REINTRODUCTION SAG
2001 Report
Chair:
Ben Beck, Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Primary Goals:
The Reintroduction SAG established two task forces made up of committee members who will develop an issue paper for their specific topic; they will present a summary at the AZA Annual Conference in 2002.
The two task forces are:
1. Action plan development
2. Data analysis
The Action plan taskforce is asked to identify a conceptual approach for our action plan. For example, should projects be generic or specific, applied or theoretical? Should special topic workshops be developed? Should there be more AZA sessions focused on reintroductions? What service can this SAG provide to AZA?
The Data analysis taskforce has two charges:
1. To assess the need to develop data entry conventions for an integrated (wild, release, and captive) database
2. To assess conceptual needs for integrated population software.Data entry in SPARKS is not designed to consider the special needs of integrated populations. A consistent approach to common data entry problems (maybe scope, demographic, genetic, behavioral) is valuable because software and analysis can be designed based on established conventions.
In addition, this taskforce will consider the deficiencies in current analytical software and the advantages to new strategies for a future analytical software.
REINTRODUCTION SAG
2002 Report
Chair:
Joanne Earnhardt, Lincoln Park Zoo
Primary Goals:
The function of the AZA Reintroduction Scientific Advisory Group (ReintroSAG) is to support the AZA membership and partners on issues concerning reintroductions as a conservation strategy through:
- Providing expertise and acting as a resource to disseminate accurate and up-to-date information concerning reintroductions
- Determining the key current and future issues to be addressed and questions to be answered
- Developing projects that can answer significant theoretical and applied questions for reintroduction practitioners- Reviewing and providing advice for new reintroduction proposals
- Developing partnerships with AZA and non-AZA groups interested in or involved with reintroductions
- Evaluating the success of existing reintroduction projects through objective anonymous peer review
- Analyzing progress in reintroduction technology and methodology.
Action Plan:
The Action Plan was finalize on July 8, 2003.
1. Develop a needs assessment document.
2. Conduct regular symposia at AZA meetings.
3. Create an environment for an active listserv.
4. Contact AZA programs such as SSP, TAG and CAPs to provide resources from the ReintroSAG.
5. Develop partnerships with IUCN/RSG and USFWS, SCB
Progress toward Goals
In 2002, the Reintroduction SAG established two task forces. The Action Plan task force developed a draft action plan that was submitted to the listserv for review, synthesized these comments and produced a final action plan. The Data analysis task force continues to work on the issue of data entry for reintroduced and integrated wild and captive populations using the SPARKS software.
A consistent approach to common data entry problems (maybe scope, demographic, genetic, behavioral) is valuable becausesoftware and analysis can be designed based on established conventions.
REINTRODUCTION SAG
2003 Report
Chair:
Joanne Earnhardt, Lincoln Park Zoo
Vice Chair:
Tandora Grant, San Diego Zoo
Primary Goals:
The function of the AZA Reintroduction Scientific Advisory Group (ReintroSAG) is to support the AZA membership and partners on issues concerning reintroductions as a conservation strategy through:
- Providing expertise and acting as a resource to disseminate accurate and up-to-date information concerning reintroductions
- Determining the key current and future issues to be addressed and questions to be answered
- Developing projects that can answer significant theoretical and applied questions for reintroduction practitioners- Reviewing and providing advice for new reintroduction proposals
- Developing partnerships with AZA and non-AZA groups interested in or involved with reintroductions- Evaluating the success of existing reintroduction projects through objective anonymous peer review
- Analyzing progress in reintroduction technology and methodology.
Action Plan:
The Action Plan was finalized on July 8, 2003 and as discussed at the annual meeting in September 2003 is adopted for the coming year.
1. Develop a needs assessment document.
2. Conduct regular symposia at AZA meetings.
3. Create an environment for an active listserv.
4. Contact AZA programs such as SSP, TAG and CAPs to provide resources from the ReintroSAG.
5. Develop partnerships with IUCN/RSG and USFWS, SCB.
Progress toward Goals
The ReintroSAG organized two symposia at the AZA Annual Conference in 2003. These sessions focused on the theoretical and applied science that is valuable to successful reintroductions. The individual papers presented overviews and new perspectives on components of reintroductions. A proposal for a symposia has been submitted for the AZA annual conference in 2004.
The reporting session at the AZA Annual Conference in 2003 updated the membership on 3 specific reintroduction programs; this format will be continued at the next reporting session.During 2003, we began a survey of AZA SSPs and PMPs to identify how many programs are involved in reintroduction projects. This will help the membership and the AZA Conservation and Science office understand the level of participation by these programs.
As identified in the action plan, the services of the expertise among the members of the ReintroSAG were formally offered to SSPs, TAGs, and CAPs.
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