The Species Survival Commission, the largest of the IUCN's six commissions, is a science-driven network consisting of 9,000 volunteer experts working in more than 160 Specialist Groups, including 17 invertebrate groups, Red List Authorities, and Task Forces.
[4] SSC Specialist Groups are primarily taxon-specific volunteer organizations made up mostly of research biologists and natural historians.
[5] Some groups focus on conservation issues specific to certain plants, animals, and fungi, while others work on broader goals like species reintroduction into former habitats, addressing climate change, wildlife health, and promoting sustainable use and trade.
[2] National Species Specialist Groups are also another type of specialists groups promoted by the SSC to create national species expert networks aimed at reversing biodiversity loss and addressing emerging sustainability challenges related to nature.
Action Plans are developed by SSC Specialist Groups.