The South Asian Invertebrate Specialist Group SAsISG is hosted by Zoo Outreach Organisation.
To solve taxonomic issues of invertebrate species- To improve the skills in taxonomy and species identification of priority taxa of conservation concern
- To identify threatened taxa, endemic species at national and regional level through species assessments
- To direct studies on surveys, monitoring, improve knowledge on life-cycles for better implementation of Action Plans
- To identify important invertebrate sites and unique habitats in South Asia and to promote species conservation
- To identify actual and potential threats for invertebrates changes of attitudes, government policies, or support
- To announce and intervene on acute symptoms of invertebrate loss and to promote remedies
- To prepare information and Action Plans for land and freshwater invertebrates on priority basis; publish and deliver to relevant target audiences
- To prepare taxon-based action plans on selected high priority species groups; publish and deliver to relevant target audiences
Sub-networks of IUCN SSC South Asian Invertebrate Specialist Group
Invertebrate Pollinator Network of South Asia (IPNSA)
Pollinating invertebrates is one of the most significant of the functional groups since 1) the survival of a multitude of other organisms depends on a working food chain which a decline in pollinating invertebrates surely will affect and 2) reports from many countries in the world indicate that pollinating invertebrates are in serious decline. In South Asia, there are limited studies; therefore little information has been forthcoming.
Aquatic (Freshwater) Invertebrate Conservation Network of South Asia
Freshwater and freshwater biodiversity constitute a valuable natural resource. Conservation and management of freshwater biodiversity and freshwater ecosystems are critical to the interest of all humans. Freshwater biodiversity is declining far greater than those in the most affected terrestrial ecosystems. Two hotspots in South Asia are the focus of attention towards conservation of freshwater biodiversity.
Aquatic (Marine) Invertebrate Conservation Network of South Asia
Five South Asian countries namely Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have 160,000 km2 coastal zone with 135 million people living with in it. As evidenced in literature, this region is rich in ecological diversity and mangrove ecosystem in this region is unique that make up 8% of the world’s mangrove areas. The coral reef support a diverse variety of fauna and flora. Large scale exploitation of natural resources has become a concern as many marine species population are declining due to various anthropogenic threats affecting its population.
Some of the broad line objectives of these network are to identify and network researchers and field biologists of South Asia, develop database and checklist of selected marine invertebrates of South Asia, training on species taxonomy, encourage members to take up field research, rapid species assessments, develop an action plan for conservation for South Asia, education and web publication, collating information and lobbying for species conservation and identifying species habitats and status understanding.