely a translocation that yields quantifiable conservation benefit. For this purpose, the beneficiaries should be the population or the ecosystem of the translocated species. Translocation needs rigorous justification. Feasibility assessment should include a balance of the conservation benefits against the costs and risks of both the translocation and alternative conservation actions. There are multiple risks in a translocation, affecting the focal species, their associated communities and ecosystem functions in both source and destination areas; there are also risks around human concerns. Any proposed translocation should have a comprehensive risk assessment.
How to use
- To download the guidelines: https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/10386
- To seek advice on translocations, and for details of training courses, contact the IUCN SSC Conservation Translocation Specialist Group at: https://iucn-ctsg.org/
- A comprehensive set of reintroduction case studies covering a wide range of flora and fauna is included in a series of books Reintroduction Perspectives. These are available to download at: https://iucn-ctsg.org/resources/
Species Recovery Manual for Plants
Botanic Gardens Conservation International and the International Association of Botanic Gardens have jointly published the BGCI and IABG Recovery Manual for Plants to guide projects on plant species recovery. The manual sets out the aims and purpose of species recovery and the steps involved, and indicates good practice. The manual is aimed at conservation practitioners but also includes comprehensive bibliographic references, which enable more in depth reading on the topics covered.
AEWA International Single and Multi-Species Action Planning Format and Guidelines
These guidelines are produced by the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds. The revised version includes Multi-Species Action as well as making AEWA Plans more implementable, accessible, and practical for implementing agencies. The guidelines also recognise the need for activities to be more targeted and aligned with the set objectives and goals.
Other tools and resources
IUCN SSC CPSG Species Conservation Planning Tools Library
The Species Conservation Planning Tools Library is coordinated by the IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) in collaboration with the IUCN SSC Species Conservation Planning Sub-Committee.
The Species Conservation Planning Tools Library is a new resource to connect species conservation practitioners to well-tested planning tools suitable for use in a variety of planning situations. This tools library is intended for use by species conservation experts that seek a practical and accessible reference to the many tools and processes available for designing and implementing a detailed and effective conservation planning approach. This resource will continually respond to the needs of the community and the evolving state of the science in the field of endangered species conservation.
The tools library is the product of a CPSG workshop held in Abruzzi, Italy in 2010. The full report from the workshop is available here.
Guidelines for reintroductions and other conservation translocations
These guidelines are designed to be applicable to the full spectrum of conservation translocations. They are based on principle rather than example and are designed to provide guidance on the justification, design and implementation of any conservation translocation.
Solutions and case studies
Effective Enforcement Strategy in the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area
Through the investment of technologies, the effective enforcement strategy and engagement with the stakeholders in reducing illegal fishing activities within the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA) are effective.
Rainforest Connection & Huawei: Acoustics for Biodiversity Monitoring and Threat Detection
Rainforest Connection (RFCx) has built the connective tissue to make acoustics a scalable worldwide approach to data collection and analysis for conservation. Our platform, including tools for biodiversity analysis and threat detection and a suite of hardware, enables people to understand ecosystem impacts.
The RFCx system can be used to:
- Send real-time alerts to people who are able to investigate potential threats.
- Find patterns of activity for planned interventions and measure effectiveness of responses.
- Accommodate large data sets that can be used for biodiversity monitoring and shared.
- Facilitate in-depth, long-term acoustic monitoring.
- Evaluate the impacts of different management or conservation activities.
- Follow the population dynamics of species over many years.
Digital Recreational Site management system using a dedicated app and web based backend
Utilising smartphone technology to develop the first dedicated digital outdoor recreational and environmental site management system. It replaces the current general disparate and mainly paper based management systems outdoor recreation sites with an integrated digital system. It ensures that multiple bodies, agencies and community groups who are all involved in managing an outdoors recreational site can use the one system. The system is offered on a “fremium” model to community groups and this is subsidised by Government agencies who pay for the system.
positive impacts:
– smartphone based transcribing from paper.Works on android and apple devices and has built in maps so no mobile coverage is needed out in the field
– all users of the system are linked back to a user ID so recording can be authenticated
– all monitoring reports and remedial actions are stored securely in “the cloud
– geolocating all data allows detailed reporting and makes year on year comparisons (i.e viewing effects of programs tacking invasive species)
Integrated technology platform to support conservation – protecting wildlife and people
Ol Pejeta is home to the largest population of critically endangered black rhinos in E. Africa. Protecting them and other wildlife is a great responsibility and we utilize technology where it adds value. In 2019 we rolled out EarthRanger (ER), a software platform that collects protected area activity information (the animals and assets being protected, the rangers protecting them, and threats of potential poaching) into a single, integrated, real-time visualized operational platform. It amalgamates data from different sources including animal GPS tracking collars, ranger digital radio systems/vehicle trackers, and ranger recorded observations. ER allows us to see key information in one place, enabling informed and faster conservation-related operational decisions.
ER was developed in collaboration with Vulcan Inc. through our Conservation Tech Lab. The Lab acts as a field-based space for technologists and scientists to test and deploy solutions, but also as a center for collaboration, learning and sharing knowledge.
Tech-enabled fire prevention system to save vital giant panda habitat in tangjiahe national nature reserve (green list) and 165 other important protected areas in sichuan province, china. PATHFINDER AWARD 2021 WINNER
Significant conservation impact from technology: the solution uses real-time analysis of satellite images to detect possible fire events. These are rapidly verified and fire events are communicated instantly to rangers in the affected protected areas. Speed is essential. Climate change is making fire more frequent with rapid spreading of events. However there has been a 71% decrease in serious fire events so far in 2021 because of this solution.
Implementing the ArcGIS Protected Area Management Solution for holistic landscape monitoring in the West Lunga ecosystem, Zambia.
Protected areas are faced with numerous ecological, social, and economic challenges both inside and outside their boundaries. Most of these challenges occur over vast spatial scales and are often magnified by a lack of resources to adequately monitor and respond to challenges. The ArcGIS Protected Area Solution (PAM) is an effective way to address these challenges holistically and at scale. PAM allows users to rapidly configure several workflows for effective area management.
M.A.P Scientific Services implemented PAM for the West Lunga Conservation Project (WLCP) in West Lunga National Park, Zambia. The Solution targeted workflows that improve monitoring of the area, these included remote sensing of deforestation and wildfires, law enforcement, wildlife sightings, and community outreach. Outcomes have allowed for improved monitoring and evidence-based management of the protected area that benefits conservation and communities whose livelihoods are intrinsically dependent on the West Lunga ecosystem and its services.
AI-based visitor safety management system of Korean National Parks
“Are there any innovative solutions for national park visitors to meet nature without any risk of danger?” The long-standing concerns of Korean park rangers have begun to achieve great results by establishing an AI-based visitor safety management system using the latest technology. This system automatically monitors and analyzes the potential safety hazard areas in national parks 24 hours a day by combining measuring equipment such as CCTV, crack gauge, and artificial intelligence. When signs of danger are identified, an alarm is sent to the site where visitors are staying and the control center in the national park office for follow-up and to prevent the risks in advance. 89 intelligent CCTVs have been installed in 15 national parks since 2020, and 525 automatic and manual crack gauges have been operated in 174 potential rockfall hazard areas of 21 national parks since 2013.
The Positive Effect of Geological Relic Monitoring and Early Warning System on Geological Landform Protection
Wudalianchi is a national park in northeastern China. In recent years, Wudalianchi has gradually attracted people’s attention. Now it is not only an ideal learning place for geology scholars, but also a popular holiday resort.
Due to the increase of tourists and traffic flow, the protection capacity of the geological relics reached its limits, which also risked visitors’ safety. In the past, only some monitoring points were arranged in the densely populated areas of park, which was far from enough to monitor other non-densely populated geological sites and monitor the tourists flow.
This solution describes how the management committee of Wudalianchi increases the monitoring capacity by upgrading monitoring system and educating the public. Wudalianchi has developed 12 sightseeing areas. This program has greatly reduced the cost of management and the number of security personnel required, allowing quickly response in face of emergency.
Intersectoral Collaboration and Conservation Technology Pipelines to Combat Biodiversity Loss in Protected and Conserved Areas of Vietnam
By installing an NGO-based anti-poaching team, and using various anti-poaching technologies in Pu Mat National Park, we were able to effectively maintain spatially explicit records of poaching activities, profiles of offenders, strategically implement automated poaching alert systems, and significantly decreased the number of poachers, traps, and camps within the core zone of the protected area while also substantially mitigating poaching activities throughout the entirety of the park. In doing so, we managed to identify and apply pressure on high-risk poaching areas, create avoidance of poaching in locations where high-priority (Endangered, and Critically Endangered) species were present, maintain a working database of offences and offenders within the protected area to understand more about the social aspects of poaching, and built capacity for all operating rangers in the protected area to use the same methods and technologies themselves.
Nature Collectibles – Collect&Conserve
IUCN together with the Swiss PORINI Foundation launched NatureCollectibles (NCs), a new and innovative way to make biodiversity assets tradeable. NCs are digital representations of a species connected to a real-world nature conservation project. They are written to Porinis zero-carbon blockchain where they cannot be copied or multiplied, making them unique and tradeable, like a piece of art.
We invited 8 protected and conserved areas (PCAs) from 6 continents to present their work at the first African Protected Areas Congress in Kigali and developed a mobile app where these digital twins can be collected and traded. People can now take part in ongoing conservation action.
We collected over 16’000 USD in the first 2 months and any user can see on the APP that 100% of his contribution is sent to the PCA.
In October, we will launch the next collection featuring 8 species from 8 PCAs in Madagascar and over the next 5 years, a total of 512 species in 64 different collections will be added.
Using camera traps to restore connectivity for wild cats in Central Asia
Located in the central part of the Kopetdag Range in the Ahal Province of Turkmenistan and spanning an area of 497 km2, Central Kopet Dag Reserve incorporates two sanctuaries and two natural monuments.
This Reserve is the most important stronghold in Turkmenistan for the conservation of the Persian leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor) and recently the presence of the Pallas cat (Otocolubus manul), a relatively rare small wild cat, rediscovered. The Reserve is the gateway between Iran and areas to the north and west into Kazakhstan for the Persian leopard. Since 2018, thanks to the collaboration between protected area staff and international partners, an effort is underway to establish baseline information on all cat species, the status of their important prey (the Urial and Bezoar goat), and to identify threats, including the impacts of the border fence with Iran. Twenty camera traps have been deployed that to date have enabled to identify several Persian leopards as well as record the Pallas cat.
Tech-enabled fish species recognition & sorting system to save Atlantic salmon
This is the story on how Huawei and a local association of hunters and anglers – Berlevåg Jeger- og fiskerforening (BJFF) – developed an automated fish trap with a built-in camera system and AI-software to remove the invading foreign humpback salmon from a river in Berlevåg, a small community, on the northmost tip of Norway, neighboring the Barents Sea. By preventing the humpback salmon from swimming up the rivers, we eliminate the risk of reproduction and reduce the threat to invasive species in rivers. The Atlantic salmon populations are exposed to variety of threats but the threat from the invasive humpback salmon is the most significant. This is the story on how to save the Atlantic salmon by using technology. The humpback salmon problem is escalating drastically, and as a result, the construction design of the fish trap is prepared to be duplicated and fit into other rivers
China Nature Watch: using technology for Biodiversity Information Collection and Application to facilitate biodiversity-friendly decision making
Biodiversity baseline data is key to conservation decision-making and practices, yet facing data deficiency and information asymmetry. With the assistance of technology tools, China Nature Watch aims at strengthening the collection of biodiversity data from various sources, especially citizen science, facilitating data applications in land use planning and public participation, and mainstreaming biodiversity conservation.
Specifically, technology brings effective solutions to 3 modules:
- Camera trap data management: developing online AI-incorporated data management system to simplify and speed up camera trap data collection and processing.
- Citizen science data visualization: using PowerBI to automatically analyze and interactively visualize species records collected by citizen scientists.
- Biodiversity Impact Assessment Tool (BiA): integrating ecological and construction data from multiple data sources to provide instant enquiry of biodiversity impact assessment for construction projects via cloud platform.
Harnessing the power of AI and community centered approaches to monitor Jaguars in the Yucatan Peninsula
Mexico is recognized as a megadiverse country, housing approximately 12% of the world’s species. The country safeguards a rich natural and cultural heritage through the efforts of indigenous communities. The Yucatan Peninsula, in the southeast, is ecologically rich, featuring rainforests, coral reefs, mangroves, and more, but these ecosystems are rapidly deteriorating due to human activities and climate change. Nearly 80% of the rainforests are disturbed, with only 22% covered by mature vegetation, primarily in protected areas.
The Tech4Nature Mexico pilot project employs continuous biodiversity monitoring and artificial intelligence systems for the detection and conservation of priority species in the Dzilam State Reserve, to strengthen the understanding of the impacts of climate change on the area. This approach has been materialized through the inclusion of the community as main partners and contributors, the application of machine learning techniques and the construction of multi-sectoral alliances.
Acoustic Monitoring for Improving the Conservation of Critically Endangered Hainan Gibbon
The Hainan gibbon (Nomascus hainanus) is one of the most endangered primates in the world, living in the Bawangling area of Hainan Province, China. Comprehensive tracking and monitoring is required for better conservation, but because of the difficulty in vivo tracking, acoustic equipment is needed for monitoring.
“Tech4Nature” is a global project jointly launched by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Huawei, aiming to develop more scientific protection measures, combined with the ICT industry, digital technology and IUCN Green List standards, provides technical support for the acoustic monitoring project of Hainan gibbons. To date, full coverage of 5 family groups monitoring has been achieved, automatic identification and real-time back transmission of Hainan gibbon acoustic monitoring have been realized.
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4.3.4. Conduct all species reintroductions and other conservation translocations according to IUCN guidelines and other specific guidelines building on the IUCN ones. - es
Primary tools and resources
IUCN Guidelines on Reintroductions and other Conservation Translocations
These Guidelines define terms and set out guidance on the justification, design, and implementation of any reintroduction or conservation translocation, including (i) reinforcement and reintroduction within a species’ indigenous range, and (ii) conservation introductions, comprising assisted colonisation and ecological replacement, outside a species’ indigenous range. The Guidelines focus on conservation translocations, namely a translocation that yields quantifiable conservation benefit. For this purpose, the beneficiaries should be the population or the ecosystem of the translocated species. Translocation needs rigorous justification. Feasibility assessment should include a balance of the conservation benefits against the costs and risks of both the translocation and alternative conservation actions. There are multiple risks in a translocation, affecting the focal species, their associated communities and ecosystem functions in both source and destination areas; there are also risks around human concerns. Any proposed translocation should have a comprehensive risk assessment.
How to use
- To download the guidelines: https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/10386
- To seek advice on translocations, and for details of training courses, contact the IUCN SSC Conservation Translocation Specialist Group at: https://iucn-ctsg.org/
- A comprehensive set of reintroduction case studies covering a wide range of flora and fauna is included in a series of books Reintroduction Perspectives. These are available to download at: https://iucn-ctsg.org/resources/
Species Recovery Manual for Plants
Botanic Gardens Conservation International and the International Association of Botanic Gardens have jointly published the BGCI and IABG Recovery Manual for Plants to guide projects on plant species recovery. The manual sets out the aims and purpose of species recovery and the steps involved, and indicates good practice. The manual is aimed at conservation practitioners but also includes comprehensive bibliographic references, which enable more in depth reading on the topics covered.
AEWA International Single and Multi-Species Action Planning Format and Guidelines
These guidelines are produced by the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds. The revised version includes Multi-Species Action as well as making AEWA Plans more implementable, accessible, and practical for implementing agencies. The guidelines also recognise the need for activities to be more targeted and aligned with the set objectives and goals.
Other tools and resources
IUCN SSC CPSG Species Conservation Planning Tools Library
The Species Conservation Planning Tools Library is coordinated by the IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) in collaboration with the IUCN SSC Species Conservation Planning Sub-Committee.
The Species Conservation Planning Tools Library is a new resource to connect species conservation practitioners to well-tested planning tools suitable for use in a variety of planning situations. This tools library is intended for use by species conservation experts that seek a practical and accessible reference to the many tools and processes available for designing and implementing a detailed and effective conservation planning approach. This resource will continually respond to the needs of the community and the evolving state of the science in the field of endangered species conservation.
The tools library is the product of a CPSG workshop held in Abruzzi, Italy in 2010. The full report from the workshop is available here.
Guidelines for reintroductions and other conservation translocations
These guidelines are designed to be applicable to the full spectrum of conservation translocations. They are based on principle rather than example and are designed to provide guidance on the justification, design and implementation of any conservation translocation.
Solutions and case studies
Scimitar-horned Oryx: Back to the Wild – IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group Newsletter – GSAP SKILLS Online Knowledge Platform
Welcome to the GNUSLETTER Special Issue Number 2, which is exclusively dedicated to the Scimitar-horned Oryx. This Special Issue has been produced to celebrate the positive change in status of the Scimitar-horned Oryx on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. Scimitar-horned Oryx became extinct in the wild by the end of the 1980s or early 1990s. Animals from the large ex situ population were re-established in fenced protected areas in Tunisia beginning in 1985 and in Senegal in 1998. The programme to reintroduce a fully free-living population in Ouadi Rime – Ouadi Achim Faunal Reserve (OROAFR, Réserve de faune de Ouadi Rimé – Ouadi Achim) in Chad began in the early 2000s. The first group of captive-bred Scimitar-horned Oryx was transferred from Abu Dhabi to Chad in March 2016 and placed in an acclimatisation enclosure. Twenty-one oryx were released into the wild in August 2016 and the first wild birth was recorded in September. Eight more releases have occurred and young oryx have been born every year since 2016.
Can we save critically endangered relict endemic plant species? A case study of endemics in Egypt
Rosa arabica and Primula boveana is a perennial endemic to the high mountain area of St. Catherine Protected Area (SCPA) in Egypt and listed as one of the most 100 threatened plants in the world. Recently, they listed as Critically Endangered due to their small Extent of Occurrence and tiny population size (less than 90). The continuous decline in habitat quality for this species and the urgent need to carry out on-ground conservation actions were reported. Many attempts were made in the past to cultivate them in the wild, but they did not succeed. So, this solution aims to conserve them through in situ practices by implementing the following steps, respectively: a) IUCN Red List, b) Ecological Niche Modeling, and c) based on the previous two steps, translocation process for R. arabica in the suitable habitat will be done after carrying out simple layering process (local community traditional method) as one of the most effective traditional vegetative methods for wild cultivation for this species.
Loon Translocation
In 2013, BRI began one of the largest loon studies ever conducted. The initial 5-year scientific initiative, Restore the Call, aimed to strengthen and restore Common Loon populations within their existing and former range. Through this research effort, BRI has developed detailed translocation protocols and practices. This method of loon restoration can be replicated in ongoing and future projects.
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4.3.5. Incorporate assisted colonization of species most vulnerable to impacts of climate change or identify and secure ‘climate corridors’ allowing species to move naturally. - es
Primary tools and resources
IUCN Guidelines on Reintroductions and other Conservation Translocations
These Guidelines define terms and set out guidance on the justification, design, and implementation of any reintroduction or conservation translocation, including (i) reinforcement and reintroduction within a species’ indigenous range, and (ii) conservation introductions, comprising assisted colonisation and ecological replacement, outside a species’ indigenous range. The Guidelines focus on conservation translocations, namely a translocation that yields quantifiable conservation benefit. For this purpose, the beneficiaries should be the population or the ecosystem of the translocated species. Translocation needs rigorous justification. Feasibility assessment should include a balance of the conservation benefits against the costs and risks of both the translocation and alternative conservation actions. There are multiple risks in a translocation, affecting the focal species, their associated communities and ecosystem functions in both source and destination areas; there are also risks around human concerns. Any proposed translocation should have a comprehensive risk assessment.
How to use
- To download the guidelines: https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/10386
- To seek advice on translocations, and for details of training courses, contact the IUCN SSC Conservation Translocation Specialist Group at: https://iucn-ctsg.org/
- A comprehensive set of reintroduction case studies covering a wide range of flora and fauna is included in a series of books Reintroduction Perspectives. These are available to download at: https://iucn-ctsg.org/resources/
Species Recovery Manual for Plants
Botanic Gardens Conservation International and the International Association of Botanic Gardens have jointly published the BGCI and IABG Recovery Manual for Plants to guide projects on plant species recovery. The manual sets out the aims and purpose of species recovery and the steps involved, and indicates good practice. The manual is aimed at conservation practitioners but also includes comprehensive bibliographic references, which enable more in depth reading on the topics covered.
AEWA International Single and Multi-Species Action Planning Format and Guidelines
These guidelines are produced by the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds. The revised version includes Multi-Species Action as well as making AEWA Plans more implementable, accessible, and practical for implementing agencies. The guidelines also recognise the need for activities to be more targeted and aligned with the set objectives and goals.
Other tools and resources
IUCN SSC CPSG Species Conservation Planning Tools Library
The Species Conservation Planning Tools Library is coordinated by the IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) in collaboration with the IUCN SSC Species Conservation Planning Sub-Committee.
The Species Conservation Planning Tools Library is a new resource to connect species conservation practitioners to well-tested planning tools suitable for use in a variety of planning situations. This tools library is intended for use by species conservation experts that seek a practical and accessible reference to the many tools and processes available for designing and implementing a detailed and effective conservation planning approach. This resource will continually respond to the needs of the community and the evolving state of the science in the field of endangered species conservation.
The tools library is the product of a CPSG workshop held in Abruzzi, Italy in 2010. The full report from the workshop is available here.
Guidelines for reintroductions and other conservation translocations
These guidelines are designed to be applicable to the full spectrum of conservation translocations. They are based on principle rather than example and are designed to provide guidance on the justification, design and implementation of any conservation translocation.
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4.3.6. Apply laws and regulations on species conservation effectively and strengthen or update legal frameworks where relevant. - es
Primary tools and resources
ECOLEX
ECOLEX is an information service on environmental law, operated jointly by FAO, IUCN, and UNEP. Its purpose is to build global capacity by providing the most comprehensive possible source of information on environmental law, in an easily accessible form. This is particularly helpful in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, where government officials, practitioners, environmental managers, non-profit institutions and academia may not have easy access to the information they need to develop the legal tools needed to promote environmental management.
The ECOLEX database includes information on treaties, international soft-law and other non-binding policy and technical guidance documents, national legislation, judicial decisions, and law and policy literature. Users can access the abstracts and indexing information about each document, as well as to the full text of most of the information provided.
Other tools and resources
World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL)
WCEL works to enhance the development and strengthen the implementation of environmental law and policy, including through best practices and inter-sectoral strategies for effective compliance and enforcement.
WCEL promotes the environmental rule of law globally, particularly in countries that seek to improve their law and governance systems.
WCEL aims to strengthen the capacity of governments, the judiciary, prosecutors, law schools and other stakeholders as they develop and implement environmental law.
AEWA Guidance on Measures in National Legislation for Different Populations of the Same Species, Particularly with Respect to Hunting and Trade
Resolution 4.3 requested the Technical Committee, amongst other things, to advise on a more adequate implementation of the AEWA Action Plan’s population approach in the national legislation, particularly with regard to a ban on hunting and trade, and, if needed, provide guidance on its consequences for Parties. Such guidance may clarify the question how to deal with different populations of the same species in a country.
This task was taken up by the Technical Committee in its Work Plan 2012-2015 under Working Group 1 (WG1). The Technical Committee examined and agreed on this guidance at its 12th meeting in March 2015.
AEWA Guidelines on National Legislation
These Conservation Guidelines are intended to assist countries in drafting new legislation, and reviewing and amending their existing national legislation, on the conservation and sustainable use of migratory waterbirds and their habitats. They are written for conservation professionals and officials in conservation ministries and agencies who develop draft and final legislation and make suggestions for improvement of existing and proposed legislation. The guidelines can also provide assistance to lawyers reviewing or vetting draft legislation. They are presented in simple terminology, and are intended to be accessible to non-lawyers.
The principal objective of these guidelines is to assist Parties in evaluating whether their national legislation complies with AEWA’s provisions and, where it does not, developing laws which fulfil their commitments under the Agreement. The guidelines are not intended to provide detailed advice on the drafting of either general conservation legislation or legislative provisions which (although beneficial to bird conservation) go beyond the requirements of AEWA. The guidelines also are not intended to duplicate, but rather to supplement, existing guidance. They should thus be read alongside AEWA’s other Conservation Guidelines (several of which make recommendations regarding legislation), as well as other relevant guidance documents (a list of which is provided in Annex I).
AEWA International Review of Hunting and Trade Legislation
The Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) specifies actions for sustainable hunting of and trade in migratory waterbirds in its legally binding Action Plan, which result in a number of requirements on hunting and trade legislation in the countries that are Party to AEWA.
This report starts with a review of international treaties and supranational organizations addressing the issues of hunting of and/ or trade in migratory waterbirds and in the context of AEWA (chapter B II). Further on it analyses the legal situation regarding hunting of and trade in migratory waterbirds in the single countries (chapter B III). Moreoever it provides a set of conclusions and recommendations concerning actions to be taken by the Parties and respective bodies of the Agreement.
For the review of international treaties and supranational organisations, the legal texts (and annexes) as well as relevant documents have been reviewed in detail and in comparison with AEWA requirements. The analysis of the situation in individual countries is primarily based on a questionnaire (and submitted legal reference texts) received from 74 % of the Focal Points in countries that are Party to AEWA and additional 27 % of the Non[1]Parties. The Compilor has moreover used openly accessible information sources such as legal and scientific databases and official websites. Information was analyzed in the light of AEWA requirements on hunting and trade legislation provided by the Agreement text and its Action Plan, and in the context of additional guiding documents such as the AEWA Conservation Guidelines, the text and guidance document of the Birds Directive as well as historical considerations, when needed. Results are presented following a regional scheme which allows a comparison of the situation in the different sub-regions (Africa/ European Union/ Eurasia (all countries outside Africa and not being member states of the EU)).
Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
Since 1989, CIEL has used the power of law to protect the environment, promote human rights, and ensure a just and sustainable society.
With offices in Washington, DC, and Geneva, Switzerland, CIEL’s team of attorneys, policy experts, and support staff works to provide legal counsel and advocacy, policy research, and capacity building across our three program areas: Climate & Energy, Environmental Health, and People, Land, & Resources.
CIEL also has a vibrant intern program for law students and fellows in both our DC and Geneva offices to educate the next generation of international environmental advocates. Over its 25 years, CIEL has trained more than 425 interns and law fellows from 54 countries. In conjunction with this program, CIEL conducts a joint research and teaching program with American University’s Washington College of Law.
CIEL recognizes exceptional contributions to international environmental law each year with its annual International Environmental Law award and recognizes outstanding contributions to addressing climate change through its semi-annual Frederick R. Anderson Climate Change Award.
CIEL does not share or sell any donor’s personal information with anyone else, nor send donor mailings on behalf of other organizations; nor will it share or sell personal information unless given specific permission to do so.
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4.3.7. Support transboundary conservation programmes for species’ populations that cross national borders. - es
Other tools and resources
ASEAN Handbook on Legal Cooperation to Combat the Illegal Wildlife Trade
The ASEAN Handbook on Legal Cooperation to Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade 2021 is one of the key deliverables for ASEAN Cooperation in Forestry 2021 and SOM-AMAF’s cooperation in Food, Agriculture and Forestry in 2021. The handbook is also an update of the ASEAN Handbook on Legal Cooperation to Combat Illegal Wildlife 2016 which aims to provide law and policy makers criminal justice officials, and law enforcement officials from the ASEAN region with a strategic approach to deploying an arsenal of hard and soft laws and other associated tools for the prosecution of wildlife crimes. In addition to providing updates and enhancements reflecting legislative and policy changes since 2016, the updated Handbook will incorporate relevant information and policy guidelines on zoonotic diseases and COVID-19, reflecting a One Health Approach, which is the convergence of environmental, animal, and human health, in the context of the illegal wildlife trade.
AEWA Resolution 8.15
Recalling the 8th edition of the Conservation Status Report (document AEWA/MOP 8.19) which shows that 43% of the AEWA populations are in long-term decline including many globally threatened species, and that the causes of such declines, which occur in every flyway, are frequently due to enhanced mortality,
Recalling that AEWA’s Action Plan highlights several causes of actual or potential mortality arising from legal taking, illegal killing, unfavourable or endangering conditions, collisions with and the effects of built infrastructure, disturbance, bycatch, pollution, non-native species, aquaculture, and lead poisoning from fishing weights and gunshot, the regulation of which is desirable to help achieve the objectives of the Agreement,
Recalling also Target 1.6 of AEWA’s Strategic Plan 2019-2027 which seeks that “AEWA priorities relating to four causes of unnecessary additional mortality and other key threats to migratory waterbirds and their habitats1 are integrated in key multilateral processes “, with the delivery of this target envisaging the following actions:
a) Identify those multilateral processes that can contribute most to progressing AEWA priorities (led by Technical Committee in consultation with Secretariat and Partners);
b) Identify strategic opportunities for positively influencing these processes (meetings of technical bodies, working groups etc.) and ensure, as far as possible, that AEWA’s views are represented;
c) Communicate/advocate AEWA priorities in a clear and timely manner;
d) Ensure that AEWA Parties take coherent, mutually reinforcing aligned positions under different conventions and related processes
Transboundary Conservation Landscapes: Enhancing understanding, operation and efficacy
WWF’s global site-based conservation programs cover vast areas of countries and continents and, via its landscape approach, invariably has large programs that transcend national boundaries be it for species conservation, forest and habitat protection, or to maintain environmental f lows and sustainable use. Past global studies have looked at guidelines and criteria for successful transboundary conservation programs, but a review of practical lessons from the field is lacking. This report reflects on the strengths and challenges of transboundary conservation programs, illustrated by a compilation of lessons from over two decades of work on the ground, and builds on previous knowledge, fills some knowledge gaps, and draws on firsthand practitioners’ experiences from 16 of WWF’s transboundary landscapes across Europe, Africa, Central America and Asia.
International Whaling Commission Sanctuaries Conservation Management Plans (CMPs)
Conservation Management Plans (CMPs) are an important conservation initiative of the IWC. They provide a framework for countries within the range of vulnerable cetacean populations (known as range states) to work together, and in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders, to protect and rebuild those populations.
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4.3.8. Reduce incidental mortality of species (ship strikes, wind turbines, collision and electrocution on electricity wires, road kill). - es
Primary tools and resources
International Whaling Commission (IWC) programmes on ocean noise
Anthropogenic ocean noise is identified as one of the priority threats in the Strategic Plan of the IWC Conservation Committee. In 2018, the IWC agreed a Resolution that recognised the increasing concern over ocean noise, and clarified next steps to better understand and manage the threat. In 2022 the IWC endorsed a Workplan on Anthropogenic Ocean Noise. The Scientific Committee is also undertaking research on the impact of noise on cetaceans, and the effectiveness of different approaches to reduce exposure.
International Whaling Commission (IWC) Bycatch Mitigation initiative
As the leading global body addressing cetacean science, conservation and management, the IWC has the capacity to play a significant role in global efforts to address bycatch and in 2016, endorsed a new Bycatch Mitigation Initiative (BMI). In collaboration with other organisations, national governments and fishing communities, this aims to develop, assess and promote effective bycatch prevention and mitigation measures world-wide.
The initiative is currently focused on addressing gillnet bycatch in small-scale fisheries, although some work continues on bycatch in other gears and fisheries.
The concepts of collaboration and co-ordination underpin the BMI. Bycatch is an issue that needs to be tackled on several different scales, from fishing communities to national governments and intergovernmental fishery bodies.
The BMI works closely with the Global Whale Entanglement Response Network (GWERN), a pioneering initiative which actively addresses welfare, conservation and human safety impacts of large whale entanglement in fishing gear and marine debris.
Other tools and resources
International Whaling Commission Ship Strikes: collisions between whales and vessels
Most reports of collisions between whales and vessels involve large whales, but all species can be affected. Collisions with large vessels often go unnoticed and unreported. Animals can be injured or killed and vessels can sustain damage. Serious and even fatal injuries to passengers have occurred involving hydrofoil ferries, whale watching vessels and recreational craft.
Mitigating biodiversity impacts associated with solar and wind energy development
The Synthesis report provides a high-level overview of the main themes addressed in the Guidelines on mitigating biodiversity impacts associated with solar and wind energy development, published in 2021. The Guidelines aim to provide practical support for solar and wind energy devel-opments to effectively manage risks and improve biodiversity and ecosystem service outcomes. They are industry-focused and can be applied across the whole project development life cycle, from early planning through to decommissioning and repow-ering, using the mitigation hierarchy as a clear framework for planning and implementation.
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4.3.9. Employ One Health approaches to manage the human-livestock- wildlife disease interface regarding infectious diseases. - es
Primary tools and resources
One Health Joint Plan of Action (2022–2026)
The One Health Joint Plan of Action was launched by four partners – the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE). This initiative seeks to improve the health of humans, animals, plants, and the environment, while contributing to sustainable development. The One Health Joint Plan of Action was developed through a participatory process and provides a set of activities to strengthen collaboration, communication, capacity building, and coordination across all sectors responsible for addressing health concerns at the human-animal-plant-environment interface.
Guidelines for wildlife disease risk analysis
This IUCN-OIE publication provides an overview of the science-based processes and tools available for wildlife disease risk analysis and their application to a broad range of contemporary issues, including human-wildlife interactions, domestic animal-wildlife interactions and the impacts of massive ecological change on biodiversity conservation. The guidelines will be of value to those policy makers and decision makers faced with the social, political and technical complexities involved in wildlife-disease-associated scenarios.This is a companion volume to the Manual of Procedures for Wildlife Disease Risk Analysis.
Other tools and resources
Living with Wildlife through One Health
This book is a project undertaken by EcoHealth Alliance to develop an educational tool usable across many cultural contexts. It aims to provide an informative, thorough, and succinct guide to living at the interface between human settlement and wildlife habitat. In areas where human populations come into high levels of contact with animals, it is essential to ensure responsible practices and behaviors to prevent spillover of zoonotic disease from animal reservoirs to humans. With this book, EcoHealth Alliance hopes to aid people and animals worldwide.
Guidelines for Working with Free-Ranging Wild Mammals in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The SARS-CoV-2 virus, the cause of COVID-19, emerged as a human pathogen in 2019. While it is thought to have a zoonotic source, the original wildlife reservoir and any potential intermediate hosts have not yet been identified. Phylogenetic analyses suggest the progenitor virus is related to beta-coronaviruses previously identified in bats. At this time, SARS-CoV-2 should be considered a human pathogen with people acting as reservoir and sustaining transmission. There is a possibility SARS-CoV-2 will become endemic in the human population and thus be considered as a potential reverse zoonosis to wildlife as with infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and influenza.
Currently the risk of human-to-animal transmission to non-captive wildlife species warrants concern. A number of cases have demonstrated natural human-to-animal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in felids, canids and mustelids, the majority due to close and prolonged contact with infected households or people, and none has involved free-ranging wildlife. The identification of close phylogenetically-related viruses (e.g. in bats and pangolins), the presence of important cell receptor proteins (ACE2 receptors) and infection following natural exposure or experimental inoculation suggest that a wide range of mammalian species may be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. Knowledge and experience with human-to-animal transmission with other human respiratory pathogens (e.g. metapneumovirus, measles, other human coronaviruses and tuberculosis) indicates that some species taxonomically closely related to humans (e.g. non-human primates) would likely be susceptible to infection and/or clinical disease caused by SARS-CoV-2.
There are valid concerns about the health of individuals or populations if infected with the virus and/or a wildlife population becoming a reservoir for SARS-CoV-2. Any wildlife species/taxa that becomes a reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 could pose a continued public health risk of zoonosis, a risk for the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to other animal species, and the risk of negative perceptions of that species resulting in human threats to the species or their populations.
Efforts that require working with free-living wildlife are vital to professional management and conservation as well as the health of wildlife, people and ecosystems. The recommendations below were developed to minimize the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from people to freeranging, wild mammals. Specifically, these recommendations are for people engaged in wildlife work* in the field, either in direct contact (e.g. handling) or indirect contact (e.g. within 2 meters or in a confined space) with free-ranging wild mammals, or working in situations in which free[1]ranging wild mammals may come in contact with surfaces or materials contaminated by infected personnel.
IUCN SSC CPSG DRA On-line training
This is an introductory course to the IUCN Guidelines for Wildlife Disease Risk Analysis (WDRA). This course is designed to equip participants with an understanding of how to put the guidelines into practice. Our target audiences are government wildlife agency staff, IUCN SSC Specialist Group members, and other conservation professionals and veterinarians working in zoos, aquariums, universities or field programs, responsible for planning for disease management at the interface between people, places and wildlife. By the end of the course, participants will be able to: recognize and justify situations where a WDRA process can contribute to a) wildlife conservation, b) domestic animal health care, and c) public health protection; explain how the principle of One Health and the science of epidemiology are applied to a WDRA; and design a workshop to effectively engage multiple stakeholders in completing a WDRA. Click here to find out more about the course and how to apply to an upcoming session.
One Health principles for sustainable tourism in protected and conserved areas
The wide-reaching effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have included immense loss of life and serious health and economic consequences across communities and ecosystems. Tourism, which itself suffered a sharp disruption in the pandemic, is among the industries that have a strong interest to reduce risks and increase resilience toward a more sustainable model in line with a One Health approach. Protected and conserved areas (PCAs) are an especially important setting for sustainable tourism and can serve as a catalyst for wider adoption of best practices anchored in One Health principles that help to sustainability balance the health of people, animals, and ecosystems. This report presents six core principles, which provide practical strategies for tour operators and wider tourism industry stakeholders in PCAs. They are intentionally broad, allowing for use and adaptation in any PCA context.
Healthy people and wildlife through nature protection
Protected and conserved areas (PCAs) are affected by disease risks and impacts in wide-ranging ways, as demonstrated by recent epidemics and the global COVID-19 pandemic. Their potential role in disease prevention, detection, response, and recovery is significant, both to reduce spillover risks and to effectively prepare for disease events. This report provides an orientation for PCA managers on relevant sources of risk, with actions that can be taken to build up systems to manage disease threats across the variety of PCA contexts. A key message is that protected areas can – and should – play a vital role in One Health approaches to reduce disease risk and improve human, animal, and environmental health outcomes.
Manual of procedures for wildlife disease risk analysis
This IUCN–OIE publication provides a ‘how-to’ guide that will be useful to the growing and diverse range of professionals involved in assessment and management of wildlife-associated disease risk scenarios. The document has been co-written by 22 specialists in the fields of wildlife disease ecology, epidemiology, risk analysis, modelling, disease surveillance, diagnostics, wildlife management, research, teaching and conservation planning. These authors have pooled their knowledge and experience to make tools and processes at the cutting edge of wildlife disease risk analysis accessible to a broad global audience in an effort to ensure healthy ecosystems through better decision making. This is a companion volume to the Guidelines for Wildlife Disease Risk Analysis.
Solutions and case studies
Integrating One Health approach into human-wildlife conflict mitigation measures in India
In India, despite an ever-increasing interface between animals and humans resulting in human-wildlife conflict (HWC) and risks of zoonotic diseases, measures to address the health of animals and humans are implemented by wildlife, veterinary and public health sector institutions through separate channels, which is inhibiting operationalization of One Health approach. The much needed mechanism for such coordination has been developed and operationalised, embedded in an overarching capacity development plan, by the Indo-German Cooperation Project on HWC Mitigation in India. The project has successfully integrated One Health into the national HWC mitigation plan and guidelines, established a system of collaborative training courses, with forest, veterinary, agriculture and public health sector institutions and experts, which has resulted in a joint training curriculum and has strengthened specialised rapid response teams at field-level.
Monitoring for zoonotic viruses in wild animals to prevent disease outbreaks in Bolivia
From 2010 to 2013, wildlife disease monitoring capacities were enhanced by the USAID Emerging Pandemic Threats Program´s PREDICT project in Bolivia within a One Health approach. Collaborative work with government agencies for field investigations, risk detection and prompt response were promoted; key stakeholders were trained on wildlife disease surveillance; and diagnostic capacities were enhanced in local laboratories. As a result, in 2012 trained staff reported a mortality event affecting red howler monkeys (Alouatta sara). The outbreak investigation confirmed Yellow Fever Virus, a flavivirus transmitted by mosquitoes that aggressively affects neotropical non-human primates and may cause acute and often fatal disease in humans. Effective communications between the PREDICT team and the national health authorities allowed a prompt alert and the rapid implementation of actions to prevent human cases, including vaccination of at risk human population, public education and outreach, and mosquito-control.
Bracken Cave Preserve Established Through One Health Assessment
The Bracken Cave Preserve is home to the largest bat colony in the world, an estimated 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis). Plans to construct a residential complex along the 1,521-acre tract adjacent to the cave mouth posed a serious risk to wildlife and the potential human population. Motivated by concerns for a nearby aquifer, but limited by a lack of zoning laws in the area, the local government commissioned a report on the potential public health risks of the development. The report outlined concerns for human exposure to various pathogens, from both exploring the cave and the bats’ presence around the new residences. To protect the bat and human populations, advocates from diverse sectors, including conservationists, health experts, city and county governments, and the public water utility, came together to purchase the tract of land. In 2014, the property was officially made into the Bracken Cave Preserve, protecting this area essential for environmental, animal, and human health in perpetuity.
Living Safely with Bats: A One Health Educational Resource
As part of a public health communication strategy related to the identification of a novel filovirus in bats in West Africa, an initiative was launched to create a widely accessible One Health educational and risk communication resource for community outreach. A moderated picture book was developed, titled Living Safely with Bats, that now has been adapted, translated, and used in more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia. This product includes text and artwork developed by a consortium of public health, veterinary health, conservation, bat, and disease ecology experts from 29 countries. The book is a collection of evidence-based prevention measures which encourage community members to live safely with bats and avoid exposure to potential zoonotic threats.
Hunter and Community-Based Early Warning System Expands Ebola Mortality Monitoring in Great Apes
In northern Republic of Congo, hunters and community members were recruited to report morbidity and mortality events in wild animals. In the region, great ape die-off events were found to precede human cases of Ebola virus disease. Through the community engagement program, reporting channels were developed, relaying information from small villages to connector communities via radio, messages carried by commercial drivers or other contact routes with national authorities. This facilitated information flow to veterinarians so that diagnostic sampling could occur within the short timeframe needed before carcasses degrade. Reporting of events expanded the surveillance system to empower local people and allowed for early warning through sentinel surveillance for possible disease threats to humans and wild animals. Accompanying community outreach also helped to raise awareness about the dangers of hunting certain species or eating animals found sick or dead, particularly in epidemic periods, thereby promoting safer practices.
Sabah Wildlife Department’s Wildlife Health, Genetic and Forensic Laboratory – Design and Development
The PREDICT project, a global pathogen surveillance program, started in the state of Sabah in 2012 as a collaboration between Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), Conservation Medicine (CM) and EcoHealth Alliance (EHA). Sabah Wildlife Department’s – Wildlife Health, Genetic and Forensic Laboratory (WHGFL) is a Biosafety Level 2 laboratory that was built in Sabah to avoid sending thousands of samples collected through PREDICT and ongoing projects out of the state for pathogen screenings. CM designed and oversaw the building of this laboratory certified since 2013 to international standards and are part of the management committee. The lab is used to screen samples for zoonotic disease, as well as genetic and forensic research. 65 novel and 18 known viruses were detected in Sabah through the PREDICT project, providing the Malaysian government with actionable data to inform risk mitigation policies at the national and state level.
Wildlife rescues – building a safe bridge to recover wild populations in Vietnam
In Vietnam, there are thousands of live wild animals confiscated from illegal wildlife trade incidents, however, the majority of them could not survive after confiscation due to lack of proper treatment. Wildlife rescues are not limited to saving and taking care of animals from confiscations but also rescue and rehabilitation, release and monitoring, conservation breeding program, capacity building, and collaboration to safely release them back to the wild, and to recover and secure wild populations. After 7 years of working, we have released more than 1200 confiscated animals back into the wild with a success rate of more than 60%, many of which were tagged and tracked post-released. Moreover, a Vietnam Wildlife Rescue Association is going to be established to support wildlife rescue centres through the network.
Mitigating Zoonotic Disease Transmission with a One Health approach to Gorilla Conservation and Gorilla Tourism
Uganda’s Gorilla tourism started in 1993. Concerns about disease transmission from humans to the great apes were quickly raised. In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the first scabies outbreak in 1996 resulted in the death of an infant gorilla. The disease was traced back to people, in this case to the local communities living around the National Park.
Mountain gorillas are endangered, with only 1,063 individuals remaining in the wild. Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH) was founded by Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, with the mission to promote biodiversity conservation by enabling people, gorillas and other wildlife to coexist through improving their health and livelihoods in and around Africa’s protected areas.
CTPH has extensive experience implementing One Health approach in protected area management, and we are committed to sharing our lessons learned and recommendations with other countries facing similar issues.
WildHealthNet Southeast Asia: Operationalizing Wildlife Health Surveillance for One Health
The Wildlife Health Surveillance Network, known as WildHealthNet, is a regional initiative supporting national governments in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Viet Nam to build and implement national wildlife health surveillance strategies. The project has enhanced the ability of these nations to safely detect, monitor, trace, and report emerging pathogens in wildlife, to facilitate more rapid response and mitigation. The system has already detected trans-national disease outbreaks of zoonotic diseases and pathogens of economic, wildlife, and human health significance. More rapid identification of wildlife pathogens benefits public health, livestock health, rural livelihoods and food security, and conservation.
Wildlife Mortality Monitoring Network for Human and Wildlife Health
In the Republic of the Congo, a 2005 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak had a human mortality rate of more than 80%, and an estimated 5,000 great apes also died. In partnership with the government, WCS set up an early warning system for EVD, working with hunters, forest communities, and rangers to monitor wildlife health through a carcass monitoring and sampling network, whilst promoting best practices in disease risk reduction for these communities that rely on bushmeat as a source of protein. The community-based wildlife mortality monitoring network raises awareness among communities and covers more than 30,000 km2 in in northern Congo, an area home to 60% of the world’s gorillas. When a hunter reports a carcass, a response team travels to the site to safely collect samples from the carcass for testing. Once the sample is collected, it is sent to the national laboratory for analysis and the team returns to the reporting village with results and to reinforce health messages.
Integrated livestock and wildlife disease surveillance and response supports Saiga conservation and livelihoods in Mongolia
Integrated livestock and wildlife monitoring, surveillance, and response are essential to guide the implementation of disease control measures to protect biodiversity and livelihoods. Improved wildlife surveillance and analyses of disease outbreaks in Mongolia showed that wildlife were victims of livestock disease spillover, not the source of the outbreaks as had been previously thought. This avoided mass culling of wildlife and moved towards wildlife-friendly disease control efforts. Strategies for both livestock and wildlife are now being designed to control and eradicate Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) virus in Mongolia. The incorporation of wildlife is now recognized as essential in global PPR eradication strategies. With saiga sensitivity to disease epidemics more fully appreciated, increased trade protections through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) were implemented, which will further help safeguard the Mongolian saiga’s survival.
Bellinger River Virus Disease Response
In 2015 a mass mortality event struck the highly range restricted Bellinger River Snapping Turtle (Myuchelys georgesi), wiping out 90% of the species in under six weeks. The initial emergency response included site examinations, removal of dead and sick animals, and a water quality investigation. Bellinger River Virus (previously unknown to science) was eventually identified as the causative agent. To better understand the circumstances behind this mass mortality event, a One Health approach was taken addressing how the animals, causative agent, and surrounding environment interacted with each another. A facilitated multi-stakeholder conservation planning workshop was held incorporating the IUCN SSC/OIE’s Wildlife Disease Risk Analysis process (Jakob-Hoff et al, 2014). This ensured all potential contributing factors associated with the Bellinger River Virus outbreak were reflected in immediate and long-term priorities and on-ground recovery actions.
Integrating Bat Ecology and Pathogen Surveillance: The Western Asia Bat Research Network
The Western Asia Bat Research Network (WAB-Net) aims to enhance bat conservation and zoonotic disease detection through collaborative research and capacity building-focused trainings with bat biologists, virologists, government authorities, and academics from the region. WAB-Net coordinates research focused on bats, zoonotic diseases, and host-virus dynamics in 7 countries. This proactive approach to pandemic prevention aims to identify both zoonotic viruses before they spill over from bat hosts to humans and the risk factors associated with spillover. Field trainings, including proper PPE usage, bat capture and handling, and cold chain management, promote positive health outcomes for both the humans and bats. All samples are sent to two regional labs where trainings and standardized protocols are implemented, furthering biosafety and scientific advancement in the region. WAB-Net’s “bats for peace” mission promotes strengthened outcomes in both scientific discoveries and constructive political conversations.
Great Apes – COVID-19 Guidance
As the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, scientists and conservation managers began questioning how it would impact their research, conservation efforts, and the wellbeing of global wildlife. Primates are susceptible to the same diseases as humans, and the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group had previously created guidance on best practices for great apes’ protection from other respiratory diseases due to the presence of human tourists and field workers. The group began collecting questions about how COVID-19 would impact great apes from protected area managers, zookeepers, field researchers, and other individuals whose work is directly linked with the animals. A working group was put together and guidelines for how to approach great ape conservation in the face of this new and deadly pandemic were drafted and shared. These guidelines were aimed at researchers and conservationists, but have since grown and been reworked for other audiences including extractive industries, governments, and site-specific teams.
Examine gaps and One Health opportunities in wildlife and zoonotic disease risk management in China
Addressing the public health, food production, and conservation aspects of wildlife epidemics and zoonotic disease threats requires actions from multiple sectors across the different interfaces where wildlife, domestic animal, and human contact may occur. To better understand the role of different agencies in wildlife and zoonotic disease management in China, a stakeholder mapping and policy review was undertaken. This work reviewed the current laws and regulations, government reports and policy documents, and existing literature on zoonotic disease preparedness and prevention across the forestry, agriculture, and public health authorities in China, to articulate the current landscape of potential risks, existing mandates, and gaps. A key finding was that responsibilities for zoonotic disease management are currently fragmented across agencies.
Country-Country Capacity Strengthening for Wildlife Disease Surveillance
Under the PREDICT-2 Liberia project, a field team was trained on pathogen surveillance in wildlife, including safe and humane capture, holding, sampling, and release of animals, as well as sample cold chain, transport, and biosafety and personal protective equipment (PPE) use. This team went on to sample over 5,000 bats and several hundred rodents to increase understanding of viral circulation patterns in West Africa, including a focus on Ebola virus. In 2019, government partners in neighboring Côte d’Ivoire expressed their interest in strengthening wildlife surveillance capacity. To support development of this capacity, the PREDICT Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire teams co-led a training at the Abidjan Zoo in June 2019, with the trainers from Liberia team providing hands-on training in bat and rodent sampling.
Integrating Biodiversity and Health Messaging and Tackling Superstition with Communities in Liberia
Liberia is a diverse nation with a wide variety of tribal, cultural, and religious practices, where the majority of the population depend on the forest and its resources for their livelihood. Such interactions with the forest environment put people at risk of contracting zoonotic diseases that may spill over from animals. However, widely spread beliefs that traditionalists, witches, wizards, and even spirits have the ability to cast diseases upon people continue to hamper the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and control of many diseases. Under the PREDICT-2 project, Liberian One Health experts trained in health, conservation, and social sciences conducted biological and behavioral surveys, followed by community outreach that improved awareness and acceptance of zoonotic disease risk reduction practices. Using the ‘Living Safely with Bats’ book, this outreach also reinforced biodiversity protection and animal welfare. Its success was enabled by trust, awareness, and a strong evidence base.
A One Health Approach to Wildlife Trade and Policy in Viet Nam
The COVID-19 pandemic, which is widely recognized as originating in a market selling live wildlife in China, has caused the deaths of millions of people and major impacts on livelihoods, society, and economies across the world. Conditions increasing risk for emergence of zoonoses from wildlife are not unique to China. They are prevalent in wild animal value chains across the globe, including in Viet Nam, where wildlife is commonly traded for meat, pets, skins, traditional medicine, and for display in private collections. Disease surveillance along wildlife trade chains in Viet Nam has increased awareness of potential public health risks, but much trade continues and the risk of zoonoses’ emergence and transmission remains. An increasing body of scientific data supports multi-sectoral coordination and an evidence-based approach to strengthening policy on illegal wildlife trade (IWT) in Viet Nam to address the risk of zoonotic spillover, with resulting co-benefits for biodiversity and human health.
Training on Disease Prevention, Detection, Response and Recovery for Protected Area Managers in Vietnam
In September 2022 a training was held in Vietnam’s Cúc Phương National Park on the recently developed IUCN guidance on Prevention, Detection, Response and Recovery from Disease Risks in Protected and Conserved Areas and accompanying One Health Principles for Sustainable Tourism. The training was designed for professionals, wildlife handlers and park rangers to introduce the One Health concept, IUCN guidance, sampling, human safety, risk assessment, biosafety, personal protective equipment (PPE), and biohazard waste disposal. Forty participants from Cát Tiên, Pù Mát and Cúc Phương National Parks took part in the two-day training. The field experience and expertise of the training team and adaptation to the relevant context ensured practical application of the guidance. Sessions such as the ‘Glo Germ’ test, demonstrating the importance of proper PPE donning and doffing and handwashing procedures, helped make the training interactive and reinforce key concepts.
Managing disease in Ethiopian wolves
Ethiopian wolves (Canis simensis) are Africa’s most endangered carnivore, with approximately 500 individuals remaining along the country’s Afroalpine habitat, approximately half of which are found in the Bale Mountains. While habitat loss is a major threat to species survival, infectious disease epizootics have had serious impacts on wolf populations. Since 1992, the wolves in the Bale Mountains have faced eight major outbreaks from rabies and canine distemper viruses. Outbreaks are prompted by introduction of the viruses from domestic dogs. The density and social nature of the wolves allow for rapid virus transmission amongst and between packs; concerningly, outbreaks have resulted in extinctions of entire packs. To effectively manage this threat, the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme and its partners have developed and applied a comprehensive conservation strategy, including preventive and reactive vaccination and disease monitoring in line with a One Health approach.
An Analysis Framework to enable biodiversity projects to take a One Health approach
The Biodiversity Working Group from GIZ’s Sector Network of Rural Development and Natural Resources Asia-Pacific (SNRD-AP) commissioned a study to explore the biodiversity-health nexus in the region. Literature review and informant interviews allowed understanding the impact of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation on human and animal health and gave insight into the value of collaboration at the nexus. The leading discourse has neglected the environmental pillar of One Health (OH) for long, with little attention given to biodiversity in classic OH actions addressing emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. The biodiversity-health nexus is essential for pandemic prevention. It is thus urgent to explore how One Health could be integrated into biodiversity and, vice versa, how biodiversity could be integrated into One Health to make pandemic prevention more effective. This study focuses on developing an innovative tool to guide better integration of One Health into biodiversity conservation.
OneHealth Program in the Congo Basin
In one of the world’s hotspots for zoonotic epidemics, the Congo Basin, WWF Germany has contributed significantly to the establishment of an early warning system for zoonotic pathogen outbreaks.
In two ecotourism sites, Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas (Central African Republic) and Campo Ma’an National Park (Cameroon), WWF has been following a One Health approach since 2012, which takes into account wildlife and human health as well as intact natural habitats. From the beginning, WWF has been working closely with the Robert Koch-Institute (since 2021: Helmholtz Institute for One Health, HIOH).
The goal of the One Health Program is to establish a health monitoring system for people, wildlife and their habitat that benefits the local population in terms of their health and natural livelihoods. The aim is to rapidly detect the spread of zoonotic pathogens in order to establish an early warning system for disease outbreaks (including Ebola, monkeypox and anthrax).