Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
Plant news from the Red Data List. Five challenges, borne
from this first regional Red Listing A joint project between the African
integration is certainly the
assumed high costs of Antbase.org is providing
experience, are outlined: Elephant Specialist Group and Re-introduc- including social insects Internet access to all known
southern Africa region Future investments: Capacity tion Specialist Group into inventories and moni-
toring programs. Although ant species
With more than 32,000 plant species estimated building—this first challenge The translocation of African elephants the cost of surveying ants
in an area of 6 million km2, the vast region of addresses the development (Loxodonta africana) is becoming an increasing- is no higher than for most
southern Africa in many ways remains shrouded and mentoring of local ly common wildlife management tool in Africa other taxa, including the large vertebrates and
in complexities. Its 10 countries differ signifi- expertise, particularly those especially where elephants come into conflict plants, the idea of having to identify a few
cantly not only in terms of their biophysical attached to public and with human populations. However, any such hundred species of ants may deter many conser-
aspects and plant assemblages, but also in their parastatal institutions, moves, whether they are eventually realized or vationists. In fact, a survey of a given tropical
capacity to monitor, evaluate and conserve their with a view to creating not, are currently planned in a technical vacu- area can yield over 200 species, and in less time
indigenous plant resources. The Southern solid foundations for um, with no formal guidelines or formulae for than a vertebrate survey. Thus, one goal is
African Botanical Diversity Network (SABONET) Red Listing and related 'best practice'. A re-introduction exercise is a to describe and document all the ants, develop-
is a regional programme with a bold mission concepts. complex and expensive undertaking. When ing, for example, interactive tools to help with
aimed at addressing just some of these botanical Building Bridges: Net- plans are made to move groupings of African identification.
complexities. In addition to producing national working — the Southern elephants, rather than simply individuals, the
Towards this goal, our initial targets are to firstly
plant checklists, one of African Plant Specialist level of complexity grows significantly. Seeing
enter existing specimen records, verifying with
SABONET’s key activities Group and others should this as an important emerging issue, requiring
the original collection and pinpointing where
is the production of Red actively engage with the technical assistance to inform practitioners (on
Recently published, a Data Lists for all these broader conservation either the giving or the receiving end), the
possible the collection locality. Secondly, provide
full access to as many species descriptions as
African Elephant Specialist Group Secretariat
10-country Red Data List for countries through a volun-
tary network, in addition
sector to further
strengthen cooperative contacted the Secretariat of the Re-introduction
possible. The Social Insect Specialist Group can
draw upon the Virtual Congo Ant Project, which
the.southern Africa region to providing training in
the application of Red List
networks and
promote and use often-
to Specialist Group for advice. In 1995, the
Guidelines for Re-introductions became official
provides access to a large amount of printed
material and specimen records for tropical
procedures. overlooked technical IUCN Policy and in 1998 these guidelines were
Africa. Thirdly, provide case-by-case identifica-
Three important events have recently taken place expertise within the Icura dunensis (Fabaceae) printed in five additional languages (French,
tion tools, including the necessary imagery to
in southern Africa. Firstly, the publication of a region. Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Arabic) and
speed up identifications. This also includes
10-country Red Data List for the region. Although Unifying yardsticks: Red Data List extensively distributed worldwide. Since that
collaborations with other initiatives, especially
the publication uses the 1994 Red List Categories Methodology—cost-effective, rapid means for time, the Re-introduction Specialist Group has
the Japanese Ant Image database and ANeT, the
and Criteria, it is notable that it was compiled monitoring the trends in population decline need been advocating the development of species or
South East Asian Ant Network, all geared
over a 30-month period with commendable inter- to be found, and indicators of the impact of taxon specific re-introduction guidelines.
towards providing "one-click shopping" for ants.
national, regional and national collaboration. threats on populations need to be developed. Through a successful process of engagement and
the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, In addition, three programs are currently under-
The second is the revival of the Southern African This is especially relevant to species such as way. The Red list project, coordinated by Sofia
Plant Specialist Group, a formal launch of which medicinal plants and timber species. Training is the two groups, have agreed to work on a joint
initiative to draft formal technical guidelines for Campiolo, aims to reassess the status of Red
is yet to take place. The third is the publication also required for the new IUCN Red List Listed ants. The Invasive Species Early Warning
of the Action Plan for southern African Botanical Categories and Criteria. re-introducing African elephants.
System for ants is being developed by Terry
Gardens. The vision of regional botanical garden Task-teaming: Botanical information - more Leo Niskanen, Programme Officer, African Elephant
McGlynn and will hopefully be presented at the
staff is that each southern African botanical gar- effective communication and consolidation of Specialist Group
International Union for the Study of Social
den will have an indigenous threatened plants existing botanical information need to take place Pritipal Soorae, Executive Officer, Re-introduction Insects quadrennial reunion in Sapporo, 2002.
programme in place by 2004. Technical support in a systematic, coordinated way. This applies to Specialist Group The goal is to provide the links between ongoing
is currently being sought from Botanic Gardens both the national and regional level. projects on invasive ant species which in most
Conservation International (BGCI), and is Demystifying impediments: the global taxonomic cases focus on a particular region. An important
aligned with the International Agenda for issue - the vast majority of the taxa appearing in step will be the ability to predict their global
6 Botanic Gardens in Conservation. the new Red Data List are taxonomically poorly potential distribution ranges and set up a 7
that described habitat mentioned that this wild species and food International economic processes and their Alerted by reports from
species was usually found near fast-flowing effects on the nation-state, and mis-matches Chinese colleagues to Dr.
China now considers the
streams (where this species should occur). Also,
all interviewees mentioned that this species was security between scales of use and scales of decision-
making. The process will assist IUCN and its
John Thorbjarnarson of
the Wildlife Conservation
alligator a national treasure
not that common, and no one had noticed any The countries with the richest and most diverse constituents to improve their understanding of Society in late 1999, the
changes in numbers of harlequins. levels of biodiversity also have the greatest levels the state of play of these discussions in Crocodile Specialist Group
The results of this pilot study indicate that local of human poverty and food insecurity. The use of Southern Africa. had raised the conservation priority level of the
Inuit elders and hunters possess considerable wild meat is part of this overall dilemma, and A full report is available from the IUCN SSC Chinese alligator at its 15th Working Meeting in
knowledge on species that are not key compo- solutions to overexploitation of biodiversity will Sustainable Use Specialist Group website Cuba February 2000 and solicited high level
nents of their traditional diet or culture. Follow-up require finding ways of addressing human needs (www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/susg/). Copies can assistance from IUCN. In April 2000, the Director
studies on this and other species are underway. and promoting a more equitable and ethical also be posted, faxed or emailed - please contact General of IUCN sent an official letter expressing
We suggest that traditional knowledge can be a sharing of global resources. In recognition of the the IUCN Sustainable Use Team concern about the status of the species to the
valuable companion to western scientific need to bring together the conservation and (susg@iucnus.org). SFA. An exchange of letters established positive
approaches in dealing with issues of distribution development communities as partners in prepar- cooperation between the State Forestry
The IUCN/SSC Sustainable Use Specialist Group
of species at risk, notably in regions such as the ing and implementing the actions needed to Administration and the Specialist Group and, in
(SUSG) comprises 17 decentralized networks of
Arctic where normal field survey techniques are address the issue effectively, and in response to October 2000, China presented a resolution for
Regional Sustainable Use Specialist Groups
logistically complex and expensive. an IUCN World Conservation Congress conservation of the Chinese alligator to the IUCN
which analyze and compare local use systems
Resolution, IUCN, FAO and TRAFFIC organized a World Conservation Congress in Amman. This
This article is a summary of a Canadian Wildlife through case studies, regional reviews, work-
workshop convened from 17-20 September in resolution called for cooperative efforts between
Service Technical Report 363, available from the shops, and symposia. The regional groups func-
Yaoundé, Cameroon. The workshop was attend- Chinese authorities and international conserva-
author. Thanks to the Chicago Zoological Society tion under the auspices of the Species Survival
ed by 47 participants representing 18 organiza- tion interests and led to the planning of a series
and the World Wildlife Fund for financial sup- Commission (SSC).
tions covering the conservation, development, of workshops held in China in August 2001.
port of this project. The Sustainable Use Team acts as the secretariat
private and government sectors and opened by In the preparatory phase, Specialist Group repre-
Mark Mallory, Duck Specialist Group member Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment for the Sustainable Use Specialist Group and is
sentatives made site visits to several locations
and Forests of Cameroon. Participants agreed based in the IUCN Multilateral Office in
where alligators either occurred or were pro-
Washington D.C.
International Orchid that activities should focus on three areas: a
holistic approach including improved inter-sec- David Beamont, Sustainable Use Team
posed for re-introduction. Evaluations of these
sites were offered to the Chinese authorities. In
toral cooperation; improved management of wild
Conservation Congress meat resources; and effective incentives for sus-
tainable use of natural resources. Under each of
the second phase in Hefei, group representatives
and representatives from Chinese provincial and
The First International Orchid Conservation national governments discussed a draft conser-
these themes, specific activities were defined and vation plan for the alligator and suggestions
Congress held in Perth, Australia, was marked where possible, implementation plans were
with the realization that orchids are flagship were offered to enhance this plan. In the final
developed. The meeting communiqué is avail- phase the reports were submitted to a wider
species. If we cannot save orchids, what hope is able on the IUCN website at:
there for the rest of the Plant Kingdom? More audience of Chinese experts and Specialist Group
than 130 scientists and growers from 21 coun- http://www.iucn.org/info_and_news/press/wild- members for evaluation and support. The
tries convened from September 24-28 to broaden meat3.html Crocodile Specialist Group also conducted a
the orchid conservation network around the Team Species
10 world and to collaborate on major conservation 11