IUCN SSC Wild Parrot Specialist Group - Guidelines 

By assessing conservation concerns for wild species and populations, prioritizing planning needs, initiating, enabling and facilitating appropriate and inclusive conservation planning considering all available conservation tools to encourage and support conservation action in the Assess-Plan-Act cycle at all levels of participation, the Wild Parrot Specialist Group provides a cohesive structure to address the many needs of parrots in peril. The need for a global, diverse and broad taxon-based specialist group has never been more urgent. 

Mission statement 

The Wild Parrot Specialist Group (WPaSG), united under the umbrella of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC), is uniquely situated to detect, monitor and manage, advise and inform decision-makers, funders, scientific communities and interested members of the public, communities and other stakeholders about the perils impacting this taxonomic group world-wide. 

Aims 

The WPaSG complements and supports efforts across other Specialist Groups and supports the process of evaluating conservation status for the IUCN Red List. The WPaSG brings together diverse expertise aiming to conserving parrots related biodiversity on three levels (Habitat-diversity, Species-diversity and Genetic-diversity).

Goals of the Wild Parrot Specialist Group 

The WPaSG brings together expertise and experience across a range of disciplines and backgrounds to tackle the most pressing problems facing the parrots in the wild with the goal of preventing the extinction and deterioration of conservation status of parrots around the world. We facilitate a coordinated response to the complex and multi-faceted challenges that face parrots through creating synergy between the various institutions and subject matter experts working to protect parrot populations in the wild. 

The WPaSG subscribes to the One Plan Approach to conservation, defined by the IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group as “the development of management strategies and conservation actions by all responsible parties for all populations of a species, whether inside or outside their natural range”. The “Wild” within the title of the WPaSG reflects the focus of the group on the conservation of parrots in the wild. 

The WPaSG acknowledges the feasibility and benefits in using ex-situ and in-situ management as conservation tools for research, assurance populations and conservation translocations. in preserving genetic material, holding insurance populations of rare and threatened species, and as a source of parrots for reintroduction and reinforcements of wild populations.

Key Conservation Issues facing Psittaciformes 

Wildlife Trade 

Invasive Species 

Human Incursion / Habitat loss and degradation 

Vulnerability to Climate Change 

Disease and epidemics 

Leadership Structure 

2 Co-Chairs: 

Dr. Patricia J. Latas and Jose Antonio Díaz Luque

The Co-chairs of the Wild Parrot Specialist Group: 

1.  Steer the group to accomplish its purpose; 

2. Coordinate with the Program Officer of the Red List authority; 

3. Guide the smooth functioning of discussions with and between the Sub-groups and coordinate functions of the Wild Parrot Specialist Group; 

4. Work for the achievement of the aims of the group;

5. Along with the subgroup leadership, make decisions on the organization of the group and organize the vote for officers; 

6. Supervise the proper functionality and use of all communication means within the Wild Parrot Specialist Group and the extranet where documents and materials may be stored; 

7. Represent the Wild Parrot Specialist Group at external meetings, after consultation with the other leadership; 

8. Agree to directly address individuals with whom conflict or disagreement arises and seek to promote collaborative and compassionate discussion, drawing on the advice of the membership and the leadership; 

9. Record all decisions and outcomes of meetings to be posted for all Wild Parrot Specialist Group members to read, except when there is a need for confidentiality.

10. Along with the other leadership, make decisions on the initiation and formation of Emergency Response Teams. 

11. Approve various working groups and emergency response teams as needed. 

Subgroup Leadership 

Leadership in WPaSG includes Vice-chairs for each geographical group and Coordinators for each thematic group. 

1. Serve as the principal governing body of the WPaSG, making routine decisions and when needed, further reaching decisions after consultation with the WPaSG members; 

2.  Advises and assists the Co-chairs; 

3. Assists the group to accomplish its mission;

4. Works for the achievement of the aims of the group; 

5. Assists the Co-chairs in performing administrative tasks; 

6. Assists the Co-chairs to organize the vote for the officers; 

7. Assists the Co-chairs to directly address individuals with whom conflict or disagreement arises and seek to promote collaborative and compassionate discussion; 

8. Responds to communications within 3-5 days, engages in current issues and needs within the WPaSG, and assists the Co-chairs in making decisions and the daily running of the WPaSG; 

9. Coordinates, facilitates, and monitors Sub-group activities and collaborations;

10. Participates in the selection of new members; 

11. Develops and coordinates various working groups and emergency response teams as needed, self-governing and answerable to the steering team. 

12. Proposes changes to these Guidelines when needed. However, changes that may affect the mission, aims, structure, roles and responsibilities, and elections of the WPaSG must be made in consultation with the WPaSG members. 

Geographical Vice-chairs 

Geographical Vice-chairs will develop a list of priority species to be considered for red-listing. Each subgroup will collect and process information informing the Key Conservation Issues facing the Psittaciformes in their geographical region:

• Africa 

• Asia 

• Australasia/Oceania 

• Neotropical 

1. Have a good working knowledge of parrots in their geographical area of expertise and can actively contribute to the Wild Parrot Specialist Group and collaborations between members; 

2.  Provide technical advice to the Co-chairs and other leadership; 

3.  Be actively informed and contribute to discussions; 

4. Act at all times in the best interest of the Wild Parrot Specialist Group, IUCN, SSC, and parrot research and conservation; 

5.  Agree to directly address individuals with whom conflict or disagreement arises and seek to promote collaborative and compassionate discussion; 

6.  Abide by the guidelines here stipulated. 

Thematic Subgroup Coordinators

Thematic Group Coordinators will develop and will focus on key conservation threats, remedies and recovery and collaborate with geographical subgroups:

• Trade 

• Health and Welfare 

• Research Liaison with Parrot Researchers Group 

• Government Relations/Legislation/Policy 

• Education and Community Engagement 

• Ex-Situ Conservation Liaison 

Core Members 

1. Have a good working knowledge of parrots in their area of expertise and can actively 

2. contribute to the Wild Parrot Specialist Group and collaborations between members; 

3. Provide technical advice to the Co-chairs and leadership; 

4. Be actively informed and contribute to discussions; 

5. Act at all times in the best interest of the Wild Parrot Specialist Group, IUCN, SSC, and parrot research and conservation; 

6. Agree to directly address individuals with whom conflict or disagreement arises and seek to promote collaborative and compassionate discussion; 

7. Abide by the guidelines here stipulated. 

New Memberships are granted by and at the discretion of theCo-Chairs, Vice-chairs and Coordinators given that the applicant will be one of good standing and compliance, following the procedures described below. Membership may be refused, denied or removed to anyone not adhering to the Wild Parrot Specialist Group guidelines. Confidentiality and discretion are required on all topics of discussion.

Elections and replacements 

1. Co-chairs will serve for 3 years, for a total of 2 consecutive terms and then one term off; at which time they may submit their name to serve again. Replacement or removal will occur via SSC consultation as outlined in the Succession Guidelines. 

2. Vice-chairs and Coordinators may serve terms as delineated by the subgroup membership with elections called at the subgroups’ discretion. WPaSG members may nominate themselves or others as candidates to leadership.All positions may serve two consecutive terms and after waiting out an election cycle, may run again for a position; 

3. If there is a resignation at any time, the leadership with consultation of the Co-chairs may appoint “acting” or “interim” members who will serve until the next election. 

Members code of conduct 

1. All members are expected to be respectful to other members and external parties, regardless of personal opinion or experience. We encourage respectful discourse at all times, including comments that may disagree with other members of our group; courtesy toward all participants in all discussions is required. The decision to delete posts from the Wild Parrot Specialist Group on Google lies with the administrators of that Group. Use of explicit language, disinformation, harassment, spamming, flaming or doxxing, posts and comments seeking to insult, elicit harm, spread unsupported or unproven claims or that are considered defamatory or derogatory against the IUCN, SSC, Wild Parrot Specialist Group, other Specialists Groups, its members or any other party will be removed. 

2. The Co-chairs have the right to terminate the membership of any member based on failure to comply with these rules following careful review, and a chance for the member to restore relationships and change behavior. 

Communication 

The Wild Parrot Specialist Group on Google will facilitate conversations via email in a forum-type format. Conversations in this group are private and can be read only by registered members visiting the homepage, or received per e-mail if members prefer. https://groups.google.com/g/wild-parrot-specialist-group/members

General inquiry about the WPaSG may be directed to: wpasg.info@gmail.com