Vivek Menon Elected IUCN Species Survival Commission Chair
Why in the news
IUCN picked an Indian conservationist to lead one of its expert commissions, a first for an Asian.
Key facts
- SSC status: one of six expert commissions of IUCN.
- Role: advises the Secretariat on biodiversity conservation and species protection.
- Red List: SSC helps prepare the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
- Network: thousands of experts through specialist groups.
About Vivek Menon
- Founder of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), where he is chief executive.
- Known as an elephant conservationist, author and policy expert; has worked on species recovery and wildlife crime prevention.
Exam angle
- SSC here is not the Staff Selection Commission.
- IUCN has six commissions.