SSC's 8,000 members are deployed in 104 Specialist Groups, Disciplinary Groups, Task Forces, and Working Groups based on their area of expertise. Most of the Groups
are taxon based, and are listed below according to major grouping:
plants, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates. Use
the drop-down menus below to find more information about the Specialist
Group you are interested in.
Each Specialist Group is led by a volunteer Chair, who is appointed by the SSC
Chair with recommendations from SSC's Steering Committee.
Following is a list of all SSC Specialist Groups, Disciplinary Groups, Task Forces, and Working Groups,
with contact information, and titles of recent publications (with links to those
available online). Links to group websites are also included where these are
available.
A list of all Specialist Group newsletters with contact details is also available on this site, as well
as a list of all SSC Action Plans with links to
Executive Summaries, where these are available.A web-based
series of Specialist Group
profiles has been initiated, and will continue to grow into
a more comprehensive highlight of the different activities of
various Specialist Groups.
Note: In order to reduce tha amount of spam, the "@" sign in the email addresses has been replaced with " (at) " - please remember to insert the "@" back into the address when you type the email address into your email.
Arabian Plant Specialist Group
Chair: Prof. Abdulaziz Abuzinada
Contact: Prof. Abdulaziz Abuzinada, Secretary General,
National Committee for Wildlife Conservation and Development
(NCWCD), PO Box 61681, Riyadh 11575, Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia; tel: +966 1 441 8700; fax: +966 1 441 0797; Email:
abuzinada (at) conserv-train.org.sa
Group Executive Officer: Dr Eugene Joubert, Project Senior Advisor, IUCN Saudi Arabia Project Office, PO Box 61681, c/o National Commission for Wildlife Conservation & Development, Riyadh, 11575, Saudi Arabia; tel: +966 1 441 1030, fax: +966 1 441 0797, Email: jouberte (at) shabakah.net.sa
Arctic Plant Specialist Group
Chair: Dr Stephen Talbot
Contact: Dr Stephen Talbot, Email: Stephen_Talbot (at) fws.gov
Carnivorous Plant Specialist Group
Chair: Chair appointment in progress
Contact: details to follow
Newsletter: Carnivorous Plants
Specialist Group Newsletter
China Plant Specialist Group
Chair: Dr Qin Hain-ing
Contact: details to follow; Email hainingqin (at) ibcas.ac.cn
Conifer Specialist Group
Chair: Dr Aljos Farjon
Contact: Dr Aljos Farjon, Scientist/taxonomist, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE, UK; tel: 44/208/3325402; fax: 44/208/3325278; Email: a.farjon (at) rbgkew.org.uk
Newsletter: FITZROYA Publication: Conifers: Status Survey and
Conservation Action Plan
Crop Wild Relative Specialist Group Co-Chairs: Dr Ehsan Dulloo and Dr Nigel Maxted
Contact: details to follow; Emails: edulloo (at) cgiar.org; nigel.maxted (at) dial.pipex.com
Cuban Plant Specialist Group
Chair: Dr Angela Leiva
Contact: Dr Angela Leiva, Director General, Jardín Botánico Nacional, La Habana, Cuba;
Email: leivajbn (at) ceniai.inf.cu
Cycad Specialist Group
Chair: Dr John Donaldson
Contact: Dr John Donaldson, Project Leader: Conservation Biology, National Botanical Institute,
Kristenbosch,
Private Bag X7,
Claremont,
Cape Town 7735,
South Africa;
tel: +27 21 799 8688, fax: +27 21 797 5834;
Email: donaldson (at) sanbi.org
Publication: Cycads: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan
Galapagos Plant Specialist Group
Chair: Dr Alan Tye
Contact: Dr Alan Tye, Head, Department of Botany, Charles Darwin Research Station , Isla
Santa Cruz, Galapagos, Ecuador. Postal address: CDRS, Casilla 17-01-3891, Quito,
Ecuador; tel/fax: +593 5 526146 / 526147 / 527013 / 527014; Email: atye (at)
fcdarwin.org.ec
Global
Tree Specialist Group Chair: Ms. Sara Oldfield
Contact: Ms. Sara Oldfield, Secretary General, Botanic Gardens Conservation International,
Descanso House,
199 Kew Road,
Richmond,
Surrey TW9 3BW,
United Kingdom; tel: +44 208 332 5953, fax: +44 208 332 5956;
Email: sara.oldfield (at) bgci.org
Indian Ocean Island Plant Specialist
Group
Chair: Mr Vincent Florens
Contact: Mr Vincent Florens, Dept of Biological Sciences,
University of Mauritius,
Réduit,
Mauritius;
Email: v.florens (at) uom.ac.mu
Indian Subcontinent Plant Specialist
Group
Chair: Dr Mohammed Ahmedullah
Contact: Dr Mohammed Ahmedullah, Centre
for Environmental Resources Assessment, P.O. Chander
Nagar C-89, Brij Vihar, Ghaziabad Dist. (Near Vivek
Vihar E. Delhi), UP 201011, India; tel: +91 11 436 1580;
fax: +91 11 436 1704; Email: m.ahmed (at) nic.in
Korean Plant Specialist Group
Chair: Dr Kim Yong-Shik
Contact: Dr Kim Yong-Shik, c/o School of Natural Resources,
College of Natural Resources, Yeungnam University,
Gyeongsan 712-749, Republic of KOREA; tel: +82 53 8102975;
fax: +82 53 8133812; Email: yongshik (at) yu.ac.kr
Newsletter: KPSG Newsletter
Lichen Specialist Group
Chair: Dr Christoph Scheidegger
Contact: Dr Christoph Scheidegger, Swiss Federal Institute
for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf 8903, Switzerland; tel: +41 1 739 2439; fax: +41 1 739 2215; Email: christoph.scheidegger (at) wsl.ch
Macaronesian Island Plant Specialist
Group
Chair: Dr Angel Bañares Baudet
Contact: Dr Angel Bañares Baudet, Head of Conservation,
Ministerio del Medio Ambiente,
Parque Nacional del Teide,
c/Emilio Calzavilla 5, 4°, Santa Cruz de Tenerife,
38002,
Islas Canarias, Spain; tel: +34 922 290 129,
fax: +34 922 244 788;
Email: abanares (at) oapn.mma.es
Madagascar Plant Specialist
Group Chair: Dr Charlotte Rajeriarison
Contact: Dr Charlotte Rajeriarison, 32 Cité des Professeurs, Fort-Duchesne,
Antananarivo 101, Madagascar;
tel: +261 20 222 68 83; Email: charlotte.rajeriarison (at) blueline.mg
North
American Plant Specialist Group
Chair: Ms Peggy Olwell
Contact: Ms Peggy Olwell, Senior Threatened and Endangered
Species Specialist ; Bureau of Land Management-Washington,
1849 C Street NW, LSB-204, Washington, D.C. 20240,
USA; tel: 1/202/4527764; fax: 1/202/4527702; Email:
Peggy_Olwell (at) blm.gov
Afrotheria
Specialist Group (including aardvarks, hyrax,
golden-moles, elephant-shrews and tenrecs) Chair: Dr Galen B. Rathbun
Contact: Dr Galen B. Rathbun, Fellow and Research Associate, California Academy of Sciences, Golden
Gate Park, San Francisco, California, c/o PO Box 202,
Cambria, CA 93428-0202, USA; tel: +1 805 927 3059, fax: +1 805 927 3059;
Email: grathbun (at) calacademy.org
Mailing list: ASG Listserv
Newsletter: Afrotherian Conservation
Publications: African Insectivora and
Elephant-Shrews: An Action Plan for their Conservation
Asian
Elephant Specialist Group
InterimCo-Chairs: Dr Simon Hedges and Dr Ajay Desai
Contact: Mr Simon Hedges, Wildlife Conservation Society
- Asia Program, c/o 1 Kearstwick Cottage, Kearstwick,
Kirby Lonsdale, Cumbria, LA6 2EB, UK; tel: +44 15242
73408; Email: simon.hedges (at) zen.co.uk; ajayadesai (at) hotmail.com
Newsletter: GAJAH
Publication: The Asian Elephant: An Action
Plan for its Conservation
Asian
Rhino Specialist Group
Interim Co-Chairs: Mr Nico van Strien (other Co-Chair appointment in progress)
Contact: Mr Nico J. van Strien,
SE Asia Coordinator,
International Rhino Foundation,
Julianaweg 2, Doorn
3941 DM,
Netherlands; tel: +31 343 420 445 / +62 21 560 9401, fax: +31 343 420 447 / +62 21 569 52984; email: strien (at) compuserve.com
Newsletter: Pachyderm, Asian Rhinos
Publications: Asian
Rhinos: An Action Plan for their Conservation
Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group
Interim Chair: Dr James Burton
Contact: details to follow; Email: james.burton (at) ed.ac.uk
Newsletter: Newsletter of the Asian Wild
Cattle Specialist Group
Australian & Melanesian Non-volant Mammal Specialist Group
Chair: Chair appointment in progress
Contact:
Bear Specialist Group
Co-Chairs: Dr David L. Garshelis and Dr Bruce McLellan
Contact: Dr David L. Garshelis, Wildlife Biologist,
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Grand
Rapids, 1201 East Highway 2, Grand Rapids, Minnesota
55744, USA; tel: +1 218 327 4146; fax: +1 218 999 7944; Email: dave.garshelis (at) dnr.state.mn.us; bruce.mclellan (at) gov.bc.ca
Newsletter: International Bear News
Publication: Bears: An Action Plan for their
Conservation
Bison
Specialist Group
Co-Chairs: Dr Cormack Gates (North America) and Dr Wanda Olech (Europe)
Contact: Dr C. Cormack Gates, Associate Professor,
Faculty of Environmental
Design, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N
1N4, Canada; tel: +1 403 278 5879; fax: +1 403
284 4399; Email: ccgates (at) nucleus.com
and
Dr Wanda Olech, Department of Animal Genetics, Warsaw Agricultural University, Ciszewskiego 8, Warsaw, 02-786, Poland; tel: +48 (22) 843 90 61 ext.115-56; fax: +48 (22) 853-0931; Email: olech (at) alpha.sggw.waw.pl
Regional Subgroups: North America
Publication: European Bison: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan
Hyaena
Specialist Group
Chair: Chair appointment in progress
Contact: details to follow: Email: gusm (at) sanparks.org
Newletter: IUCN/SSC Hyaena Specialist
Group Newsletter
Publication: Hyaenas: An Action Plan for their
Conservation
Lagomorph Specialist
Group (rabbits, pikas and hares)
Chair: Dr Andrew T. Smith
Contact: Dr Andrew T. Smith, School of Life Sciences,
Human Dimensions of Biology, Box 874501,
Arizona State University, Tempe AZ 85287-4501 USA;
tel: +1 480 965 4024; fax: +1 480 965 8330; Email: a.smith (at) asu.edu
Mailing list: LSG Listserv
Publication: Rabbits, Hares, and Pikas:
Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan
Small Carnivore Specialist Group
Chair: Dr Paulo Cavallini
Contact: details to follow; Email: cavallini (at) faunalia.it
South American
Camelid Specialist Group (guanacos and
vicuñas)
Chair: Mr Hernán Torres
Contact: Hernán Torres, Consultor en Estudios Ambientales,
Huelén N° 85. Oficina 301, Providencia-Santiago, Chile;
tel/fax: (562) 264 2148; Email: torresconsultor (at) yahoo.es
Newsletter: Cartas Noticias
Publication: South American Camelids:
An Action Plan for their Conservation
Wolf Specialist Group
Chair: Dr L David Mech
Contact: Dr L David Mech, The Gabbert Raptor Center,
c/o University of Minnesota, 1920 Fitch Ave, St. Paul,
Minnesota MN 55108, USA; +1 651 649 523; +1 651 649 5233;
Email: mechx002 (at) umn.edu
Newsletter: European Wolf
Newsletter
Heron Specialist
Group
Chair: Dr James A. Kushlan
Contacts: Dr James A. Kushlan, Smithsonian Institution,
PO Box 1930, Edgewater, MD 21037,
USA, tel: +1 410 263 4206; Email: Jkushlan (at) earthlink.net
Newsletter: Heron
Conservation Newsletter
Pelican Specialist Group
Chair: Dr Alain Crivelli
Contact: Dr Alain Crivelli, Station Biologique de
la Tour du Valat, Le Sambuc, 13200 Arles, France;
tel: 33 (4) 9097-2013, 33 (90) 980-659; fax: 33 (4)
9097-2019; Email: a.crivelli (at) tourduvalat.org
Pheasant Specialist Group
Co-Chairs: Dr Rahul Kaul and Dr Peter Garson
Contact: Dr Rahul Kaul, Director, Conservation, Wildlife Trust Of India, A-220, New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 065, India; tel: +91 11 26326025 ext 26, fax: +91 11 263260 27; Email: rahul (at) wti.org.in and rahulkaul101 (at) sify.com
Newsletter: Tragopan
Publication: Pheasants:
Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan 2000-2004
Rail Specialist Group Chair: Chair appointment in progress
Contact:
Mailing list: RSG Listserv
Stork, Ibis and Spoonbill Specialist Group
Co-Chairs: Dr Malcolm Coulter and Mr Wim Van Den Bossche
Contact: Dr Malcolm Coulter, Email: coultermc (at) aol.com or Mr Wim Van den Bossche, Email: wim.vandenbossche (at) natuurpunt.be
Newsletter: SIS Newsletter
Amphibian Specialist Group Co-Chairs: Dr Jim Collins and Dr Claude Gascon
Contact: details to follow; Email: jcollins (at) asu.edu and c.gascon (at) conservation.org
Iguana Specialist Group
Co-Chairs: Dr Allison Alberts and Mr Rick Hudson
Contact: Dr Allison Alberts, Center for Reproduction
of Endangered Species, Zoological Society of San Diego,
P.O. Box 120551, San Diego, CA 92112, USA; tel: +1 619 557 3955;
fax: +1 619 557 3959; Email: aalberts (at) sandiegozoo.org
and
Mr Rick Hudson, Conservation Biologist,
Fort Worth Zoo,
1989 Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth,
Texas 76110,
USA;
tel: +1 817 759 7177,
fax: +1 817 759 7501;
email: RHudson (at) fortworthzoo.org
Mailing list: ISG Listserv
Newsletter: Iguana Specialist Group Newsletter
Publication: West
Indian Iguanas: Status Survey and Conservation Action
Plan
Marine
Turtle Specialist Group
Co-Chairs: Dr. Nicolas J. Pilcher and Mr Roderic B. Mast
Contact: Dr. Nicolas J. Pilcher, 1-3A-7 The Peak, Lorong
Puncak 1, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia; tel/fax:
60 88 386136; fax: 60 88 387136; Email:pilcher (at) tm.net.my
and
Mr Roderick B. Mast,
Vice President,
Conservation International,
1919 M St. N.W.,
Suite 600,
Washington,
DC 20036,
USA; tel: +1 202 912 1216, +1 703 8343153; fax: +1 202 318 4448; email: r.mast (at) conservation.org
Newsletter: The Marine Turtle Newsletter
Coral Reef Fish Specialist
Group Chair: Dr Terry Donaldson
Contact: Dr Terry Donaldson, International Marinelife
Alliance, Marine Laboratory, University of Guam, 303
University Drive, UOG Station, Mangilao, GU 96923
USA; tel: +1 671 735 2175; fax: +1 671 734 6767;
Email: donaldsn (at) uog9.uog.edu
Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group
Chair: Dr Yvonne Sadovy
Contact: Dr Yvonne Sadovy, Associate Professor, Dept. Ecology and Biodiversity, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu lam Road, Hong Kong (POC), China; tel: +852 2299 0603, fax: +852 2517 6082; Email: yjsadovy (at) hku.hk
Newsletter: IUCN Specialist Group of Groupers and Wrasses
Salmon
Specialist Group
Co-Chairs: Dr Xanthippe Augerot and Dr Frederick Whoriskey
Contact: details to follow; Email: saugerot (at) wildsalmoncenter.org and asfres (at) nb.aibn.com
Sturgeon Specialist Group
Chair: Dr Mohammad Pourkazemi
Contact: Dr Mohammad Pourkazemi, Director, International
Sturgeon Research Institute (IERTO), P.O. Box 41635-3464,
Rasht, Iran; tel: +98 131 660 6503; fax: +98 131 660 6502;
Email: pkazemi_m (at) yahoo.com
IUCN/WI Freshwater Fish Specialist Group
Chair: Prof. Gordon McGregor Reid
Contact: Prof. Gordon McGregor Reid, Director & Chief Executive,
North of England Zoological Society,
Zoological Gardens,
Caughall Road,
Chester
CH2 1LH, UK; tel: +44 01244 65020, fax: +44 01244 380405; email: gordonr (at) chesterzoo.org
Sustainable
Use Specialist Group
Chair: Dr John Hutton
Contact: Ms Lizzie Wilder, Technical Assistant, Fauna
and Flora International, Great Eastern House, Tenison
Road, Cambridge, CB1 2TT, United Kingdom, tel: +44
1223 571 000; fax: +44 1223 461 481; Email: jon.hutton (at) unep-wcmc.org
Newsletter: Sustainable
Veterinary
Specialist Group
Co-Chairs: Dr Richard Kock and Dr William Karesh
Contact: Dr Richard A Kock, Field Conservation Consultancy,
Zoological Society of London, c/o OAU-IBAR, Pan African
Programme for the control of epizootic disease, P.O.
Box 30786, Nairobi,
Kenya; tel: +254 20 240 591 or 251 517 or 318 877;
fax: +254 20 226 565 and 332 046; Email: richard.kock (at) au-ibar.org and wkaresh (at) wcs.org
Mailing list: VSG Listserv
Newsletter: Newsletter of the IUCN/SSC
Veterinary Specialist Group Group profile
Declining
Pollination Task Force
Chair: Dr Peter Kevan
Contact: Peter G. Kevan, Dept. Environmental Biology,
University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada;
tel: 1/519 824-4120 x2479; Email: pkevan (at) uoguelph.ca
Climate Change Task Force
Chair: Chair appointment in progress
Contact:
Asian Vulture Task Force
Chair: Chair appointment in progress
Contact:
Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe Working Group
Chair: Prof. Luigi Boitani
Contact:
Prof. Luigi Boitani, Professor of Vertebrate Zoology,
Instituto di Zoologia,`Federico Rafaelle`,
University of Rome,
Viale Universita 32,
Dept. Animal and Human Biology,
Roma
00185,
Italy;
tel: +39 06 491 135;
Email: luigi.boitani (at) uniroma1.it
