This is a long term programme designed to define and regularly re-evaluate the conservation status of c.50 species of frogs, 250 species of reptiles and 250 species of mammals (including Cetaceans & Pinnipeds). In keeping with the CBD view of genetic variation as relevant components of biodiversity, we also consider stocks, subspecies and morphotypes.

The programme was initiated in 1985 with the production of simple national checklists and progressed to include provisional conservation status assessments for each species, using the old IUCN qualitative assessment system and definitions. The first national assessment was completed in 1990. This assessment has been upgraded several times since then and the latest was done in 2003 (Griffin, 2003a) and is currently still in use.

Since 2003 this array of species has been undergoing reassessment using the new IUCN assessment procedure and definitions, as applied to national or regional populations (IUCN, 2003). It will still be several years before these compilations are complete (“Red Data Books”), but individual species’ assessments can be made available as they are completed.

Interim reviews are provided by Curtis et al.(1998) and Griffin (1998a) for amphibians, Griffin (1998b, 2000 & 2003b) for reptiles, and Griffin (1998c & 1998d) and Griffin & Coetzee (2005) for mammals.

Associated products which are available are predicted and confirmed-species lists for any locality in Namibia, including MET protected areas and private and communal conservancies. These are generated from a comprehensive database of museum voucher specimens and other records. Level of accuracy is to the closest quarter degree square.

References

Curtis, B; Roberts, K.S; Griffin, M; Bethune, S; Hay, C.J. and Kolberg, H. 1998
Species richness and conservation of Namibian freshwater macro-invertebrates, fish and amphibians. Biodiversity and Conservation 7 (4): 447-466.

Griffin, M. 1998a
Amphibian Diversity. in: Barnard, P. (ed). Biological Diversity in Namibia: a country study. Windhoek: Namibian National Biodiversity Task Force: 144-148.

Griffin, M. 1998b
Reptile Diversity. in: Barnard, P. (ed). Biological diversity in Namibia: a country study. Windhoek: Namibian National Biodiversity Task Force: 148-155.

Griffin, M. 1998c
Mammal Diversity. in: Barnard, P. (ed). Biological Diversity in Namibia: a country study. Windhoek: Namibian National Biodiversity Task Force: 162-169.

Griffin, M. 1998d
The species diversity, distribution and conservation of Namibian mammals. Biodiversity and Conservation, 7 (4): 483-494.

Griffin, M. 2000
The species diversity, distribution and conservation of Namibian reptiles: a review. Namibia Wissenschlaftliche Gesellschaft 48: 116-141

Griffin, M. 2003a.
Checklist and provisional national conservation status of amphibians, reptiles and mammals known or expected to occur in Namibia. Internal report, Directorate of Scientific Services, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Government of Republic of Namibia.

Griffin, M 2003b.
Annotated checklist and provisional national conservation status of Namibian reptiles. Namibia Wissenschlaftliche Gesellschaft, Windhoek: 1-168.

Griffin, M. & Coetzee C.G. 2005
Annotated checklist and provisional national conservation status of Namibian Mammals. Research Reports of Scientific Services 5: 1-145. Internal report, Directorate of Scientific Services, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Government of Republic of Namibia.

IUCN, 2003. Guidelines for application of IUCN Red List criteria at regional level, version 3.0. IUCN Species Survival Commission, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

For further enquiries contact:
Mr. Michael Griffin
Directorate of Scientific Services
Ministry of Environment and Tourism
Private Bag 13306
Windhoek
Namibia

Tel: +264 61 284 2111