IUCN SSC Cactus and Succulent Plants Specialist Group (CSSG) aims to promote the conservation of cactus and succulent plants across the globe. CSSG does so by guiding new research, acting as a source of information and education, hosting regular workshops, and more. CSSG is comprised of a global network of dedicated members, including highly knowledgeable plant-lovers, professional botanists, experts in plant taxonomy, ecology and propagation, experts in legislation, information management and conservation planning.
The international union for conservation of nature (IUCN)
Established in 1984, the CSSG belongs to a wide network of working groups managed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organizations. By harnessing the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,400 Member organizations and the input of some 17,000 experts, IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. The CSSG was jointly established by the IUCN’s Species Survival Commission (SSC) and the International Organization of Succulent Plant Study (IOS).
the garden and cssg
In mid-2017, CSSG partnered with Desert Botanical Garden, which acts as a host institution to aid us in leading, promoting, and furthering cactus and succulent conservation efforts worldwide. The same year, CSSG held a workshop at the Garden, with the shared goals of producing an authoritative list of cactus names to clean up the family’s complex taxonomy, to globally assess the risks facing the agave family and to form a partnership to help these and future aims come to fruition. Today, CSSG and the Garden work closely on their shared mission of protecting and educating the public on desert plant conservation.
dos and donts
CSSG does not: provide landscaping advice, sell desert plants or visit residential, commercial or private property to care for vegetation. While we do not provide landscaping advice, the Central Arizona Conservation Alliance has an Urban Desert Landscape Guide with information on various plants that are native and drought tolerant.
Meet the team
CO-CHAIR
Dr. Bárbara Goettsch
Independent Researcher
[email protected]
CO-CHAIR
Dr. Lucas Majure
Associate Curator, Florida Museum of Natural History; Keeper, University of Florida Herbarium (FLAS)
[email protected]
RED LIST AUTHORITY COORDINATOR
Raúl Puente, M.S.
Curator of Living Collections, Research Botanist
Desert Botanical Garden
[email protected]
IUCN CSSG Programme Officer
Ariana Ewell, B.S.
M.S. Student, Biology, Arizona State University
[email protected]
