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In 2013, the Specialist Group has been rigorously working
on The IUCN Red List Index as a plant indicator in
Macaronesia together with mainland Spain. 2013 has been an
important year for the promotion of knowledge on selected
species (actually recognized as threatened species) of the
Canary Islands, by monitoring their population dynamics on
the seven islands.
Ángel Bañares Baudet
Chair, Macaronesian Island Plants Specialist Group
Madagascar Plant Specialist Group (MPSG)
In 2013, Prof. Vololoniaina Jeannoda was elected as the new
chair of the MPSG, in replacement of Prof. Charlotte
Rajeriarison, who retired from a task that she has carried out
since the creation of the group in 2002. Prof. Jeannoda has
also now been appointed as a member of the SSC steering
committee, and attended the steering committee meeting in
Mexico in November 2013. The goals of the MPSG are the
same as those of the SSC. One of them is to guarantee the
rational use of natural resources in a fair and sustainable way.
In order to achieve that goal, the MPSG is also acting as a
member of the CITES Flora Scientific Authority and is strongly
involved in national CITES activities.
In 2013, the MPSG has contributed to the inscription of a
number of succulents, as well as all Madagascar endemic
rosewood and ebony wood species, in CITES appendix II. The
MPSG chair and two other members of the group, one of
which is the chair of the Madagascar Flora Scientific Authority
for CITES, were part of the Madagascar delegation to CITES
COP 16 in Bangkok, and successfully presented the relevant
documents to the CITES general assembly. Following that, 30
MPSG members benefited from five days training on Non
Detrimental Finding (NDF – which was funded and carried out
by the CITES General Secretariat in Switzerland). Lastly, in
keeping with the Madagascar CITES action plan, NDF
fieldwork was carried out on various species of succulents and
precious woods by other members of the MPSG, which also
Pachypodium rosulatum var. gracilius. © Aro Vonjy Ramarosandratana
led to the identification of The IUCN Red List conservation
status for these species.
Vololoniaina Jeannoda
Chair, Madagascar Plant Specialist Group
Mangrove Specialist Group (MSG)
The continual worldwide destruction of mangroves resulting
from urban development, aquaculture and agriculture is the
main impetus for the establishment of this Specialist Group.
While most species of mangroves have relatively large
geographic ranges, some species and habitats are subject to
dire threats of extinction. The formation of a Mangrove
Specialist Group was initially discussed at the July 2012 MMM3
Meeting on Mangrove Ecology in Sri Lanka. Following various
exchanges, the MSG was finally established in early 2013 with a
current membership of 47, mostly from South Asia, East Asia
and 17 from Europe (South America and Africa are underrepresented).
The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) provides
administrative support to the MSG.
The first MSG meeting held on 15 October 2013 was
attended by 18 MSG members. Among the topics presented
were; aligning the MSG work with the IUCN 2013–2016
programme; defining the roles and responsibilities of MSG
members, and outlining the current state of global projects and
research. Subsequent discussions came up with actions to be
taken by the Group; flag mangrove-related species for The
IUCN Red List; link with other ecologists within other Specialist
Groups; contact current mangrove projects such as Mangroves
for the Future, and to establish synergies and avoid duplication.
An open symposium the next day featured 12 papers on
Mangrove Ecology, Climate Change, Blue Carbon, Payment
Ecosystem Services, and Mangrove Rehabilitation and
Restoration with 29 participants from various international
organizations. A visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew ended
the day. A symposium entitled ‘Turning the Tide on Mangroves’
(plus a two-day workshop for MSG members) is scheduled for
6–7 November 2014, at the Zoological Society of London.
Dr Jurgenne Primavera and Professor Joe Lee
Co-chairs, Mangrove Specialist Group
MSG Group Photo (15 October 2013).
66 IUCN species Annual Report 2013