CBSG's ten regional networks are incredible - they volunteer their time and expertise to implement CBSG tools and processes for species conservation. Their expertise is vast and their commitment to conservation inspiring. This week we received news from several of our regional network teams about recent developments with their work. 

CBSG Southern Africa
Following many months of engagement with the statutory authorities CapeNature and the South African Department of Environmental Affairs (Oceans & Coasts), the 'Risk Assessment for the Conservation Translocation of African Penguins' prepared by the African Association of Zoos and Aquaria (PAAZAB) and IUCN SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group has been completed and accepted. This is a very exciting development for all the stakeholders concerned. It gives the 'green light' for the PAAZAB African Preservation Programme (APP) to proceed with putting together specific proposals for the conservation translocation of captive bred African Penguins; potentially to reinforce the existing and catastrophically declining wild population, and also to investigate techniques for the establishment of new breeding colonies within their existing range.

CBSG Australasia
Along with other collaborators, CBSG Australasia has been working hard to complete the IUCN Guidelines for Wildlife Disease Risk Analysis and IUCN-OIE Manual of Procedures for Wildlife Disease Risk Analysis. Both publications are now available both in print and on the CBSG website (click here for the Guidelines and here for the Manual). Four IUCN SSC specialist groups contributed to, and supported the development of, these publications: CBSG, the Reintroduction Specialist Group (RSG), the Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) and the Wildlife Health Specialist Group (WHSG). 

CBSG Brasil
CBSG Brasil announced the publication of "Building a Species Conservation Strategy for the brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba clamitans) in Argentina in the context of yellow fever outbreaks." The paper, written by the Brown Howler Conservation Team and published in Tropical Conservation Science, explains the process and results of the Brown Howler Monkey PVA workshop, which took place in March 2013. CBSG and CBSG Brasil facilitated the workshop and created models using both Vortex and Outbreak. The paper can be found at this link:
http://tropicalconservationscience.mongabay.com/content/v7/TCS-2014-Vol7(1)_26-34_Agostini.pdf?PDF=2014Vol7(1)_26-34_Agostini

CBSG Mesoamerica
CBSG Mesoamerica authored a paper about the Jaguar PVA which was accepted to the Neotropical Felines Conference. CBSG Mesoamerica will attend the conference and represent CBSG there.

Thanks to our regional network teams for all that you do. Keep up the amazing work!

Photos:

African Penguin near Boulders Beach - Paul Mannix

Alouatta Guariba - Paulo B. Chaves