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development of the Invasive Species indicator within the
Biodiversity Indicators Partnership. The ISSG is a partner in the
IUCN Biodiversity and Protected Area Management (BIOPAMA)
project, and the Island Biodiversity and Invasive Species
Database (IBIS) will be a key contribution to the planned
Regional Observatories. On 6 June 2013, the journal Nature
published an article on the ISSG’s list of “100 of the worst
invasive species”, co-authored by the ISSG Chair and several
ISSG members; the results reported in the article were used by
ISSG and IUCN to post a story on the IUCN website.
Dr Piero Genovesi
Chair, Invasive Species Specialist Group
Korean Plant Specialist Group
The goal of the Korean Plant Specialist Group (KPSG) is to be
an authoritative source of information on the conservation of
Korea’s plants, to play an influential and valued role in national
biodiversity planning and development, to develop national
capacity in plant conservation, to be a mechanism by which
IUCN SSC material and protocols may be introduced to the
Korean conservation community. We pursue all of the above
through active collaboration with relevant partners.
Over the last couple of years, activities of the KPSG have
been limited, as we deliberated over some important points for
The IUCN Red List process. Some KPSG members actively
participated in the National IUCN Red Listing of plant species in
Korea. IUCN Red List projects in Korea have mainly been
supported by the Korea National Arboretum and the National
Institute of Biological Resources under the Ministry of
Environment. The KPSG contributed to the Korean translation of
the IUCN SSC’s Reintroduction Guidelines, which will allow the
wide circulation of this publication to relevant Korean readers.
Dr Kim Yong-Shik
Chair, Korean Plant Specialist Group
Lagomorph Specialist Group
The mission of the Lagomorph Specialist Group (LSG) is to
conduct the best possible conservation science on lagomorphs
and translate this into active management initiatives. We also
aim to educate the public about the important roles played by
lagomorphs in ecosystems, as well as the precarious nature of
some of our highly threatened species.
We are a very diverse and widely distributed Specialist
Group, simply because lagomorphs are found throughout the
Abies koreana. © Kim Yong-Shik
Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis). © Janet Rachlow
world. Many of our activities are local, such as the pioneering
work conducted by the Pika Fan Club in Japan and the Riverine
Rabbit Programme (now broadened and expanded as the
Drylands Conservation Programme) in the Karoo of South
Africa. In Washington State an active reintroduction program of
the Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit has been highly successful.
Other LSG members are tackling issues of how climate change
affects lagomorph populations, and the role played by wildlife
diseases, many of which exert profound influence on
lagomorphs.
A key activity is currently the compilation of materials for an
overarching book: Lagomorphs: The Pikas, Rabbits and Hares
of the World to be published by Johns Hopkins University
Press. Accounts of species for this treatment will also inform
updated IUCN Red List assessments of all lagomorphs. A
precursor step for these activities is our attempt to revisit and
refresh the currently accepted systematics of the Lagomorpha.
New information, including molecular analyses, have informed
us of many potential changes to the traditional systematics of
the taxon. Many of our members are actively engaged in this
systematic work.
Andrew Smith
Chair, Lagomorph Specialist Group
Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe
The Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe (LCIE) is a Thematic
Specialist Group with an ambitious vision “To maintain and
restore, in coexistence with people, viable populations of large
carnivores as an integral part of ecosystems and landscapes
across Europe”. After its chair was confirmed at the end of
2012, we proceeded to integrate several new members
representing all European countries: the group now has 40
members. Our key objectives are to integrate a human-
Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe. © John Linnell
64 IUCN species Annual Report 2013