The IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group is developing a series of guidelines to address critical issues in great ape conservation, drawing on the expertise of PSG members to create a consensus of best practices for field conservationists. Each publication in the series will provide up-to-date guidance for scientists working daily with great apes, as well as for the many development organizations, donors and government agencies that are involved in great ape conservation.

Each of these publications is focused on a specific issue affecting the immediate survival of great ape populations, including:

Based on the most current information, each publication is designed to give a clear, comprehensive overview of an issue, and to provide expert recommendations on how to address it. Particular emphasis will be placed on which practices have or have not proven successful in the field.

The first five reports in the series have now been published, and are available in PDF format on the pages below:

Best Practice Guidelines to Reduce the Impact of Logging

Best Practice Guidelines for Great Ape Re-introduction

Best Practice Guidelines for Surveys and Monitoring of Great Ape Populations

Best Practice Guidelines for Human/Great Ape Conflict

Best Practice Guidelines for Great Ape Tourism

Additional reports will be produced with the eventual goal of providing a comprehensive framework for natural resource managers working in great ape habitat. For more information, please contact Dr. Liz Williamson, Coordinator of the PSG Section on Great Apes, at sga_coordinator {at] conservation.org.

The Primate Specialist Group gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Arcus Foundation and the USFWS in the publication of these reports.