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IUCN SSC Sirenia Specialist Group IUCN SSC Sirenia Specialist Group 2016-2017 Report Helene Marsh Benjamín Morales Co-Chairs Mission statement Communications Helene Marsh (1) (Dugongs) The mission of the Sirenia Specialist Group L Communication Benjamín Morales (2) (Manatees) (SSG) is to contribute to increase current knowl- i. Sirenews published twice in 2016 and 2017. edge on status and distribution of Order Sire- List of the SSG members finalised. January 8, Red List Authority Coordinator nia across the entire geographic range of its 2016, the US. Fish and Wildlife Service (“Ser- Alejandro Ortega-Argueta (3) distribution. To identify issues of concern and vice”) issued proposal to reclassify the West to provide recommendations in research and Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) from Location/Affiliation conservations actions to ensure their long-term Endangered to Threatened under the Endan- (1) James Cook Universaity, Townsville, Australia conservation. gered Species Act (Federal Register 2016). This (2) El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chetumal, action made impossible to take access to the Mexico Main activities by Key Priority Area information for the actualization. (KSR #28) (3) Departamento de Conservación de (2016 & 2017) Conservation action la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Barometer of life L Research activities ECOSUR, Mexico L Red List i. GEF Dugong and Seagrass Project fostered i. Red-listing of dugong and two manatee spe- research and management in seven range Number of members cies revised. James Cook University Australia states. (KSR #32) 107 arranging to house Daryl Domming’s Sirenian bibliography. (KSR #1) Acknowledgements Social networks Capacity building Dugong CMS Secretariat, Global Environment E-mail: L Capacity building Facility, Total, sea2shore Alliance, US Geological [email protected] Survey, African Aquatic Conservation Fund, i. Sirenian Workshop held in association with [email protected] Nicole Adimey, and James Powell. Biennial Meeting of Society for Marine Mammal- ogy in Halifax, Canada, in October 2017. (KSR #17) Targets for the quadrennium 2017-2020 ii. Dugong seagrass communities toolkit launched with associated workshops. Relisting Barometer of life of Dugong dugon, Trichechus inunguis and Red List: (1) West Indian manatee assessment Trichechus senegalensis finalised. (KSR #17) revised; (2) dugong regional assessment completed. Communications Communication: (1) Sirenews published regularly; (2) sirenian bibliography readily accessible. 15 years old orphan manatee rescued West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus), Vulnerable, and monitored at Chetumal Bay, Mexico Xclalak, Costa Sur de Quintana Roo Photo: Benjamín Morales Photo: Alfredo Barroso Projected impact for the quadrennium Summary of activities (2016-2017) 2017-2020 Key Priority Area ratio: 4/7 By the end of 2020, we aim to have achieved Key Priority Areas addressed: a substantial advance in reducing the risk • Barometer of life (1 activity) of extinction of: • Capacity building (2 activities) (1) West Indian and Amazonian manatees in • Communications (1 activity) Central and South American countries by in- creased community awareness of the risks of • Conservation action (1 activity) poaching and habitat loss through management Main KSRs addressed: 1, 17, 28, 32 tailored to specific countries or regions. KSR: Key Species Result (2) African manatees through information sharing and training of African researchers throughout the species’ range via a collabora- tive network for manatee field work and conservation in 18 African countries, providing basic field research equipment and assisting ECOSUR team, Xclalak, Costa Sur de Quintana Roo with the development of plans tailored to specific countries or regions. (3) Dugongs through the Global Environment Facility Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project, which focuses on conservation through sustainable community-led stewardship and socio-economic development in Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Timor Leste, Vanuatu and in-country actions in the remaining range states..
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