International Union for the Conservation of Nature

About the IUCN

The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization.

About the Species Survival Commission

The IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) is a science-based network of more than 7,500 volunteer experts from almost every country of the world, all working together towards achieving the vision of, “A world that values and conserves present levels of biodiversity.”

Most members are deployed in more than 120 Specialist Groups, Red List Authorities and Task Forces. Some groups address conservation issues related to particular groups of plants, fungi or animals while others focus on topical issues, such as reintroduction of species into former habitats or wildlife health.

Members include: researchers government officials wildlife veterinarians zoo and botanical institute employees marine biologists protected area managers experts on plants, birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates. Working in close association with IUCN’s Global Species Programme, SSC’s major role is to provide information to IUCN on biodiversity conservation, the inherent value of species, their role in ecosystem health and functioning, the provision of ecosystem services, and their support to human livelihoods. This information is fed into The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

SSC members also provide scientific advice to conservation organisations, government agencies and other IUCN members, and support the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements.