The Contribution of Zoos to Biodiversity Conservation: the Link between In-situ and Ex-situ

CBD COP 9, Bonn 2008 - WAZA Side Event

Introduction to the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and their partners (like IUCN) in the worldwide "Amphibian Ark" campaign. Concrete case studies were presented from Germany and Vietnam and information provided on the European zoos involvement in education and ex-situ conservation.

Presentations:

Jamie Copsey, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Jersey, UK: Crewing the Ark:  Building zoos' capacity for amphibian conservation

Gerald Dick, WAZA Executive Office, Switzerland: WAZA and the Amphibian Crisis

Lorenzo von Fersen Zoo Nürnberg, Germany: From Frogs to Dolphins - Zoo Nürnberg & Conservation

Dr. Thomas Ziegler, Cologne Zoo, Germany: Herpetodiversity research and conservation in Vietnam: in situ & ex situ approaches

Ex situ/In situ conservation through zoos

WAZA defines the responsibilities of the world's zoos and aquaria in regard to the conservation of the diversity of global wildlife. It sets out the conditions which individual zoos and aquaria and their cooperative networks should satisfy in order to realize their full potential in conservation.

Ex-situ-Conservation

Under the auspices of WAZA, 182 International Studbooks are kept. These Studbooks are coordinated by the Zoological Society of London.
About 810 animal species and subspecies are managed under cooperative breeding programmes at the level of the regional association members.

In-situ-Wildlife Conservation

Preserving individual species in human care is not enough to protect the world's biodiversity. Conservation of intact ecosystems is the only chance for survival of our planet's wildife. A steadily increasing number of zoos have recognized that the real problem of nature conservation is saving the habitats and, therefore, operate parks or reserves or participate in their founding and management.

It is the aim of WAZA to increase the number of zoos involved in habitat conservation and to make zoos the primary non-governmental field conservation organisations.