Background and Structure

West & Central Asia (WESCA) Wildlife network is one of the 10 regional networks of IUCN Wildlife Health Specialist Group. Wildlife Health Specialist Group which founded in 1984, is a collaborative multidisciplinary network of experts in various aspects of wildlife health, supporting and promoting the health of wildlife and wildlife management as core components of ecosystem and biodiversity conservation. This IUCN Specialist Group until December 2007 was called Veterinary Specialist Group (VSG), but from 2008 It's name changed to Wildlife Health Specialist Group.
Wildlife Health Specialist Group is comprised of professionals willing to volunteer their expertise to other Species Survival Commission (SSC) Specialist Groups as well as other organizations and governments to address wildlife health problems.

Species Survival Commission (SSC) is one of six commission under framework of IUCN and it’s major role is to provide information to IUCN on biodiversity conservation, the inherent value of species, their role in ecosystem health and functioning, the provision of ecosystem services, and their support to human livelihoods. SSC members also provide scientific advice to conservation organizations, government agencies and other IUCN members, and support the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements.

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) is the world’s largest and most important conservation network. The Union brings together 82 States, 111 government agencies, more than 800 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and some 10,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries in a unique worldwide partnership. The World Conservation Union supports and develops cutting-edge conservation science; implements this research in field projects around the world; and then links both research and results to local, national, regional and global policy by convening dialogues between governments, civil society and the private sector.