Mission statement

The mission of the IUCN SSC Reintroduction Specialist Group (RSG) is to combat the ongoing and massive loss of biodiversity by using reintroductions as a responsible tool for the management and restoration of biodiversity.

Main activities by Key Priority Area

(2016 & 2017)

Capacity building

L Capacity building

i. The first international course in the applica-tion of the IUCN Guidelines for Reintroductions and Other Conservation Translocations was run in the US in 2016. The same course was improved and then run in London, UK, for members of 15 countries. (KSR #18)

Communications

L Communication

i. Biannual IUCN Reintroduction Case Study Books. Book published in 2016, 2018 book in preparation. (KSR #28)

Conservation action

L Technical advice

i. Assistance to Governments and Practitioners in Planning and Delivering Best Practice Applications of Conservation Translocations. Recovery Plans and Procedures have been reviewed or developed for numerous species. (KSR #27)

Increasing diversity of SSC

L Policy advice

i. Global RSG Guidelines now available in eight languages, 2016/2017 Arabic and Chinese were added. (KSR #26)

Acknowledgements

We thank the Calgary Zoological Society and the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi for their continued support of the RSG. We also thank the Chengdu Panda Base of China for the recent translation of the IUCN Guidelines for Reintro-ductions and Other Conservation Translocations into Chinese. Finally, we thank the following individuals for their time in helping to develop the new international training course for the IUCN Guidelines: Doug Armstrong, Stefano Canessa, Sarah Converse, Jamie Copsey, John Ewen and Phil Seddon.

Targets for the quadrennium 2017-2020

Capacity building

Capacity building: run training courses on IUCN Guidelines for Reintroductions and Other Conservation Translocations on four continents by 2020.

Research activities: (1) IUCN Reintroduction Perspectives Book document will be submitted to the IUCN Editorial Board for sign-off by end of 2017 or early 2018; (2) encourage translation of the IUCN Guidelines for Reintroductions and Other Conservation Translocations into two more languages; (3) begin soliciting case studies for another Reintroduction Perspectives book, to be published in 2020.

Chair

Axel Moehrenschlager

Location/Affiliation

Director of Conservation & Science, Calgary Zoological Society, Canada

Number of members

93

IUCN SSC

Reintroduction

Specialist Group

Axel Moehrenschlager

2016-2017 Report

Communications

Scientific meetings: (1) host Reintroduction Conference in Chicago, US, 10 years after the first conference in 2008; (2) begin to work with individuals from next host country to begin preparations of a 2022 conference outside North America.

Conservation action

Technical advice: respond to global issues regarding conservation translocation policy or practice as they arise.

Projected impact for the quadrennium

2017-2020

Advancements of the Reintroduction Specialist Group in terms of conservation science, policy development, and action are integral to the mission of the IUCN generally and the Species Survival Commission specifically. Strategic alignment of increased guideline translations, increased science, hosting the second global conference, and upscaling training programs will result in more effective conservation translocations around the world. By 2020, responsible conservation translocations will continue to increase for more species, in more places, more of the time for benefits to nature and humanity. Such positive conservation actions, which help to restore species and ecosystems, will continue to increase global optimism that conservation is worthwhile, effective, and worthy of increased investments around the world.

Summary of activities (2016-2017)

Key Priority Area ratio: 4/7

Key Priority Areas addressed:

• Capacity building (1 activity)

• Communications (1 activity)

• Conservation action (1 activity)

• Policy (1 activity)

Main KSRs addressed: 18, 26, 27, 28KSR: Key Species Result

Staff releasing collared devil Photo: Tom Waugh

Greeting for the Amazonian manatees by inhabitants of the local communities Photo: RSG archives

Releasing manatee in the Cuieiras River Photo: RSG archives

Aplomado falcon begin readied for release Photo: RSG archives