To boost global conservation efforts, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) is promoting partnerships to establish Centers for Species Survival as part of the Reverse the Red movement (Oryx, 55, 1–2). Brazil is one of seven countries that has established a Center for Species Survival. The Center for Species Survival Brazil (Centro de Sobrevivência de Espécies), launched on 18 March 2021, is convened by Parque das Aves, IUCN and the SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group and serves as a national hub to capitalize on the experience and tools of the IUCN network to help governments, NGOs and communities achieve their conservation goals.

The Center will build upon the existing structure of the Conservation Planning Specialist Group in Brazil and the strong presence of SSC Specialist Groups. This initiative will build capacity and dialogue with other national efforts, including public policies coordinated by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation such as national assessments of extinction risk and action plans. For example, Brazil has a national red listing infrastructure that aspires to converge with the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. There are > 4,700 Brazilian species of fauna that have been assessed nationally but are not yet on the IUCN Red List, and a recent comparison indicates a 37% category mismatch for the 1,426 endemic species that have been assessed both nationally and globally (Center for Species Survival Brazil, unpubl. data).

The launch of the Center for Species Survival Brazil was held virtually and transmitted live (youtube.com/watch?v=eGihADnLj0A&t=9541s). Speakers covered diverse partnerships and tools, with 300 participants. The Center expects to work closely with IUCN and commission members, government agencies, universities, the zoo community and local people to ignite cooperation and optimism, exactly what we need to Reverse the Red.