The Reintroduction Specialist Group (RSG) is part of The World Conservation Union’s (IUCN) Species Survival Commission. It promotes the re-establishment or reintroduction of viable plant and animal populations. Denver Zoo supports RSG financially and through collaboration.
RSG has an extensive database on re-introduction projects occurring worldwide. RSG acts as a networking body for re-introduction practitioners, providing further links on species information and organizational contacts. This information was initially produced in a Re-introduction Practitioner’s Directory 1998 which provided species information and contact details for re-introduction projects, with over 200 animal species covered. Members of RSG are proposing producing a Re-introduction Projects Fact Sheet which will highlight re-introduction projects and provide general information on the projects. The fact sheet should cover more than 400 species.
In conjunction with Denver Zoological Foundation, RSG is preparing a book on re-introductions called Re-introduction Science. This book will look at the role of zoos in re-introductions, an overview of major taxonomic groups in relation to re-introduction projects, inter-disciplinary topics covering key re-introduction issues, and appendices with all relevant guidelines produced by the group. It will be distributed worldwide to key individuals and organizations, in both governmental and non-governmental organizations, with interests related to re-introductions. The aim of the book is to provide the wildlife conservation community, especially those working with re-introductions, an overview of latest trends and developments in the field of re-introduction science.
RSG also produces The Re-introduction NEWS, which is the only newsletter that is solely dedicated to re-introduction science. It is sent to over 600 addresses worldwide, including governmental and non-governmental organizations, and specifically to re-introduction practitioners, policy makers, researchers, and students. RSG has produced 25 issues of its newsletter since 1988. The newsletter is also available in PDF format from the RSG website: www.iucnsscrsg.org.
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