The WAZA 2030 Conservation Goal
After consultation with the WAZA Council, the WAZA Conservation and Environmental Sustainability Committee (CESC), and the WAZA Associations Committee, at the 79th Annual General Assembly, WAZA members adopted Resolution 79.2. A resolution that committed WAZA to the development of the WAZA 2030 Conservation Goal, a goal with the general objectives that:
By 2030,
- WAZA Member Regional Associations* have a process in place that requires institutional members to actively contribute to halting extinctions, reversing declines, restoring populations and securing a future for threatened species. This process will be expected to include specific, WAZA-approved elements that align with global biodiversity targets and frameworks.
- WAZA Member Regional Associations* will have a system in place for their zoo and aquarium members to document and report their conservation efforts. This system will be used to report on these activities to WAZA in a standardised manner.
* Without the oversight of a Regional association, this responsibility will be that of the operating National association.
Background
WAZA recognises that biodiversity conservation is a shared responsibility, and zoos and aquariums play a crucial role in these efforts through their work in species conservation, both in situ and ex situ.
Acknowledging the importance of global frameworks like the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), WAZA emphasizes the need for unified and measurable contributions to global conservation goals. Progressive zoos and aquariums are well-positioned to lead and coordinate efforts to achieve these targets, while partnerships and capacity-building among WAZA members are vital to closing gaps in resources and expertise.
Through the 2030 Conservation Goal (30CG), WAZA commits to developing a framework for standardised reporting of conservation activities by WAZA members to enhance understanding of the role of zoos and aquariums’ conservation efforts in alignment with global biodiversity targets.
By scaling up their conservation efforts, WAZA members aim to significantly support the delivery of the Convention of Biological Diversity’s vision of living in harmony with nature by 2050.
2030 Conservation Goal FAQs
The WAZA 2030 Conservation Goal (30CG) establishes a common approach for WAZA Member Regional Associations to encourage, recognise and monitor the conservation contributions of their members.
The Goal provides a framework for Regional Associations to establish conservation-related expectations, verification processes and reporting mechanisms, enabling conservation contributions to be monitored and information to be brought together at regional and global levels.
The Goal establishes an expectation that institutional members report their conservation contributions through their Regional Association.
Regional Associations will determine how the Goal is implemented within their own frameworks, taking into account regional context, existing accreditation and reporting systems, and the needs and capacities of their members.
Where appropriate, existing systems and reporting mechanisms can be used and strengthened, helping to minimise duplication.
Regional Associations will establish a conservation framework and reporting process for their members. This will include:
- guidance on what constitutes a contribution to conservation;
- conservation-related standards or expectations for members;
- processes to verify conservation contributions;
- mechanisms for members to report their conservation activities; and
- a process for reporting collectively to WAZA.
The approach is intended to be adaptable to different regional contexts while providing a common foundation across the WAZA community.
The Goal supports a more consistent approach to monitoring and reporting conservation contributions across WAZA Member Regional Associations.
The framework identifies a range of conservation pathways through which members may contribute and will include a common set of indicators to support consistent reporting across WAZA Member Regional Associations. These reflect the IUCN SSC Position Statement on the role of Botanic Gardens, Aquariums and Zoos and include:
- Ex situ population management
- In situ conservation
- Social impact
- Capacity sharing and development
- Health and pathology
- Knowledge generation and conservation science
The indicators included in the framework are intended to support the development of this approach. At this time, they are illustrative and developmental rather than a fixed set of indicators being approved by WAZA. They will be tested, refined and improved through implementation and shared learning.
Regional Associations will report information to WAZA, enabling information to be brought together at regional and global levels. The approach is also designed to support alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), helping to demonstrate the contribution of zoos and aquariums to wider global biodiversity goals.
As implementation develops and the quality and coverage of information improve, the information generated through the Goal may provide opportunities for WAZA to:
- demonstrate the collective conservation contribution of the global zoo and aquarium community;
- identify strengths, gaps and opportunities;
- strengthen advocacy with governments, international conventions, conservation organisations, funding partners and other stakeholders;
- showcase the conservation contributions of WAZA Members;
- support learning and collaboration between Regional Associations; and
- inform WAZA’s strategic priorities and future conservation initiatives.
These are potential uses of the information and will develop as implementation progresses.
Following approval of the WAZA 2030 Conservation Goal in October 2026, implementation will take place through WAZA Member Regional Associations.
The initial focus will be on establishing and strengthening the foundations for regional conservation frameworks and reporting processes. Work on indicators will continue alongside implementation, allowing WAZA and Regional Associations to test approaches, share learning and refine the indicators over time.
The 2030 Conservation Goal is therefore intended as a process of continuous improvement: building the foundations now and strengthening the collective conservation contribution of WAZA Members over time.
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is the global alliance of regional associations, national federations, zoos and aquariums, dedicated to the care and conservation of animals and their habitats around the world.
