National conservation strategies and biological diversity : a report to IUCN Conservation for Development Centre

The Sundarbans, the immense tidal mangrove forests of Bangladesh, are a mosaic of islands of different shapes and sizes, perennially washed by brackish water swirling in and around the endless and mind-boggling labyrinths of twisting water channels. This is the place where mainland Bangladesh meets the Bay of Bengal, making the area a globally unique ecological niche. This full colour publication has captured the Sundarbans in all their glory, and gives us a glimpse of its animals and plants, as well as its social and spiritual life.

A regional workshop was held to develop a shared understanding of the IUCN global Red List criteria, threat categories and the process of listing species according to the threat of extinction with an emphasis on lessons learned, key constraints and priority needs. The report presents country status reports from Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, plus conclusions and recommendations.

The spread of invasive alien species (IAS) is creating complex and far-reaching challenges that threaten both the natural biological riches of the earth and the well being of its citizens. Summarising key findings of the Phase I Synthesis Conference held in September 2000 in Cape Town, Republic of South Africa, this publication presents ten strategic responses that address how to mitigate the threats of IAS. Directed toward the decision-makers whose policies and practices are affecting the movement of species around the world, this strategy strives to provide a resource to increase awareness and provide policy advice.

Bats make up a quarter of all mammals, and almost half of the species can be considered threatened or near threatened at a global level. This publication offers the results of the first comprehensive review to identify the conservation priorities for the 834 species of Microchiroptera. Rather than give an account of each of these species, this volume aims to be used as a basis for the development of more local or regional action plans, or actions for particular groups of bat species, by taxon or by habitat.