In EAZA’s vision statement, “Progressive Zoos and Aquariums Saving Species Together with You”, Together with you refers not only to being a community and joining forces with our diverse audiences and partners, but also to working in alignment with international conservation strategies and policies.
For many years, EAZA and its Members have already been aligning their work with WAZA strategies and IUCN policies (One Plan Approach, Ex situ Guidelines). Today, modern zoos and aquariums also have a role to play in the new plans for nature: the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) – and in national strategies that contribute to them. From 2021 to 2023, EAZA21+ was our internal campaign aiming to explore these big new frameworks and increase our confidence and competence for engaging with them on local, national and international levels.
The campaign has ended but the journey continues, both for individual EAZA Member zoos and aquariums and for EAZA as an organisation. What you will find below is a set of post-campaign resources that you can use to enhance your knowledge, draw inspiration for your institution’s strategies and get guidance for making a stronger impact in biodiversity conservation.
To access directly one of the 21 questions below, click on the corresponding number in the header menu.
Q1. Who are these tools for?
Q2. What was EAZA21+?
Q3. A historic moment in biodiversity policy
Q4. EAZA21+ and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)
Q5. Is my zoo not too small to embrace the EAZA21+ topics and contribute to the GBF?
Q6. How can I best engage with the topics of EAZA21+?
Q7. How can I navigate the complex language of the GBF?
Q8. How can my zoo / aquarium contribute to the GBF in practice?
Q9. Where can I get scientific evidence to better understand the GBF?
Q10. Species conservation: why is GBF Target 4so important for the EAZA community?
Q11. What about the conservation of European species?
Q12. Does GBF support conservation of genetic diversity?
Q13. How does the GBF address wildlife trade? What is EAZA doing in this field?
Q14. What opportunities do the other GBF targets bring about?
Q15. Can EAZA21+ help me fund my conservation projects?
Q16. How can EAZA21+ help me develop a conservation strategy for my zoo?
Q17. What role does conservation education play in the GBF and in EAZA21+?
Q18. I am a vet: is there a role for animal health in the GBF?
Q19. Why is talking about conservation success stories so important for the EAZA community?
Q20. Can I put a fun spin on all these serious topics? Discover the EAZA21+ Game!
Q21. I would like to watch the EAZA21+ webinars: where can I find them?
EAZA21+ was intended for everyone working in an EAZA Member zoo and aquarium or a national zoo association, and so are these EAZA21+ toolkits. Colleagues who work directly with the Campaign’s three themes (conservation of species and genetic diversity, conservation education, wildlife trade) will be able to use the tools most directly. Everyone else will hopefully find inspiring information and tips here, too: from keepers and curators to communicators and marketing managers to veterinarians to directors and CEOs.
The tools listed and linked on this page are mainly for use by staff of individual EAZA Member institutions. In the meantime, relevant EAZA committees and the EAZA Executive Office are analysing the Campaign’s outcomes to make recommendations for EAZA’s conservation mission at the association level: more may come for you!
This page lives on the publicly accessible EAZA website since not all colleagues have access to the EAZA Member Area. Webinar recordings and other internal resources, linked throughout this page, are available in the Member Area and in the closed EAZA21+ Facebook group.
For any questions, feel free to write to eaza21@eaza.net.
EAZA21+ was an internal campaign for EAZA Members, launched on 21 September 2021 for two years. It aimed at increasing Members’ confidence and competence to make their conservation efforts more effective. It focused on using opportunities from the new Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), under the Convention on Biological Diversity. EAZA21+ addressed three main topic areas:
- Conservation of species and genetic diversity
- Wildlife trade
- Conservation education
A series of webinars and in-person events was organized, updates were shared through articles in Zooquaria and the closed EAZA21+ Facebook group. Do you want to find out how the Campaign was conceived and why? You can start by consulting the EAZA21+ mini guide (in English, German and Italian) and reading the Zooquaria article “Maximum impact” on issue #113 (pages 12-13).
Picture: © Gatis Šluka “Biodiversity puzzle”, courtesy of European Commission
Successful conservation requires both local efforts and international collaboration. EAZA21+ was launched at a pivotal moment in biodiversity politics: after the publication of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, which is a core element of the European Green Deal, and before the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), the new framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) that filled the void left by the largely unsuccessful Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 (known for the Aichi Targets). Over the Campaign’s 2-year period, other significant initiatives were launched, such as the revised EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking (November 2022) and the agreement on the new EU Nature Restoration Law (November 2023).
Picture © EAZA
The GBF is a last-minute effort to halt and reverse the decline of biodiversity and restore harmony between humans and nature. It was signed by 196 countries in December 2023 at COP15, the 15th summit (Conference of the Parties) of the Convention on Biological Diversity. It encompasses 4 overarching global goals for 2050 and 23 targets for urgent actions for 2030, alongside other significant decisions. The GBF, together with regional efforts like the EU’s own biodiversity strategy, is defining the priorities for nature conservation for the next decades: for the two hundred countries that signed it as well as for all sectors of society and economy.
What has EAZA have to do with this? By making our plans and actions aligned with international policies, in particular the GBF targets, we can enhance the impact and recognition of both ex situ and in situ conservation efforts. We have discussed the role of zoos and aquariums in implementing the GBF in Zooquaria articles “Let the journey begin” on issue #114 (pages 12-13) and “From global to local” on issue #118 (page 10). Overall, the GBF has been a recurring topic of all our webinars, yet with different angles: the list of EAZA21+ events is available here.
Picture: © UN CBD
No zoo or aquarium is too small to make a meaningful contribution! EAZA21+ participants came from institutions of very different sizes and joined the Campaign while starting from very different baselines of knowledge, confidence and competence in working with the proposed topics. Everyone can work at their own pace, gather opportunities, and tailor their plans to their zoo's resources and priorities. What is common for all, regardless of the size of your institution: setting realistic targets, being strategic in your plans, and strengthening your internal and external collaborations are essential steps for maximizing your contribution to conservation and being recognized for your efforts. Each participant's unique journey is valued and appreciated within the EAZA community!
Picture: European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) © Daniel Zupanc
Of course, one way to engage is by studying the materials individually, at your own pace. But at the same time, EAZA21+ participants were encouraged to organize meetings at their institutions and explore the topics together in informal "reflection groups", meant as roundtable discussions and trainings for staff, focusing on their role in the GBF and EAZA. Several notable examples were held during the Campaign.
A virtual roundtable was run with Helsinki Zoo team during the first EAZA21+ webinar “How can I make the most out of EAZA21+ Campaign?”. An in-person reflection group at a national level was organised by the Swedish Zoo Association (SDF/SAZA) at Furuvik Park. German-speaking zoo educators met at Royal Burgers’ Zoo in Arnhem and used the EAZA21+ guide to discuss conservation education and the GBF. CERZA Zoo also organised a reflection group as part of a 3-day education meeting with over 70 participants from 42 French zoos.
Have you thought about organizing a roundtable with your colleagues to discuss the Campaign topics? You can find some starting questions in the Zooquaria article:
“On the campaign trail” on issue #115 (page 12).
Picture: Roundtable during the reflection group at Royal Burgers’ Zoo © Royal Burgers’ Zoo
Understanding the language of the GBF can be challenging, but there is good news. Firstly, EAZA21+ brought many GBF concepts closer to your zoo work. You can start by watching these two extracts from theEAZA21+ webinar “The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and its targets”: Matea Vukelic (UNEP-WCMC) got a bird’s eye view on the GBF and why it matters to our community, and Phil McGowan (Newcastle University, UK, and chair of the IUCN SSC Post-2020 Biodiversity Targets Task Force) dived into the issue related to the conservation of species. Secondly, the CBD launched a communication campaign, the Biodiversity Plan Campaign, to make the GBF more accessible to the public. Here are some shortcuts to better navigate the GBF website:
- GBF Home page from the CBD website
- The Biodiversity Plan Campaign: one year after the adoption of the GBF, the Secretariat of the CBD has launched a communications and awareness campaign. The initial campaign assets for the first phase of this communications strategy is now available.
- CBD National Focal Points and Country profile page, to get in touch with your National Contact Points and consult the previous/current NBSAPs submitted by your country.
- GBF targets with guiding notes (from CBD Secretariat).
- The GBF is a “package” with a set of decisions:
- Decision 15/4 “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework”: this is the text with background, purpose, global goals for 2050 and global targets for 2030.
- Decision 15/5 “Monitoring framework for the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework”: it contains headline and other proposed indicators.
- Decision 15/6 “Mechanisms for planning, monitoring, reporting and review”: it contains guidance for revising or updating the NBSAPs, the template for the submission of national targets as part of the NBSAPs, guidance and template for the 7th and 8th national reports due to countries by 2026 and 2029.
- Decision 15/7 “Resource Mobilization”: the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Fund has been established under the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
- Decision 15/8 “Capacity-building and development and technical and scientific cooperation”: a strategic framework for capacity building and development to support nationally determined priorities for the implementation of the GBF and a technical and scientific cooperation mechanism comprising a network of regional and/or subregional support centres have been established.
- Decision 15/9 “Digital Sequence Information”: fundamental principles for the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of digital sequence information (DSI) on genetic resources were agreed upon and a multilateral mechanism for benefit-sharing from the use of DSI, including a global fund, has been established.
But where should you begin? We suggest picking one target, for example Target 4 - but you can do the same for all of the 23 targets - and explore the guidance notes provided in the GBF webpages. These notes will help you better understand the target and how your institution and your partners can contribute to it.
Picture: Screenshot taken from https://www.cbd.int/gbf/targets/4.
The GBF is implemented at national level: each ratifying country has committed to putting into action all 23 targets and demonstrating their achievement through the agreed indicators, taking into account national circumstances, priorities and capabilities. However, successful implementation of the GBF relies on action and cooperation from all sectors of society, not just governments. Each country is responsible for developing, revising and realizing its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).
Here is a list of steps for your contribution to the GBF: these suggestions are the most immediate resultof discussions and presentations during EAZA21+. However, the EAZA Conservation Committee and other committees will continue analysing the best ways for Members to get more involved in the GBF process.
The first steps for EAZA Members can include:
- Identifying the primary GBF targets to which the zoo can realistically contribute
- Assessing how your country can benefit from the zoo’s knowledge, expertise and network
- Identifying relevant stakeholders to partner with
- Contacting your country’s CBD focal point to learn about their needs and burning issues and exploring how the zoo can contribute to the NBSAP process
- Aligning the zoo’s conservation and conservation education strategies with the selected GBF goals and targets. See Dublin Zoo’s recent Conservation Master Plan and Conservation Education Master Plan
- Communicating about the zoo’s support for the GBF. For example, Chester Zoo has a dedicated page on its website
More advanced steps can include:
- Aligning activities, project support and/or funding programmes with particular aspects of the GBF
- Supporting strategic initiatives (e.g., spatial conservation to protect species, knowledge management, biodiversity financing, methods for intensive management of species)
- Engaging with local authorities to increase the zoo’s visibility at political level
- Collaborating with other conservation associations and participating in broader discussions on the GBF to identify common topics to advocate for and securing a presence at relevant meetings
- Working in close contact with the scientific community and delivering measurable impact metrics on specific GBF indicators. Copenhagen Zoo and Antwerp Zoo, for example, are partners of the EU Biodiversa+ project GINAMO (Genetic Indicators for NAtureMOnitoring), one of whose aims is to assess how EU countries report and update their NBSAPs following the GBF
- Proactively looking and applying for national funds, and exploring the mobilisation of resources by the new Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) (Funding remains a critical challenge for implementing the GBF and resource mobilisation is slow)
- Joining international initiatives supported by the CBD Secretariat, such as the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership and the National Monitoring Support Initiative (to be launched soon)
- Maintaining frequent communication with CBD expert groups and supporting capacity building and knowledge exchange. These groups include the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) and the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on Indicators
Here are some peer-reviewed papers with scientific evidence to gain deeper insight into the GBF. The list is not exhaustive, and there may be many more other relevant papers available. If you come across any interesting papers or have co-authored papers that you’d like to share with our community, please reach out to us and we’ll list them!
On zoos’ and aquariums’ contributions to the GBF
- Moss et al. 2023. The Role of Zoos and Aquariums in Contributing to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 4: 445-461. https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg4020033
On species and genetic diversity conservation
- Bolam et al. 2020. How many bird and mammal extinctions has recent conservation action prevented? Conservation letters 14 (1): e12762. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12762
- Bolam et al. 2023. Over half of threatened species require targeted recovery actions to avert human-induced extinction. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 21 (2): 64-70. https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.2537
- Hoban et al. 2023. Genetic diversity goals and targets have improved, but remain insufficient for clear implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. Conservation Genetics 24: 181-191. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-022-01492-0
On wildlife trade
- Auliya et al. 2016. The global amphibian trade flows through Europe: the need for enforcing and improving legislation. Biodiversity and Conservation 25: 2581-2595. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-016-1193-8
- Auliya et al. 2016. Trade in live reptiles, its impact on wild populations, and the role of the European market. Biological Conservation 204 (Part A): 103-119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.05.017
- Hughes et al. 2023. Determining the sustainability of legal wildlife trade. Journal of Environmental Management 341: 117987. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117987
- Luedtke at al. 2023. Ongoing declines for the world’s amphibians in the face of emerging threats. Nature 622: 308-314. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06578-4
- Nijman 2010. An overview of international wildlife trade from Southeast Asia. Biodiversity and Conservation 19: 1101–1114. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-009-9758-4
A groundbreaking development for the EAZA community is the acknowledgement of the contribution of zoos to biodiversity conservation. Although Article 9 of the CBD referred to the role of ex-situ conservation already before, the GBF is the first instance where the ex situ conservation component is explicitly integrated into a global target. Target 4 of the GBF calls for collaboration between in situ and ex situ conservation actors to halt species extinction, protect genetic diversity, and manage human-wildlife conflicts effectively:
“Ensure urgent management actions to halt human induced extinction of known threatened species and for the recovery and conservation of species, in particular threatened species, to significantly reduce extinction risk, as well as to maintain and restore the genetic diversity within and between populations of native, wild and domesticated species to maintain their adaptive potential, including through in situ and ex situ conservation and sustainable management practices, and effectively manage human-wildlife interactions to minimize human-wildlife conflict for coexistence.”
Species potentially requiring actions under Target 4 occur in almost every corner of the world, with a median of 54 species per country, as reported in this peer-reviewed publication. How can the ex situ and in situ actors be more effective? Coordinated actions among stakeholders, such as developing and implementing species action plans together in accordance with the IUCN One Plan Approach, are crucial for effectiveness. Zoos can greatly contribute by establishing or strengthening ex situ conservation programs for species that depend on such efforts. The EAZA community has immense potential in this regard: you can delve into this further by watching the EAZA21+ closing Plenary at the 2023 Annual Conference and reading the Zooquaria article “Moving forward from EAZA21+” on issue #120 (pages 14-15).
Picture © Marwell Zoo. The scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah), declared “Extinct in the Wild” in 2000, has been downlisted to “Endangered” in December 2023, thanks to successful collaborative efforts between ex situ and in situ institutions.
EAZA Members have a special responsibility for supporting the conservation of biodiversity in their own region. Therefore, in parallel to EAZA21+, the EAZA Conservation Committee has launched a task force for European species: it is analysing the contributions that EAZA zoos and aquariums are already making, it will explore which priority species and habitats might require our increased attention (e.g., priority species under the Bern Convention and the EU Birds and Habitats Directives) and will recommend how our community can make the best and most aligned contributions in the future. Stay tuned for more information!
We discussed the role of conservation of local biodiversity, among many other topics, in the EAZA21+ webinar “Global biodiversity targets for 2030 and 2050? What do I need to know about them?”.
If your zoo or aquarium is at an early stage of its conservation journey, focusing on nearby native fauna might be the most effective way to start. To exchange ideas and learn from each other, an informal platform was initiated by the team of Zagreb Zoo (also during EAZA21+), with meetings at EAZA Annual Conferences and EAZA Conservation Forums.
Picture: Scottish wildcat (Felis silvestris) © RZSS
The current biodiversity crisis impactsnot only species but also genetic diversity within species, a topic that is also important for EAZA. We dedicated the EAZA21+ webinar “Genetic diversity” to explore opportunities for protecting genetic diversity through a holistic approach, reported in the Zooquaria article “From ideas to action” on issue #116 (page 15). From EEP management to sending samples to the EAZA Biobank, from education to lobbying governments, you can make plans and activities in the appropriate style for your zoo to boost the conservation of genetic diversity.
Meanwhile, scientists operating under the G-BiKE consortium, which include EAZA Members Copenhagen and Antwerp Zoos, along with the Coalition for Conservation Genetics, were advocating for more attention to genetic diversity in the GBF. During the CBD COP15 in Montreal, EAZA co-hosted the G-BiKE side event addressing the importance of genetic diversity and the proposed indicators to monitor it. These collaborative efforts resulted in three key references to genetic diversity in the GBF:
- Among the four Global goals for 2050, Goal A - Protect and Restore commits to the conservation of genetic diversity of wild species.
“The integrity, connectivity and resilience of all ecosystems are maintained, enhanced, or restored, substantially increasing the area of natural ecosystems by 2050; Human induced extinction of known threatened species is halted, and, by 2050, the extinction rate and risk of all species are reduced tenfold and the abundance of native wild species is increased to healthy and resilient levels; The genetic diversity within populations of wild and domesticated species, is maintained, safeguarding their adaptive potential.”
- A key component of GBF Target 4 is the inclusion of genetic diversity, its maintenance and restoration.
“Ensure urgent management actions to halt human induced extinction of known threatened species and for the recovery and conservation of species, in particular threatened species, to significantly reduce extinction risk, as well as to maintain and restore the genetic diversity within and between populations of native, wild and domesticated species to maintain their adaptive potential, including through in situ and ex situ conservation and sustainable management practices, and effectively manage human-wildlife interactions to minimize human-wildlife conflict for coexistence.”
- Among the list of indicators, the headline indicator A.4 - The proportion of populations within species with an effective population size > 500 has been approved.
In addition, one of the main GBF decisions is focusing on the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of digital sequence information (DSI) on genetic resources.
Picture © Antwerp Zoo, one of the four hubs of the EAZA Biobank
Target 5 of the GBF is addressing the use, harvest and trade of wild species:
“Ensure that the use, harvesting and trade of wild species is sustainable, safe and legal, preventing overexploitation, minimizing impacts on non-target species and ecosystems, and reducing the risk of pathogen spill-over, applying the ecosystem approach, while respecting and protecting customary sustainable use by indigenous peoples and local communities.”
Illegal wildlife trade is a major driver of biodiversity loss.Wildlife trafficking also has destructive socioeconomic impacts. Surprisingly, the EU ranks among the largest importers of wildlife species and wildlife-derived commodities in the world. The EU has committed “to take a number of steps to crack down on illegal wildlife trade, as outlined in the EU Biodiversity Strategy (Paragraph 4.2.2).
When launching the 2016 EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking, the European Commission praised EAZA as a network that enables non-commercial animal exchange within the EEPs, thus protecting the animals from commercial exploitation. Expectations from zoos and aquariums regarding wildlife trade are evolving rapidly. EAZA is dedicated to being part of the solution and ensuring that its activities, including animal transfers, support only legal, sustainable, and ethical trade practices. Numerous EAZA21+ events were dedicated to this topic, including presentations on the new EAZA Acquisition and Disposition rules and procedures which were being developed by the EEP Committee in parallel to the Campaign. You can watch these presentations and discussions in the EAZA21+ webinar “Animal Acquisition and Disposition" and in the closing EAZA21+ Plenary session.
Picture: Javan green magpie (Cissa thalassina) © Andrew Owen. This bird is the icon of the EAZA Silent Forest Campaign, committed to raising awareness of the Asian Songbird crisis caused by unsustainable and illegal trade and help save these species.
Besides targets 4 and 5, many other targets offer opportunities to align your work with the GBF. We encourage you to browse through them all and identify those you can realistically contribute to, using the guidance notes offered for each target. The paper “The Role of Zoos and Aquariums in Contributing to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework” from May 2023 is a pioneering effort to analyse the relevance of the core GBF targets for zoos and aquariums. It was published by colleagues from Chester Zoo and UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). While it may not cover all the aspects of the GBF, it sheds light on how the EAZA community is already making qualitative contributions to many targets. You can find more sources of inspiration by watching the EAZA21+ webinar “The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and its targets”. Stay tuned on The Biodiversity Plan campaign for more updates.
© UN CBD
During the EAZA21+ webinar “Applying for funding” we presented the key steps of a grant application, the funding opportunities under the new EU LIFE Programme and the new European biodiversity partnership Biodiversa+, and shared some success stories from our community. EAZA Members are increasingly participating in project consortia of various sizes and scales. Successful consortia that have secured European grants show some common features among the EAZA zoos involved:
- The zoos participate in multiple EEPs: this gives them ample skills and expertise, but also solid networks of stakeholders to connect with.
- Educational programmes are always high on their agenda, to raise public awareness and influence peoples’ attitudes. This helps them get recognised in their countries as institutions of high educational importance.
- They apply science-based decision-making.
We showcased some successful project consortia in the Episode#3 of our mini-series "Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation" (see section “stories”).
The GBF has addressed the issue of resource mobilization and the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) has been launched – however, funding remains a critical challenge for implementing the GBF and progress on resource mobilisation is going quite slowly.
Picture © Galway Atlantaquaria. This EAZA aquarium is a project partner of the EU funded PREP4BLUE project, committed to deliver innovative and inspiring solutions to guide stakeholders and support the success of the European mission “Restore our Ocean & Waters”.
One of the important places that reflects the identity of a zoo is its conservation strategy. For in situ conservation, the EAZA Field Conservation Standards now require EAZA Members to have "a transparent and documented plan for the delivery of field conservation activities”: you can learn more by watching the EAZA21+webinar “The new EAZA Field Conservation Standards”.
A conservation strategy or plan should set realistic and flexible targets and goals, applying holistic thinking toward the overarching mission of biodiversity preservation. How can you apply holistic thinking to your zoo work? We delved into it during the EAZA21+webinar “Holistic thinking in your conservation strategy” and shared the example of the Chester Zoo Conservation Master Plan 2021-2030 crafted around 4 main areas: animal populations, places (ensure that habitat is protected), people (stakeholder engagement), advocacy and policy (at local and international levels, encompassing both zoo-specific concerns and broader conservation issues).
Aligning your zoo's conservation strategy with GBF targets and other national and international agreements offers several benefits. Not only are your priorities in line with broader socio-political contexts, but you can also increase your external visibility and gain support and recognition from your authorities and partners. Dublin Zoo presented its Conservation Master Plan for 2022-2031 at the EAZA21+ webinar “The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and its targets”, highlighting the benefits derived from such alignment.
Stay tuned for discussions on zoo conservation strategies at 2024 Conservation Forum in Ostrava Zoo!
The GBF acknowledges the need for transformative, innovative and transdisciplinary education to stop the decline of biodiversity and restore harmony between humans and nature. As conservation education is also one of EAZA’s priority areas, it became one of the three pillars of the Campaign.
Although education does not have a dedicated GBF target, there are numerous opportunities for aligning a zoo's conservation education strategy with the GBF. For instance, Target 16 emphasizes promoting sustainable consumption choices, while Target 20 focuses on capacity-building and development.
You can fulfil both EAZA’s and individual zoo’s conservation education mission in many ways. The new EAZA Conservation Education Standards and the IZE/WAZA Conservation Education Strategy guide zoos toward high-quality educational and societal outcomes. These were discussed in detail during the EAZA21+webinar “Conservation education”, where we also shared two inspiring examples from our community: the Zagreb Zoo’s Education Plan and the Dublin Zoo’s 2023-2031 Conservation Education Master Plan. How to start focusing on your zoo’s conservation education strategy? Check out our tips in the Zooquaria article “Optimising conservation education” on issue #119 (page 12) and share your strategies with us! Also, stay tuned for updates on the EAZA Academy, where new courses are in development for the near future!
Picture: The EU4OCEAN Coalition for Ocean Literacy connects diverse organisations, projects and people that contribute to ocean literacy and the sustainable management of the ocean. EAZA joined EU4Ocean, together with other 12 partners across Europe, including EAZA Member Nausicaa. © Florian Flahaut, Nausicaa
The GBF acknowledges the links between biodiversity and health and calls on countries to integrate the interdisciplinary One Health approach in their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans. This opens great opportunities for zoo and wildlife veterinarians to contribute, in partnership with public health institutions and others. In addition, Target 5 of the GBF emphasises that the harvesting, trade and use of wild species should be undertaken in such a way that it is safe for people, other species and ecosystems.
“Ensure that the use, harvesting and trade of wild species is sustainable, safe and legal, preventing overexploitation, minimizing impacts on non-target species and ecosystems, and reducing the risk of pathogen spill-over, applying the ecosystem approach, while respecting and protecting customary sustainable use by indigenous peoples and local communities.”
If you want to increase your knowledge and skills on similar topics, a free online course on Global Health at the Human-Animal-Ecosystem Interface has been developed by the Institute of Global Health of the University of Geneva, in collaboration with WHO, the CBD and various experts and partners.
Finally, although it is not an EAZA21+ resource per se, the EAZA/EAZWV EU Animal Health Law Guidance Handbook presents important points for consideration (by zoo vets and official vets alike) about prevention and surveillance of diseases in zoos. Effective healthcare is one of the preconditions for good conservation outcomes.
Picture: Health check for a Kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus) © Auckland Zoo
The recently published IUCN Position Statement “On the role of botanical gardens, aquariums, and zoos in species conservation” offers an excellent overview of our community’s conservation importance and potential. At the same time, the document highlights that our role is not always adequately valued, recognized and understood. Effective communication with our external audiences and celebrating our success storiesin species conservation is crucial for addressing this gap. For example, the theme of the World Wildlife Day in 2023 was “Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation”, and EAZA celebrated it by crafting a mini-series of stories around the topic (see section "stories"). We continuously strive to promote our community’s dedication, science-based work and outcomes through EAZA’s diverse communication channels: EAZA published the EAZA Communication Guidelines in 2023to help you improve your audiences’ long-term understanding of your work and of the meaning of being an EAZA Member.
Picture: The European bison (Bison bonasus) was rescued from extinction as a result of a long-term conservation management © Parco Natura Viva’s booklet “10 storie di successo”
© EAZA
At several EAZA conferences, the EAZA21+ game “Walk a mile in my shoes” offered a fun and interactive way to engage with colleagues from various job roles and explore diverse perspectives. It is a playful twist on the 'reflection groups' concept. Imagine this scenario: a sponsor hands you interactive panels to place anywhere in your zoo or aquarium. Picture yourself as a researcher or a vet. How would each of you use those panels? Or, what if a visitor doesn’t want to trust your conservation messaging because they are distracted by one of your animals appearing “bored”? How would you answer your visitors' questions about the wellbeing of the animals in your care, if you were an educator or a conservation manager? Colleagues at EAZA events enjoyed playing the game as a more relaxed opportunity for learning and collaboration. Ready to play? Instructions and cards will be shared soon. In the meantime, you contact us at eaza21plus@eaza.net.
