Thanks to the IUCN’s SSC team, the group’s latest report covering all of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025 is now out!
To view the full report please follow this link.
2024-25 report
The SMSG team welcomes Ashlynn Stout for a summer internship focussing on the Green Status of Species! Ashlynn is based at the Global Center for Species Survival at Indianapolis Zoo. Hear from Ashlynn below:
GSS intern Ashlynn Stout
“I am taking part in a three-month summer internship with the Global Center for Species Survival at the Indianapolis Zoo. This opportunity was made available to me through Butler University, where I will be going into my third year, and its Office of Sustainability. Butler has a fantastic interdisciplinary program for liberal arts, and I major in environmental studies with a minor in ethics. Alongside school, I also volunteer with the Indiana White River Alliance’s River Assessment Field Team, where we test local river streams for water quality. I am passionate about the environment, sustainability, and now conservation because of this internship!
I am working as an intern under Justin Birkhoff, one of the conservation experts at the Global Center for Species Survival. My project is to conduct Green Status of Species assessments for two small mammals, the Salt-marsh Harvest Mouse and the Western European Hedgehog. At the start of my internship, I took the Red List and Green Status trainings through the IUCN to establish my understanding of the Green status process. I have been conducting literature reviews and research to fill out the online workbooks that take me through the Green Status assessments step by step.
One of the coolest parts of this experience is having meetings with conservation experts from all over the world, like the United Kingdom. Additionally, communicating with the species experts directly and asking them questions about their research has been a highlight. My career goals are broad, as I am hoping to do anything in the environmental field that relates to sustainability, conservation, and nature. I am making invaluable connections during this experience, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity!”
Western European Hedgehog
We are sad to announce that Abi has left the role of Programme Officer for the IUCN SSC Small Mammal Specialist Group.
Abi has been in post since May 2022 and was based at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
Abi is moving on to a full-time position as an Ecologist for a local authority in the UK, but we are delighted to say that she will be staying on as a member of the group and will continue to contribute to a couple of different projects.
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Some of Abi’s SMSG highlights:
- Helping to run the Sulawesi Small Mammal Workshop in 2023 and continuing work on some of its outputs, including the 76 small mammal Red List assessments and successful funding applications with some of the participants
- Leading the Eulipotyphla assessments for the European Red List Pulse project
- Global Red List work with species experts worldwide, as well as training at the Red List Unit in Cambridge
- Working with members and colleagues on publications about Sulawesi, porcupines, solenodons and more
- Our widely-shared “In defence of rodents” article!
- Getting to grips with the Green Status of Species
- Supporting members with proposals, write-ups and project promotion
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Abi attending a hedgehog conference at which she met up with SMSG member Brawin Kumar.
Abi taking part in the regional action planning workshop for small mammals of Sulawesi in 2023.
Abi providing IUCN Red Listing training
Abi says:
“Working as the Programme Officer for the SMSG has been brilliant and I will really miss being part of the team. I have especially enjoyed collaborating with and supporting the group’s members all over the world! I feel like I have gained some great insight into small mammal statuses, conservation and research, and hope to remain engaged in small mammal work in the future. I am grateful for the numerous opportunities I have had in this role, so extend a big thank you to the SMSG.”
Thank you for all of your work Abi, from all of us in the SMSG team!
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