IUCN SSC Specialist Group

2018 Report

Viola Clausnitzer Geert de Knijf

Co-Chairs Mission statement completing the remaining assessments of ca. Viola Clausnitzer (1) The mission of the IUCN SSC Dragonfly 1,000 globally; (5) gather data in Geert de Knijf (2) Specialist Group (DSG) is to increase the knowl- North America through OdonataCentral to feed edge on , ecology and biogeography into global Red List assessments. Red List Authority Coordinator of all (damselflies and dragonflies). Research activities: (1) gain more informa- Viola Clausnitzer (1) Based on this information, we are currently tion on Lestes umbrinus to assist conserva- working on the final steps towards assessing all tion planning; (2) research and scientific publi- Location/Affiliation species globally against the criteria of The IUCN cation on dragonflies in Tatamá National Park and its buffer area in Colombian western (1) Senckenberg Research Institute, Red List of Threatened Species, while outdated Andes; (3) contribute to the process of delin- Goerlitz, Germany assessments are updated. In parallel, we help eating Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) for fresh- (2) Inbo, Belgium conservationists and countries to protect threatened species. water conservation; (4) delineate KBAs for freshwater conservation in Lake Tanganyika Number of members Projected impact for the 2017-2020 Catchment, Africa; (5) develop an Atlas of the 54 quadrennium dragonflies of Bhutan/the Eastern Himalaya; (6) use the atlas to develop a Dragonfly Biotic Social networks By the end of 2020, we want to see all Odonata Index for the Eastern Himalaya; (7) develop a assessed on the IUCN Red List of Threat- Facebook: field guide for the odonates in Tatamá region; ened Species. We hope to be able to help IUCN Dragonfly Specialist Group (8) conduct research on impacts of climate more countries with their National Red Lists Website: change on mountainous dragonflies in the and their endeavours with Biodiversity Action https://www.iucn.org/ssc-groups/inverte- Andes, Colombia; (9) delineate KBAs for fresh- Plans. Hopefully, more conservation projects brates/dragonfly water conservation in Lake Malawi Catchment, and capacity building, not only for threatened Africa; (10) create an open online database for species, can be established. Another goal is Odonata; (11) contribute to producing a KBA to establish dragonflies as “guardians of the monitoring plan; (12) contribute to KBA assess- watershed”, enabling a better understanding of ment for Greece. biodiversity, a healthy environment and human Plan well-being. Planning: (1) produce a Species Conservation Targets for the 2017-2020 quadrennium Action Plan for Ceriagrion citrinum; (2) produce a Species Conservation Action Plan for Assess Notogomphus maathaiae; (3) produce a Species Red List: (1) global dragonfly assessment Conservation Action Plan for Platycyhpa (6,300 species); (2) assessments focusing on amboniensis. African and South American dragonflies added Policy: (1) develop a Dragonfly Biotic Index to National Red Lists; (3) contribute to the for Monitoring and Prioritising Restoration Barometer of Life by completing the assess- Sites within the Congo-Nile Crest Watershed, ments of ca. 500 dragonflies in Southeast Rwanda; (2) develop a Dragonfly Biotic Index Asia; (4) contribute to the Barometer of Life by for Monitoring and Prioritising Restoration Sites within Europe. Male Porpax risi, Least Concern Photo: Jens Kipping

Act Activities and results 2018 iii. Publication of ‘The status and distribu- tion of dragonflies and damselflies in the Lake Conservation actions: (1) implement conserva- Assess tion action for Lestes umbrinus; (2) implement Victoria Basin’ in Sayer, C.A., Máiz-Tomé, L. and Red List conservation actions for endemic dragonflies in Darwall, W.R.T. (2018). Freshwater biodiversity i. Assessments and necessary re-assessments the Cape Region. in the Lake Victoria Basin: Guidance for species of the Odonata from Europe, northern Asia, Technical advice: publish a book on New conservation, site protection, climate resilience Australia, Hawaii, North America, and Africa Zealand Odonata species. and sustainable livelihoods. Cambridge, UK and are completed. Nearly 1,000 assessments (968) Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. (KSR #22) Network have been submitted in 2018. Assessments of iv. Publication on delineation of KBAs for fresh- Agreements: develop a scientific research Odonata from South America and Southeast water conservation in Lake Tanganyika Catch- collaboration to generate conservation informa- Asia are ongoing. (KSR #1) ment, Africa drafted and ready for publication. tion for the Sarawak Forestry Corporation. ii. South Africa National Red List completed (KSR #22) Capacity building: (1) capacity building and in 2018, but ongoing assessments for South v. Field guide for the odonates in Tatamá region training of Red List assessors worldwide America. (KSR #2) submitted for publication. (KSR #28, 43) (several people trained in workshops on various Research activities vi. Report on delineation of KBAs for freshwater continents); (2) continued focus on capacity i. Report on Lestes umbrinus to assist its conservation in Lake Malawi Catchment, Africa building and training in Africa and South conservation planning completed and sent to about to be published. (KSR #22) America for Red Listing and on-the-ground the International Dragonfly Foundation (the vii. Open online databases created for Africa conservation work; (3) increase the number of donor). (KSR #12) Red List trainers in the DSG. at http://addo.adu.org.za/ and for the entire ii. Published report on dragonflies in Tatamá Western hemisphere at https://www.odonata- Proposal development and funding: increase National Park and its buffer area in Colombian central.org/. (KSR #1, 2, 12, 32, 43) funding for scientific and research projects for western Andes at https://www.researchgate. viii. We participated in an IUCN workshop dragonflies globally. net/profile/Cornelio_Bota-Sierra. (KSR #11, 12) on KBA monitoring in Malaga, Spain. We are Scientific meetings: plan a meeting of the Euro- working on the protocol and conducted a prac- pean DSG members at the European Congress tical application in the field in June, with all the on Odonatology, https://ecoo2016.wordpress. participants. (KSR #22) com/. ix. We are delivering data on Odonata for the Synergy: expand the network of odonatologists delineation of KBAs in Greece. (KSR #22) and freshwater conservationists in Africa as members of the DSG. Capacity building workshop at Rwanda in 2018 Photo: Viola Clausnitzer

Male Evening Hawker Anaciaeschna triangulifera, Least Concern Photo: Jens Kipping Male Red-veined Dropwing Trithemis arteriosa, Least Concern Photo: Jens Kipping

Plan Network Summary of activities 2018

Planning Agreements Species Conservation Cycle ratio: 4/5 i. Proposal of Species Conservation Action Plan i. MOU on scientific research collaboration in Assess 11 ||||||||||| for Ceriagrion citrinum drafted. (KSR #12, 15, 20) the Sarawak Forestry Corporation drafted and Plan 3 ||| ii. Proposal of Species Conservation Action Plan signed. (KSR #18, 21, 26) Act 3 ||| for Notogomphus maathaiae submitted. Capacity building Network 5 ||||| (KSR #12, 15, 20) i. Twenty-five people trained at a workshop Main Key Species Results (KSR) addressed: 1, 2, iii. National Geographic Society proposal in Rwanda, held March-April 2018; most were 5, 11, 12, 15, 18, 20, 21, 22, 26, 28, 32, 33, submitted by Scion Trust, Kenya. (KSR #12, 15, students and some will end up assisting with 20, 34, 39) national Red Listing. (KSR #5, 28) 34, 35, 39, 43 Act ii. Two training workshops planned for 2019 in Resolutions addressed: WCC 2016 Res 016, WCC-2016-Res-041 Conservation actions South America. (KSR #28) KSR: Key Species Result i. Workshop on conservation action for Lestes iii. Training workshop planned in Rwanda. umbrinus was held (including local teachers to (KSR #28) help raise awareness through education) and Synergy there are ongoing conservation activities at the i. Ongoing network communication. (KSR #28) community level. (KSR #33, 34, 35, 43) ii. Ongoing conservation work on endemic Acknowledgements dragonflies in the Cape Region and publications We thank the National Geographic Society, about the impact of conservation actions. Rufford Small Grants, Chicago Zoological Society (KSR #22) (CBOT grants), Eppley Foundation, Dian Fossey Technical advice Fund International, and NABU for supporting i. Priority issues and conservation actions to conservation and assessment work on dragon- address them published in a book on the drag- flies worldwide. Our gratitude also to Marcelo onflies of New Zealand. (KSR #28) Tognelli for his constant advice on mapping and Red Listing issues to the SOL (Sociedad Odona- tológica Latinoamericana) and to IUCN’s Fresh- water and Red List Units for their tireless help in Red List assessments.