Establishment of the IUCN Species Survival Commission PENGUIN SPECIALIST GROUP

CHIARADIA, ANDRE; SIMEONE, ALEJANDRO; WIENECKE, BARBARA; GARCÍA BORBOROGLU, PABLO; ELLIS, SUSAN; TRATHAN, PHIL; BOERSMA, DEE; SEDDON, PHIL; WALLER, LAUREN

Cape Town

Congreso; 9th International Penguin Congress; 2016

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) has approved the establishment of the Penguin Specialist Group (PSG). This group arose because a core of enthusiastic experts from around the world, active in penguin conservation and research, were keen to contribute their ecological and biological knowledge to further the conservation of all 18 species. The PSG synthesizes information on penguin biology to inform conservation actions. It also seeks to address international conservation issues (e.g., the illegal traffic of penguins, oil pollution, or negative interaction with fisheries in international waters). It will assist the Red List Authority (Birdlife) in revising Red Listing of penguins. Simon Stuart, Chair of the SSC, appointed Dee Boersma and Pablo Borboroglu (Popi) to serve as Co-Chairs of the group. The Global Penguin Society (GPS) fostered the initiative for PSG by engaging individuals and organizations to promote its establishment. The GPS is providing initial financial support and is seeking other support other national and international organisations involved in penguin conservation, research and/or advocacy. Globally, thousands of species are on the edge of extinction and threats to biodiversity are rapidly escalating. Penguins are amongst the most endangered taxa with over ½ of penguin species on the IUCN red list, making the PSG very timely. The group hopes to foster stronger global collaboration from all sectors of society in the conservation of penguins.