The IUCN Species Survival Commission is a special commission operated by the World Conservation Union. The commission's primary goal is the preservation of species worldwide.[1]
The SSC operates a multitude of specialist groups and task forces under its wing. Each group is specifically inclined towards the conservation of a specific taxon or organismal grouping. Each specialist group usually has its own members, agenda, official website and publishes its own scientific journal or newsletter.
Each specialist groups are arranged together by taxon.
As its name implies, the Crocodile Specialist Group focuses on the conservation of the world's crocodilian species.[2] The group has produced one major publication on crocodilian conservation, a book entitled Crocodiles: An Action Plan for Their Conservation.[3]
Iguana Specialist Group
Marine Turtle Specialist Group
The Marine Turtle Specialist Group, or MTSG, is one of more than 100 specialist groups and task forces that make up the IUCNSpecies Survival Commission. The MTSG's mission is, "to develop and support strategies, set priorities, and provide tools that promote and guide the conservation of marine turtles, and their ecological roles and habitats". The MTSG was founded in 1966, when Sir Peter Scott asked Dr. Archie Carr to chair the group and appoint group members. The group is now comprised of over 250 volunteer members in more than 80 countries and is considered to be the global authority on sea turtles. [2]
The MTSG also publishes the Marine Turtle Newsletter, a scientific journal specializing in marine turtle studies.[4]
Turtle Survival Alliance
The Turtle Survival Alliance is a partner organization and essentially the IUCN SSC's Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles Specialist Group.[1]
The Groupers and Wrasses Species Survival Commission Specialist Group focuses on conservation efforts for species of fish in the families Serranidae and Labridae. Many members of these families are heavily exploited as food and sport fishes.[5]
Salmonid Specialist Group
The Salmonid Specialist Group specializes in the conservation of species of fish under the order Salmoniformes.
^ Thorbjarnarson, J.; H. Messel, F.W. King & J.P. Ross, editors (1992). Crocodiles: An Action Plan for Their Conservation. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN, 132 pp.. ISBN 2-8317-0060-4.
