1oC3Dbk

Deer Specialist Group
The mission of the Deer Specialist Group is to contribute to
biodiversity conservation through the improvement of the
welfare and sustainability of deer populations around the world.
One of our main tasks for the next period will be to assess
the 71 deer species as part of the Global Mammal
Assessment. We started the quadrennium (2013–2016) by
appointing our membership and organizing the assessment
activities. Two new Red List Authorities have been selected
and integrated into the DSG; the RLA for new world species is
Dr Eveline Zanetti and the RLA for the old world species is
Dr Sarah Brook. We are seeking additional membership
expertise to assess all deer species. The last assessment was
completed in 2008 and we are certain new analysis will shift
the status of some species.
Also in 2013, we attended the International Mammal
Congress in Belfast, Ireland, and met with SSC staff and other
SG chairs to standardize our selection criteria, species
reassessment, discuss taxonomy issues, and establish
timelines for our work. We will follow the taxonomy outlined in
the cervid chapter of the Handbook of Mammals of the World.
In consultation with our RLAs and SSC staff, we have
decided to shorten the Red List assessment process; we will
not reassess species whose status has changed significantly
in the past five years. We will reassess species who meet the
following criteria: a) species that DSG members believe have
shown dramatic changes in distribution and numbers over the
past five years; b) species where increased knowledge of their
populations and distributions might lead to changes in IUCN
Red List status; or c) new species as a result of revised
taxonomy.
We have selected Dr Patricia Black de Decima as editor of
the DSG Newsletter. Our annual newsletter contains articles,
abstracts from regional workshops, and news submitted by
our members, it is available here.
Other ongoing activities include the regular update of our
web page; output of deer related materials to the general
public, and the distribution of relevant articles published by
our members. Susana Gonzlez took part in a TV documentary
in Uruguay ‘The Last Pampas Deer’, which can be seen here.
Susana González and William McShea
Co-chairs, Deer Specialist Group
Pampas Deer. © Susana González
Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer). © Diver/Loon Specialist Group
Diver/Loon Specialist Group
Our aim is to foster the conservation of the genus Gavia
(Divers/Loons) and their habitats around the Northern
Hemisphere where they occur. Our primary objective is to
facilitate communication among loon researchers worldwide,
as well as with the active, established volunteer conservation
organizations in the states or provinces where divers/loons
occur throughout the world. The Diver/Loon Specialist Group
currently has a membership of 40 professionals, and more than
2,000 citizen loon enthusiasts. Several affiliated self-sustaining
volunteer loon organizations in North America and Europe (USA
14 states, Canada and Scandinavia, Iceland, UK) are engaged
in various activities, such as loon population and breeding
success monitoring, public education and fundraising. Each
affiliate distributes an annual report on their activities.
Preservation and restoration of breeding loon populations
in a large number of lakes where expanding human
development (housing, recreation) takes place is a high
priority. Public education is an important part of our
conservation effort. Research activities include banding of
individual birds; following their movements; determining site
fidelity, longevity and determination of body burden of toxic
substances in loon populations. Scientific workshops are the
major medium of communication among members and
affiliates of the D/L Specialist Group. Two scientific workshops
were held in 2013; a one day workshop in New Hampshire,
USA, and a two day workshop in Finland.
Joseph J. Kerekes
Chair, IUCN SSC Diver/Loon Specialist Group
Dragonfly Specialist Group
Our aim is to foster the conservation of dragonflies (Odonata)
and their habitats globally; by assessing their threat status
according to The IUCN Red List; education of non-specialists
(field guides, workshops, publications etc.) and using
dragonflies as a flagship species for monitoring water quality.
The group currently consists of 44 members from 28
countries.
Currently, 2,752 dragonflies are listed on The IUCN Red
List, which is nearly half of all known species. In 2013, over 150
new or updated dragonfly assessments were published, while
21 species are flagged as ‘out-dated’. Most Australian and
North American dragonflies are not on The IUCN Red List, but
a comprehensive database and all information for assessing
the global threat status is available. We are currently searching
Specialist Groups, Task Forces and Red List Authorities
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