The SSC is the largest of the six Commissions of IUCN -The World Conservation Union. It serves as the main source of advice to the Union and its members on the technical aspects of species conservation. The SSC seeks to mobilise action by the world conservation community for species conservation, particularly those species threatened with extinction and those of importance for human welfare. The vision of the SSC is to create “ A world that values and conserves present levels of biodiversity ”. The goal of the SSC is that:

“ The extinction crisis and massive loss in biodiversity are universally adopted as a shared responsibility resulting in action to reduce this loss of biodiversity within species, among species, and of ecosystems .”

To help make the SSC vision a reality and achieve the Commission's overall goal, three objectives have been set under which all of its activities are grouped:

• Decisions and policies affecting biodiversity are influenced by sound interdisciplinary scientific information.
• Modes of production and consumption that promote the conservation of biodiversity are adopted by users of natural resources.
• Capacity is increased to provide timely, innovative and practical solutions to conservation priorities.

As deliverables, the SSC:

• Produces the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the Global Species Assessment, the Global Amphibian and Bird Assessments and the Global Mammal and Reptile Assessments
• Provides technical and scientific advice to governments, international environmental treaties and conservation organisations
• Publishes species Action Plans and policy guidelines

The Commission comprises a network of more than 7,000 experts from almost every country of the world, all working to slow the loss of biodiversity. Most of these members are deployed in more than 120 Specialist Groups and Task Forces, either addressing conservation issues related to particular groups of plants or animals, or focusing on topical issues such as the reintroduction of species into former habitats or the sustainable use of species.

The SSC is headed by a Chair, elected every four years by the IUCN World Conservation Congress. For the 2005-2008 intersessional period, the Commission will be headed by Dr Holly T. Dublin, a specialist in terrestrial African ecosystems who has a long and dedicated history of conservation work with WWF and IUCN, spanning from the field level to the international policy realm. Dr. Dublin is also the longstanding Chair of the SSC's African Elephant Specialist Group.

The Office of the Chair is kindly hosted by SANBI and housed at Kirstenbosch, forming part of a strengthening collaboration of international and national conservation organisations. This is the first SSC Chair's office to be located in Africa.

Link to the SSC website

Based at Kirstenbosch

Dr Holly T. Dublin: SSC Chair
Tel: +27 (0) 21 799 8764

Dr Amy Spriggs: Assistant to the Chair
Tel: +27 (0) 21 799 8762

General SSC office
Email: ssc-chair-office@hq.iucn.org