Reduction and fragmentation of wildlife populations and habitats are occurring at a rapid and accelerating rate. The results for an increasing number of taxa are small and isolated populations that are at risk of extinction. For such populations, more intensive management becomes necessary for their survival and recovery. To an ever-increasing extent, this intensive management will include, but not be limited to, habitat management and restoration, intensified information gathering, and possibly captive breeding.
The problems for wildlife are so enormous that it is vital to apply the limited resources available for intensive management as efficiently and effectively as possible. CBSG has developed a series of innovative tools, models and workshop processes for risk and status assessment and management/co-ordination of threatened species (Seal 1993; Ellis & Seal 1996). These tools have evolved and been used in a series of nearly 180 workshops over the past 8 years, with nearly 7,000 participants.
The Conservation Assessment and Management Plan (CAMP) Process process itself is intensive and interactive and is unique in its ability to facilitate objective and systematic prioritization of research and management actions needed for species
conservation, both in situ and ex situ, if appropriate. Workshop participants develop the assessments of risks and formulate recommendations for action using a Microsoft Access-based data entry program (Williams & Byers, 1999) to develop a Taxon Data Sheet that serves as a compendium of the data on the status of population and its habitat in the wild as well as recommendations for intensive conservation action. These Taxon Data Sheets provide documentation of reasoning behind recommendations, as well as details of other species-pertinent information. The database provides a systematic method of recording data and providing for reassessments as the status of species change and as new information becomes available.
The CAMP process is one of prioritization, assembling 10 to 40 experts (e.g., wildlife managers, SSC Specialist Group members, representatives of the academic community or private sector, researchers and captive managers) to evaluate threat status of all taxa in a broad taxonomic group (e.g., penguins), geographical region or country (e.g., Costa Rica). Conway (1995) stated that "The CAMP's proven heuristic value and constant refinement and expansion have made it one of the most imaginative and productive organizing forces for species conservation today."
Information gathering is focused on the most recent available data, estimates, informed guesses and identification of needed knowledge that allow:
1. assignment to IUCN Category of Threat;
2. broad-based management recommendations;
3. specific conservation-oriented research recommendations useful to generate the knowledge needed to develop more comprehensive management and recovery programs in situ and/or ex situ.
Workshop participants make all decisions and recommendations. CBSG's role is to facilitate organized discussion and, if necessary, provide access to expert advice. Since the program's inception in 1991, more than 70 CAMP processes have been undertaken. The CAMP continues to evolve as a result of dynamic discussions at each workshop and from input received from wildlife experts worldwide. Many of the changes in format and assessments reflect CBSG's interest in responding to the concerns and needs expressed by its constituents. To date, more than 50 taxon-based CAMPs have been conducted, including boid and pythonid snakes, varanid and iguanid lizards, Falconiformes, Galliformes, hornbills, penguins, small carnivores, felids, equids, tapirs, rhinos, antelope and wild cattle. Although the majority of CAMPs have focused on vertebrates, the process has been successfully applied to invertebrates and plants (e.g., partula snails, endemic invertebrates of St. Helena Island, endemic orchids of Costa Rica, Indian medicinal plants).
The Review Process for CAMPs
The results of the initial CAMP workshops are reviewed: 1) by distribution of a preliminary draft to workshop participants who volunteer to serve as preliminary editors; 2) by distribution to all workshop participants as well as a broader audience which includes wildlife managers and regional zoo associations. CAMP workshops are part of a continuing and evolving process of developing conservation and recovery plans for the taxa involved. The CAMP review process allows extraction of information from experts worldwide. In many cases, follow-up workshops are required to consider particular issues in greater depth or on a regional basis. Moreover, some form of follow-up will always be necessary to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the recommendations resulting from the workshop.
The CAMP process is unique in its ability to prioritize intensive management action for species conservation, providing a framework for intensive management in the wild and in captivity, if applicable to the conservation of the species. CAMP documents can be used as guidelines by national and regional wildlife agencies as well as regional captive breeding programs as they develop their own action plans. It is the intent that the CAMP process will ultimately contribute to the wise worldwide use of limited resources for species conservation.
References
CONWAY, W. 1995. Wild and zoo animal interactive management and habitat conservation. Biodiversity and Conservation 4: 573-594.
ELLIS, S. & SEAL, U.S. 1996. Conservation Assessment and Management Plan (CAMP) Process Reference Manual. Apple Valley, MN: IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group.
SEAL, U.S. 1993. Population and Habitat Viability Assessment Reference Manual. Apple Valley, MN: IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group.
WILLIAMS, J. & BYERS, O. 1999. Conservation Assessment and Management Plan (CAMP) Taxon Data Sheet Management Information System: User's Manual. Apple Valley, MN: IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group.
