With over 10,000 members, the IUCN Species Survival Commission's network plays a crucial role in halting species extinctions, reversing species declines, and driving species recovery efforts worldwide. For over 15 years, the SSC Leaders’ Meetings have been a key platform for strategy and collaboration.
From October 25th to 28th, 2024, over 300 experts gathered for the 5th IUCN SSC Leaders’ Meeting in Abu Dhabi. Conservation experts and leaders reaffirmed the key link between biodiversity and human well-being. The meeting concluded with a powerful declaration: “Saving Species Sustains Life”.
Saving Species Sustains Life
While climate and area-based measures remain essential to protect and restore nature, species-specific actions are a key component to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), and the Paris Agreement. Building upon the IUCN Global Species Action Plan, this declaration aims to inspire urgent, worldwide action, renewing IUCN’s commitment to empowering communities, governments, civil society, and businesses to prioritize species conservation.
Read the declaration here.
CPSG at the IUCN SSC Leaders’ Meeting
The Species Conservation Cycle is the core framework for SSC activities: Asses—Plan—Act. CPSG’s core activities are within the Planning component, providing conservation planning expertise to governments, IUCN Specialist Groups, zoos, aquariums, botanic gardens, and other wildlife organizations.
Our approach to planning is deeply rooted in a set of principles that emphasize sound science and the meaningful participation of key stakeholders. These principles are used to guide a series of planning steps that continue to evolve in response to the increasing complexity of today’s wildlife conservation challenges.
At this years’ meeting, CPSG led several sessions and participated in panels on species conservation planning. From exchanging experiences in both single-species and multi-species planning, to discussions on expanding Species Conservation Planning to more regions and the role of our Development Path in this effort.
Finally, we are proud to share and celebrate that our Chair, Dr. Onnie Byers, received the Sir Peter Scott Award for Conservation Merit at this year’s meeting! This award recognizes significant and long-term service to conservation. Onnie has been with CPSG since 1991 and has led the organization as its Chair since 2011. She has led and overseen countless Species Conservation Planning Workshops and supported conservationists worldwide for over 3 decades. She has been instrumental in developing CPSG's signature One Plan Approach, uniting ex situ and in situ conservation stakeholders behind integrated species conservation strategies. Under her leadership, CPSG has expanded globally, establishing Regional Resource Centers and training conservationists worldwide.
Learn more about Onnie here.
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Read the IUCN SSC press release here.
