How to Join

As with all Specialist Groups of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, group members of the OSG are appointed by and at the discretion of the Chair or Co-Chairs who are appointed by the SSC. Beyond a requirement to have a continental coordinator for each continent on which the group’s species of interest is found, it is entirely up to the Chair or Co-Chairs how the group is organised and how large the membership is.

We believe that the aims of the OSG are best met by a broad range of skills, experience and disciplines, so the current membership covers a spectrum of professionists.

The Membership Process

We have set up a small Membership Team to handle applications and proposals for membership and to conduct the initial assessment. The Team then recommends new appointees to the Management Team. If there is approval, a formal invitation to join the group will be issued, along with a letter of agreement to be signed and returned. The new member will then receive welcome instructions, be added to the group’s mailing list and be asked to make a profile on the SSC platform.

Any member of the OSG can propose others for membership. We are looking for people who demonstrate a long-term commitment to otter conservation, in the broadest sense – we have a very wide range of members: researchers, environmentalists, ecologists, toxicologists, zoo staff, vets, educators and many others. This produces an active forum with a wide range of views, the primary focus being the conservation of all species of otters.