Dedicated to Turtle and Tortoise Conservation

History of the TFTSG

40+

Years

400+

Current Members

60+

Countries

1

Mission

1981

Freshwater Chelonian Specialist Group (FCSG) founded by Sir Peter Scott. Edward O. Moll served as the first chair from 1981-1985.

1981

Tortoise Specialist Group (TSG) founded by Sir Peter Scott. Ian R. Swingland served as the first chair from 1981-1987.

1987

The FCSG and TSG were merged to form the Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (TFTSG). Ian R. Swingland and Peter C.H. Pritchard co-chaired the group from 1987-1990.

TFTSG Timeline

Read below for a short history of the TFTSG and its former leadership.

1987

Founded

Co-Chaired from 1987 to 1990 by Ian R. Swingland and Peter C.H. Pritchard. Deputy Chairs John L. Behler, Kristin H. Berry, Edward O. Moll, and Walter Sachsse. 62 members in the initial combined Specialist Group in 1987

1990

Growth Continues

John L. Behler takes over as Chair. He appoints Vice Chairs Michael W. Klemens and Peter C.H. Pritchard, and Deputy Chairs Kristin H. Berry, Edward O. Moll, Indraneil Das, Russell A. Mittermeier, and Anders G.J. Rhodin.

2000

New committees to meet growing needs

Anders G.J. Rhodin joins John Behler as Co-Chair, becoming sole Chair in 2005, just before John’s untimely passing in early 2006. As Chair, Anders Rhodin appointed a single Deputy Chair, Peter Paul van Dijk, a small Executive Committee including John L. Behler (until his passing), Peter C.H. Pritchard, and Russell A. Mittermeier, and a large Steering Committee, which also functioned as the official IUCN Red List Authority for tortoises and freshwater turtles. Peter Paul van Dijk was appointed Red List Focal Point.

2001

Turtle Survival Alliance Founded

The TFTSG in 2001 helped found the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), originally an IUCN Task Force of the TFTSG, now an independent NGO. Rick Hudson and Kurt A. Buhlmann were appointed as the original Co-Chairs for TSA, with Dwight P. Lawson joining Rick as Co-Chair when Kurt stepped down…

2002

Turtle Conservation Fund Founded

…to become Executive Director of the Turtle Conservation Fund (TCF) in 2002, when the TCF was co-founded by the TFTSG. As of 2026, the TCF is co-chaired by Anders G.J. Rhodin and Russell A. Mittermeier and is fiscally based under Re:wild and Chelonian Research Foundation.

June 2012

New Leadership steps up

Anders Rhodin steps down as Chair with Peter Paul van Dijk and Brian D. Horne appointed as Co-Chairs. They designated Anders as Chair Emeritus and kept both Anders and Russ Mittermeier on their Executive Committee. Anders was also appointed Red List Coordinator.

October 2016

Leadership grows to handle growing conservation needs

Peter Paul van Dijk and Brian D. Horne stepped down as Co-Chairs of the TFTSG and in April 2017 Craig B. Stanford was appointed as Chair and Carla Eisemberg replaced Anders Rhodin as Red List Coordinator. Craig appointed Anders G.J. Rhodin as Executive Vice Chair, Peter Paul van Dijk and Rick Hudson as Deputy Chairs, and Brian D. Horne, Russell A. Mittermeier, Eric V. Goode, Andrew D. Walde, and Gerald Kuchling as Executive Committee members. The former Steering Committee was continued and a set of Regional Vice-Chairs were appointed.

April 2022

new Red List Coordinator

In April 2022, Vivian P. Páez replaced Carla Eisemberg as Red List Coordinator and also joined the Executive Committee. Craig Stanford continues as Chair for a second term.

August 2025

Regional Vice-Chairs Merged into single committee

In August 2025, Craig B. Stanford and Natalia Gallego-García became Co-Chairs of the TFTSG. Vivian P. Páez stepped down as Red List Coordinator while Anders G.J. Rhodin remained Executive Vice Chair and resumed his prior Red List Coordinator position. Peter Paul van Dijk and Rick Hudson remained as Deputy Chairs, joined by Andrew D. Walde. The previous Steering Committee and Regional Vice-Chairs were restructured and merged into a single larger Leadership Committee.

Header Image: Tortoises in the Mist: Galapagos Giant Tortoises (Chelonoidis vicina) on the rim of Volcan Alcedo, Galápagos, Ecuador. Photo by Peter C.H. Pritchard