The document outlines the goals and status of Mexico's Priority Species Programme, which aims to generate and synthesize information on species at risk of extinction or of special economic and ecological value to inform conservation policies. Over 1,500 species pages have been created to date, with a focus on improving knowledge of priority species and developing monitoring indicators. Challenges include increasing information exchange and impact on conservation, while opportunities exist to improve platforms and outputs and adopt interoperability standards.

1. Species Programme
Access to knowledge about Mexican biodiversity
National Commission for the Knowlege and Use of Biodiversity
(CONABIO)
Patricia Koleff, Director of Analysis and Priorities
Bárbara Ayala, Coordinator of Priority Species Programme

2. 1. Brief history
- Need to generate and
synthesize information from
species at risk of extinction
and of special economic and
ecological value
- Get to know the
conservation status of
populations and inform
policy-makers about its
management.

3. Database on native species
Initial goals (2000-2010)
• Compile taxonomic, biological information, and
primary literature.
• NOM-059-Semarnat-2001 “Mexican red list”.
• Provide species information through "fact sheets"
available on CONABIO’s website.

4. Database Report

5. Species Pages
45 projects on the study of native species at risk of extinction (ca. $700,000 US)
Investment in human resource development, capacity building and knowledge generation
Information to evaluate the conservation status of species and their
status in the Red list (NOM-059-Semarnat-2001)
Taxonomy
Distribution
Natural history
Threats
Commercial use
Conservation status
Map of current and potential distribution
Pictures
Bibliography
Contents are provided and reviewed by experts

6. 2. 2011 Goals and current status
Combine world-class knowledge, standards and tools to guide
policies and inform action on the ground to conserve biodiversity.
A. Develop clear criteria to identify information needs and gaps.
B. Generate better knowledge about our priority species.
C. Rely on good indicators to evaluate species conservation status.
D. Promote and support monitoring efforts species populations.
E. ID threats and conservation measures that can be taken to help
drive action.
F. Inform policy-makers, conservation actions and the general
public.

7. 3. Current status with respect to your goals
• 1,560 species pages (1,369 species at risk of
extinction)
• Linking information with digital cartography (species
occurrences and potential distribution)
- Generate better knowledge about priority species
(700 new species pages in 2012)
- ID good indicators to evaluate species conservation
status

8. Species at risk of extinction
Hongos 41/46
Invertebrados 29/49
Anfibios 86/194
Peces 106/204
Mamíferos 266/291
Aves 91/392
Reptiles 343/443
Plantas 407/987
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
Fichas publicadas al 2010: 1,369 / Taxones en riesgo de extinción NOM-2010: 2,606

9. Link existing
collaborative projects
NeotropicalBirds
Collaboration tools
• Monitoring Programs
aVerAves www.aVerAves.org
• Citizen participation network :
Mexican Birds Knowledge Network
Avesmx.net www.avesmx.conabio.gob.mx
NeotropicalBirds
www.neotropical.birds.cornell.edu
CONABIO Cornell Lab of
Ornithology
UBIPRO/
UNAM

10. Alouatta palliata
Historic
Actual

11. Distribution

12. Priority species website
http://www.biodiversidad.gob.mx/especies/espPrioritaria.html

15. 4. Organizational details
Priority Species Program
• 2011 Species Program Team (5 people)
• Better and more complete knowledge of Mexican
biota.
Especially for the most vulnerable species that require
detailed information for conservation and
management.
And of priority species that maximize efforts and
optimize conservation strategies in Mexico.

16. Knowledge generation:
distribution, threats, conservation measures
Basic information for species Detail information for
with no data key species
• Start a fellows program • Develop conservation
• Specific projects for not well indicators
known groups (e.g. fungi) • Promote and support
• Literature reviews monitoring efforts of species
populations.
• ID threats
• ID conservation actions that
can be taken

17. Priority Species
• Incorporate population and monitoring data to
assess recovery programs and species conservation
status.
Golden Eagle Monitoring
Species information system, online collaboration platform.
New page on the website of species CONABIO
Information exchange with other platforms around the world.
Encyclopedia of Life, EOL.

18. Providing information to EOL
Published pages at CONABIO Additional pages in
progress
Priority Wild relatives Forestry Exotic invasive Priority Exotic
species species species + invasive
CITES species
Mammals 292 13 1
Birds 194 6 140
Reptiles 370 5 4
Amphibians 90 3 10
Fishes 111 9 162
Invertebrates 34 17 85
Fungi 42 1
Plants 428 19 70 63 90 100
Corals (CITES) 141
Total 1,561 19 70 116 371 363
1,561 species pages sent to EOL
700 planned to be developed in 2012 (371 in progress)

19. 5. Challenges
• Information exchange with other initiatives
• Avoid duplicating efforts
• Lack of Interoperability standards and documentation
• Quality control
• Use of information and increase impact on
conservation and management (e.g. NPA, species
recovery programs, restoration programs, etc.)
• Implement a fellows program

20. 6. Special opportunities
• Improve platforms to capture information
• Improving outputs (application development)
• Other products (e.g. species ID guides, invasive
species, wild relatives).
• Interoperability standards (Plinian Core standards
/TDWG) more structured data greater capacity to
search
• BHL, digital libraries