European Sustainable Use Specialist Group of IUCN/SSC,
European Bureau for Conservation and Development
10 rue de la Science,
1000 Brussels
Belgium

Contact person:
Robin Sharp, CB
robisharp@googlemail.com

Tel.: +44 208 9690381
Fax:
http://www.data.iucn.org/themes/ssc/susg/

The European regional Sustainable Use Specialist Group (ESUSG) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a voluntary network of experts in the sustainable utilisation and conservation through use of wild living resources.

ESUSG is part of the global Sustainable Use Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of IUCN (www.iucn.org). Along with all such networks within IUCN’s Commissions its purpose is to provide expert analysis of issues within its field as an input to projects and policies at all levels both within and beyond IUCN. Since it was founded in 1997 ESUSG has organized much of its work through thematic Groups on agriculture, fisheries, wildlife resources and forestry. There are currently 136 members from 39 European countries. A Chairperson organizes the Group supported by a Committee and thematic Group Co-ordinators. There is a part-time Secretariat in Brussels, where the Group is registered as an international not-for-profit organization.

The members are mostly from a biological or zoological background but some are economists, administrators and managers. Many have fieldwork or wildlife management experience, while others have taken part in national and international governmental negotiations. Most are in employment but some are retired. The Group functions on a voluntary basis but fees are paid where projects are undertaken with external funding.