Application of the global standard for Crop Wild Relatives (CWR) in documentation phase for the creation of national inventories

The International Treaty released in 2021 an updated list of passport descriptors for crop wild relatives conserved in situ. This publication provides an international standard to ensure consistency in the way data about plant genetic material of crop wild relatives (CWR) are documented and exchanged around the world.

This booklet is available in English, Arabic, French and Spanish, and is expected to be particularly helpful for researchers, plant breeders, and conservationists worldwide, in addition to national focal points of the International Treaty.

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Watering troughs for strictly protected animal species

This solution focuses on addressing the challenge of surface water availability for wildlife in the mountain regions in Southwestern Serbia. Less surface water is available to wildlife due to climate change, jeopardizing the survival of numerous protected species such as the Griffon vulture, Cinereous vulture, Eastern imperial eagle, Ural owl, Brown bear and Common wolf. This project provides for a reliable, year-round water supply system through the construction of watering troughs and associated infrastructure near the existing supplementary feeding site for vultures, birds of prey and large carnivores. Advanced real time video surveillance has been made available to monitor usage and collect data on the movements and diversity of protected species at the supplementary feeding and watering site. The solution also includes an awareness-raising campaign for the local community on the importance of the habitat and species conservation.

2023

National Species Conservation Strategy for Türkiye

This National Species Conservation Strategy outlines the rich biodiversity of Türkiye, the key threats facing species, the existing national legislation and protected area network supporting conservation efforts, and the activities required to preserve species for future generations. The document presents the outcomes of an expert- led participatory process in developing this strategy. Furthermore, the governance and monitoring structure required to implement the strategy successfully is detailed. The full implementation of this strategy (2023-2032) is of great importance, which will result in positive outcomes for both the biodiversity and the people of Türkiye.

Restoring the wild population of southern river terrapins in Cambodia

The southern river terrapin (Batagur affinis) is one of the world’s most threatened chelonians. Sre Ambel River supports one of two remaining populations in the world. The species is threatened by poaching and habitat destruction from logging and sand mining. The project addressed these challenges through protection, post-release monitoring, education, and awareness-raising. The programme helped influence government policy to stop sand mining activities in the Sre Ambel River, and led to the establishment of a Fisheries Conservation and Management Zone.

Asiatic Black Bear Restoration in Jirisan National Park

Asiatic bears are an umbrella species at the top of the food chain of wild animals in Korea. Since its existence was confirmed in 2000, it became important to maintain the breed of the original stock by reinforcing the individuals in the species. The Asiatic black bear restoration project aims to restore an entire ecosystem by establishing a foundation on which humans and wild animals can coexist. In 2001, the National Institute of Environmental Research selected 4 young bears in captivity and released them into the wild in Jirisan on a test basis. KNPS received Asiatic black bears from the National Institute of Environmental Research and established the Asiatic Black Bear Management Team in its Jirisan South Office in 2002. In 2004, six individuals of the subspecies Ursus thibetanus ussuricus were imported from Russia and were released into Jirisan after a period of adaptation training. In 2005, four pairs of the same subspecies were sent by Pyongyang Jungang Zoo and released in the same manner.

Incentive-based hilsa fisheries management

The solution Incentive-based Hilsa Fisheries Management comprises a suite of activities directly and indirectly related to the recovery of hilsa fish stocks in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh government coupled seasonal fishing bans and the creation of hilsa sanctuaries with food and income-based social support schemes; the aim was to maximise fish stock recovery, and minimise the burden placed on fishers by limiting their access to this culturally and economically important fish. Stocks of hilsa and other species were reported to have increased, and hilsa catch weight to have roughly doubled, since the management plan’s inception. Communities are supported when fishing isn’t possible, particularly through a food-based scheme. This solution is published as part of the project Ecosystem-based Adaptation; strengthening the evidence and informing policy, coordinated by IIED, IUCN and UN Environment WCMC.

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.

IUCN SSC CPSG Conservation Planning’s PHVA Workshop Process

Complex issues in endangered species conservation planning require creative solutions.

Our Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) workshop process – used around the world since the early 1990s – has been designed with this creativity in mind.

A typical PHVA workshop features the scientific rigor of a population viability analysis (PVA) that helps wildlife biologists and managers more clearly understand the threats that influence populations. The PVA effort is combined with innovative methods for helping people organize and evaluate information across a broad range of disciplines and perspectives.

Through this integration, workshop participants create more effective actions for species conservation that also take into account the social, cultural, and economic needs of local people. When local stakeholders help create the action plan themselves, they are much more likely to implement it.

IUCN SSC CPSG Conservation Planning Specialist Group Webinar Series

CPSG runs webinars on topics related to species conservation planning to engage, support, and maintain contact with designers and facilitators of species conservation planning processes worldwide. The webinars are designed to help us to critically review good practice through presentations and discussions with practitioners from a range of conservation-related disciplines. In particular we are keen to encourage reflection on CPSG’s Species Conservation Planning Principles & Steps and their relevance to improving the status of species worldwide.

IUCN SSC CPSG A Facilitators Guide to Species Conservation Planning

IUCN SSC CPSG Species Planning Principles and Steps

Building global capacity to save biodiversity requires a shared understanding of what effective species conservation planning looks like. CPSG has developed its Species Conservation Planning Principles & Steps document with this in mind. In 7 fundamental principles and 8 practical steps, this document presents a succinct philosophy and framework for good planning based on CPSG’s over 40 years of experience in species conservation planning.

Guidelines for Species Conservation Planning

IUCN SSC CPSG Species Conservation Planning Online Training Course

This is an introductory course to CPSG’s species conservation planning processes and tools. Our target audiences are government wildlife agency staff, IUCN SSC Specialist Group members, and other conservation professionals working in zoos, aquariums, universities or field programs, responsible for the development of species conservation plans. By the end of the course, participants will be able to: apply the CPSG Species Conservation Planning Principles and Steps to the design and facilitation of species conservation planning processes; demonstrate the role of the facilitator in consensus-based decision making; and select facilitation tools to help groups solve problems, make decisions, and develop plans. Click here to find out more about the course and how to apply to an upcoming session.