About Us
Changing the future for endangered species
CPSG's global network of experts responds to the complex conservation challenges of our planet. Invited by governments, NGOs, zoos, aquariums, and other key stakeholders, we bring together the right people and the right science. Our collaborative approach to planning produces actionable management recommendations for species conservation
“The CPSG workshop process worked remarkably well and successfully navigated some very difficult issues, it really was the cornerstone of a very successful plan. There’s no doubt that we will be referring to the workshop report for years.”
-Carl Zimmerman, former National Park Service superintendent of Assateague Island
CPSG is a Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC) and is supported by the Global Conservation Network.
Since our founding in 1979, we have helped develop conservation plans for over 1,700 species, conducting more than 945 projects across 100+ countries.
We pioneered the One Plan Approach (OPA), an integrated approach to species conservation planning that bridges the gap between wild and captive population management across disciplines and value systems. Whether in situ or ex situ, together we develop a single comprehensive conservation plan for endangered species.
CPSG's time-tested, evidence-based approach connects species' conservation needs with the people who can take action. By empowering stakeholders through collaboration, CPSG workshops become a turning point for threatened species around the world.
Curious about how we do this? Check out Our Approach and What We Do.
The Critically Endangered Pickersgill's reed frog (Hyperolius pickersgilli), found only along the KwaZulu Natal coast of South Africa, was identified as a priority species during a 2008 CPSG/Amphibian Ark workshop. CPSG's involvement led to the creation of an ex situ breeding program, collecting 30 frogs and successfully breeding them in captivity. The success of this program has helped shift the government's perception of ex situ conservation. Today, CPSG works with the South African government to prioritize conservation efforts for all South African invertebrates.