CAVFI at the 23rd World Crocodile Conference in Louisiana, USA

With its theme “Crocodilian Conservation: A Lesson in History”, the 23rd World Crocodile Conference of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature - Species Survival Commission (IUCN-SSC) Crocodile Specialist Group (CSG) was held at the Mc Neese State University in  Lake Charles, Louisiana  on  26-30 May 2014.  CAVFI Manager  and  Technical Staffs led by its President Mr. William Belo were among the 18 delegates from CPPI associated farms representing the Philippines. Attended by more than 300 scientists, conservationist, researchers, naturalist and members of the CSG from ­38 countries, the gathering provide a great venue for sharing ideas that could benefit crocodile sustainable management and conservation in the Philippines.

Major contributions  of  the Crocodylus Porosus Philippines Inc., (CPPI) were reported by the Steering Committee Meeting as conservation outcome in the Philippines. These are the (1) drafting of the National Recovery Plan for the Crocodiles in the Philippines, (2) 10-month research project of CPPI and SUAKCREM on the wetland productivity, and (3) the conservation introduction of 36 juvenile C. mindorensis in Paghungawan Marsh, Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape. Results of the scientific paper entitled “Do crocodiles benefit local fishery productivity in the Philippines?” was also presented at the scientific plenary session by CAVFI Researcher for the CPPI and SUAKCREM collaboration research work.

The CSG is one of more than 100 species specialist groups composed of worldwide networks of conservation volunteers operating under the auspices of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s largest consortium of conservation organizations and agencies.