IUCN SSC SPECIES MONITORING SPECIALIST GROUP
Biodiversity data for conservation

Our Mission

The IUCN SSC Species Monitoring Specialist Group aims to enhance biodiversity conservation by improving the availability and use of data on species populations, their habitats and threats.

Goals, Objectives & Outputs

Goal
By 2028, decisions and actions on biodiversity conservation are informed by the improved collection, analysis, sharing and use of data on species populations, their habitats and threats, ultimately leading to the enhanced conservation of threatened species and their habitats.

Key indicators include:
  • Number of Red List assessments using trend data on populations, habitats and threats
  • Number of conservation management decisions made using data generated with support from the Group
  • Number of monitoring teams and networks adopting and employing data standards and collection methods and tools developed by the Group.


Objectives

Objective 1 (Tools and methods): By 2024, appropriate species monitoring tools and methods (including technological innovations) that help fill data gaps are developed, harmonized and shared.
Key indicators include:
  • Number of tools and methods available
  • Number of people using tools and methods developed by the Group
  • Number of scientific papers on tools and methods developed by the Group.
 
Objective 2 (Capacity): By 2024, capacity and resources for species monitoring are enhanced in IUCN SSC specialist groups and their partners, especially governments, civil society organizations and multilateral environment agreements as well as managers of important conservation sites (Key Biodiversity Areas, protected areas, Ramsar sites, World Heritage sites, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites).
Key indicators include:
  • Number of tools generated by the Group being used for species monitoring
  • Number of people trained by the Group in methods and tools
  • Number of specialist groups and their partners using tools and methods developed by the Group
  • Number of important conservation sites where tools and methods developed by the Group are being applied
  • Number of hits and downloads on the Group website.
 
Objective 3 (Data collection and use): By 2024, data on species populations, their habitats and threats have increased for at least [ten taxa] on at least three continents and are being used for Red List assessments and environmental decision-making.
Key indicators include:
  • Report available on key data gaps to be filled (taxonomic, geographic, temporal)
  • Number of IUCN SSC taxonomic specialist groups with data on the status and trends of species populations, their habitats and threats
  • Number of taxa with new data relevant to Red List assessments due to the Group’s work
  • Number of derived products (dashboards, tailored reports, etc.) generated through the Group’s work that help make data available to decision makers
  • Number of government reports to MEAs and project reports to donors using data generated with support from the Group
  • Number of decisions where data collected due to the Group’s work have been used.
 
Objective 4 (Databases and data sharing): By 2024, databases with species data are inter-linked, more easily and freely accessible than in 2017 and designed to meet user needs.
Key indicators include:
  • Number of databases with inter-connections
  • Number of databases with data openly and freely accessible
  • Number of databases built or adapted based on user needs assessments.
 
Objective 5 (Poorly-known taxa): By 2024, the Group’s work leads to increased monitoring of species of priority for conservation that were largely neglected in 2016 (such as certain taxa of smaller mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates, fungi and plants).
Key indicators include:
  • Number of monitoring plans developed for taxa previously unmonitored systematically (e.g. species listed as Data Deficient in the 2016 Red List)
  • Number of identified data gaps filled for less well known species.


Key Outputs

Tools and methods
  • Monitoring protocols and associated guidance materials of use for multiple species across multiple priority sites (such as protected areas, Key Biodiversity Areas, Ramsar, World Heritage and Alliance for Zero Extinction sites) are field-tested in projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
  • Standard species monitoring protocols and associated guidance materials are developed for at least 5-6 key taxa for tracking species populations, habitats, threats and conservation responses (following the pressure-state-response-benefit model and building on relevant existing work).
  • New innovative technology promoted to increase the ease of data collection and data flow (e.g. apps, drones, genetic techniques, etc.).
  • Peer reviewed scientific papers published on the Group’s analyses and tools and to promote the Group’s mission.
 
Capacity
  • A Group website is developed that focuses on information and lesson sharing, and offering a help-line service (at first for SSC members, later expanding to the broader conservation community)
  • A web-based decision-support tool for species monitoring (that guides people to the relevant databases, monitoring guidelines and protocols, statistical software or experts willing to offer help and support) increases access to data, tools and advice for users of information on species, their habitats and threats
  • A set of case studies (available online and in print) describing successful species monitoring programmes, tools and databases, demonstrate what is feasible and encourage wider adoption.
  • A series of webinars is held introducing taxonomic specialist groups and other interested parties (e.g. donors, NGOs, governments) to available data and tools, and to showcase best practice examples.
  • Training materials on species monitoring are developed (e.g. annotated lectures, practical session) and made available to interested institutions (e.g. universities, wildlife colleges) for integration into relevant curricula.
  • Key actors (e.g. taxonomic specialist group members, government staff, conservation project staff) are trained in key methods and tools for data collection and use, especially those relevant for Red List assessments, important conservation sites and MEA reporting (e.g. CBD, CMS, Ramsar, etc.).
  • Taxonomic specialist groups are supported to develop and implement monitoring plans, collect and share data and feed it into relevant databases - and to increase civil society engagement in data collection (“citizen science”) where appropriate.
  • Funds are raised (often jointly with Group members or partners) to support key work and key outputs (e.g. fields surveys to fill data gaps, development of tools and methods, production of guidance materials, training, etc.), as well as core functions of the Specialist Group.
 
Data collection and use
  • A prioritized list of existing species data gaps is produced (starting with those identified from Red List assessments such as Data Deficient species and key project portfolios); this will also be disseminated to universities and other research institutions to help plan future research.
  • A series of derived products (dashboards, tailored reports) are developed from species data to demonstrate their value to decision makers (e.g. an online, open access dashboard allowing the visualization of datasets relevant to Red List assessments and MEA reporting).
  • Monitoring data and research findings are used to produce policy products of use to decision-makers (starting with Red List and MEA-related work).
 
Databases and data sharing
  • An online, open access database of tools and databases is developed to facilitate easy access to existing methods and data relevant to species monitoring.
  • Quick wins are identified in harmonizing and linking key databases.
 
Poorly-known taxa
  • For a selection of poorly-known species, conservation plans and monitoring systems are developed – and in some cases their monitoring is either harmonized with more charismatic species or used as indicators of broader ecosystem health.
 
In 2021 the Group will review the results of its projects and assessments and produce a refined strategic plan and define taxonomic and geographic priorities.
       © PJ Stephenson
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© PJ Stephenson