Rabbits, Hares and Pikas : Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan.
168 Seiten, zahlreiche s/w-Fotos und Landkarten.
IUCN, Gland.ISBN 2-8317-0019-1.
Aus dem Vorwort:
The Lagomorph Specialist Group reviewed for the first time the status of the worlds’ lagomorphs, critically examined those species which appeared to require attention, and listed important decisions for future conservation action concerning the volcano rabbit Romerolagus diazi (Mexico), riverine rabbit Bunolagus monticularis (South Africa), hispid hare Caprolagus hispidus (India and Nepal), Sumatran rabbit Nesolagus netscheri (Indonesia) and Amami rabbit Pentalagus furnessi (Japan).
Emphasis was placed on the need for a comprehensive review of hares and for the development of programs for monitoring lagomorphs and their habitat wherever required. The need to bring these matters to the attention of Governments was given high priority. Project proposals resulting from these deliberations were submitted to the Commission for inclusion in the IUCN Conservation Programme for Sustainable Development.
The Lagomorph Group, building on its good start, soon assumed responsibility for providing the information necessary for preparing and updating lagomorph entries in the Red Data Book and for submissions to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). It holds a strong position against the introduction of the eastern cottontail to Europe, and has willingly participated in discussions on the subject when requested.
The Group also continues to take the lead in keeping lagomorphs on conference agenda at international meetings, and has widened its in recent years to look at the status of some of the lesser known races or subspecies of the more common lagomorphs. Lagomorphs are relatively small mammals and do not excite the curiosity and appeal of some of their larger kind.
There has thus never been much financial support for conservation. But they are of critical importance in world ecosystems and I applaud the action taken by the Species Survival Commission in setting up this Group when it did. I am particularly pleased that IUCN has agreed to fund this publication of the Lagomorph Specialist Group Action Plan. The achievement of main objectives depends to a large extent on the continued activities of small teams of dedicated people like those who constitute this Group; the publication will give them an opportunity to say what they are trying to do.
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