For the group of species studied, the overall extinction trend slowed after planning and was reversed within 15 years. While the observed change was undoubtedly driven by the sustained efforts of many dedicated individuals, working on the ground in 23 countries and over a 30-year period, the study points to CPSG planning events as a valuable turning point in these efforts, supporting stakeholders to transition rapidly to more effective ways of working together.

The article, Science-based, stakeholder-inclusive and participatory conservation planning helps reverse the decline of threatened species, is published in Biological Conservation.

“An integrative, multi-stakeholder approach to species conservation planning, which includes population viability analyses and both in situ and ex situ management consideration, could improve outcomes for some of the most challenging cases”

The Canadian Species Initiative is working to bring these globally recognized and proven processes to species recovery in Canada, while serving CPSG’s Regional Resource Centre here in Canada.

The Canadian Species Initiative: Bringing Global Tools to Species Recovery in Canada, Starting with Snakes! (Excerpt from The Canadian Herpetologist Vol. 10, No. 1 Fall 2020)

The Plight of the Loggerhead Shrike: A One-Plan Approach to Saving an Iconic Grassland Bird in North America. Animal Keeper’s Forum 46, 153-157.

CSI participated in a conservation planning workshop for the rusty patched bumble bee, one of North America’s most threatened pollinators. The workshop brought together a wide range of global bee conservation experts to evaluate and recommend conservation breeding and other ex situ strategies to complement existing recovery strategies in the wild for this endangered species. The report highlights the critical importance of efforts to develop conservation breeding techniques for threatened bumble bees. The full workshop report is available below.

Smith, T.A., J.P. Strange, E.C. Evans, B.M. Sadd, J.C. Steiner, J.M. Mola and K. Traylor-Holzer. (Eds.). 2020. Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, Bombus affinis, Ex Situ Assessment and Planning Workshop: Final Report. IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group, Apple Valley, MN, USA.

Species Conservation Planning Principles & Steps (CPSG 2020)

Get to know us: Conservation Planning Specialist Group

IUCN Crossroads Blog: Progressive Zoos and Aquariums (January 13, 2021)

IUCN Crossroads Blog: Can conservation translocations turn desperation to inspiration? (February 2, 2021)

Further Reading