Vivek Menon Elected Chair of IUCN Species Survival Commission

On the 7th day of the IUCN World Conservation Congress, Vivek Menon was elected as the new Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) for the 2025–2029 quadrennium.

About the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC)

• The SSC is one of seven expert commissions under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• It advises the IUCN Secretariat on matters of biodiversity and species conservation.
• The commission and its specialist groups play a critical role in preparing the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, a global benchmark for species conservation status.

Vivek Menon: A Conservation Leader

Vivek Menon is recognized as a conservationist whose lifelong dedication has created global impact on wildlife and natural habitats.

• He is the founder and executive head of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) for over 25 years.
• Under his leadership, WTI has pioneered several initiatives, including:
  • Documenting, prioritising, and securing India’s first elephant corridors
  • Establishing India’s first wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre
  • Training over 20,000 forest guards in anti-poaching techniques
  • Developing ‘rainbow’ products as alternatives to wildlife consumption
  • Creating green livelihoods through community-based conservation programs

(Source: IUCN)