Information Launch From:
The Affiliation of Zoos and Aquariums
The Wildlife Conservation Society
Contacts:
Affiliation of Zoos and Aquariums, Rob Vernon, [email protected]; +1 202-365-7612
Wildlife Conservation Society, Mary Dixon, [email protected]; +1 347-840-1242
Zoos and Aquariums Be part of Forces to Advance International Targets to Defend Wildlife and Wild Locations Throughout the World
With the Energy of Tens of millions Behind Us: We Are Resolved to Halt and Reverse the World’s Catastrophic Decline in Biodiversity
Silver Spring, MD, October 11, 2023 – The Affiliation of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) member services are uniting behind advancing the targets of the Kunnming-Montreal International Biodiversity Framework, together with defending at the very least 30 % of the planet by 2030 (30×30).
Greater than 100 AZA-accredited members have already signed a declaration (with signatories as of 10/10/2023) uniting behind efforts to finish and reverse the world’s catastrophic decline of biodiversity.
AZA members, situated in 13 nations, at present make investments greater than $250 million yearly in subject conservation, making it one of many largest funders for biodiversity globally. As well as, these zoos and aquariums encourage and interact greater than 200 million guests a 12 months to care about and take motion for animals and their ecosystems.
AZA and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have joined collectively to unite your complete AZA group behind making 30×30 a actuality, together with the opposite agreed-upon targets of the Kunming-Montreal International Biodiversity Framework. These targets and targets embrace retaining and restoring ecological integrity of ecosystems; saving threatened and endangered species; ending unlawful and unsustainable wildlife commerce; and stopping future pandemics.
“The super-power of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums is the chance to affect and encourage the 200 million individuals who go to yearly,” mentioned Dan Ashe, President and CEO of the Affiliation of Zoos and Aquariums. “Our members present experiences that create connections to nature, evoke empathy, and encourage motion that may assist us achieve preserving 30 % of nature by 2030.”
Monica Medina, President and CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society, which runs 4 zoos and an aquarium in New York Metropolis, together with the Bronx Zoo, mentioned, “At WCS, we’re proud to be part of efforts uniting zoos and aquariums behind the Kunming-Montreal International Biodiversity Framework targets and targets, together with 30×30 and ecological integrity. That is the last decade the place it should be all fingers on deck to halt and reverse the biodiversity disaster. Zoos and aquariums are a mega power for conservation. Our WCS Bronx Zoo, working carefully with our international subject and coverage applications, has a protracted historical past funding conservation, offering scientific information to field-based initiatives, and educating and galvanizing tens of millions concerning the significance of wildlife and their habitats.”
The declaration reads partially: “With the ability of the tens of millions who assist our parks yearly, we totally decide to the Kunming-Montreal International Biodiversity Framework, particularly its targets and targets to halt and reverse the decline in biodiversity.
“We’ll attempt to make it a actuality by working globally with governments, different conservation organizations, civil society, Indigenous peoples, native communities, companies, and different stakeholders.
“We’ll proceed to work to make sure that all our guests and members perceive the significance of defending, conserving, and restoring each species and their habitats, and attaining all the targets of the International Biodiversity Framework. We’ll attempt to seek out methods to enlist their assist and assist.”
The inaugural zoos and aquariums which have signed the declaration as of Oct. 10, 2023:
115 Complete sign-ons
Abilene Zoological Gardens; Akron Zoo; Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative; Aquarium Of Niagara; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; Audubon Zoo & Park; Baylor College Bear Habitat; Birch Aquarium at Scripps Establishment of Oceanography; Birmingham Zoo; Clean Park Zoo; Brevard Zoo; Bronx Zoo – A Wildlife Conservation Society Park; Brookfield Zoo – Chicago Zoological Society; Butterfly Pavilion; Buttonwood Park Zoo; Cabrillo Marine Aquarium; California Academy of Sciences; Central Florida Zoo; Central Park Zoo – A Wildlife Conservation Society Park; Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Backyard; Cleveland Metroparks Zoo; Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland; Columbus Zoo & Aquarium; Como Park Zoo and Conservatory; Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo; Cosley Zoo; CuriOdyssey; The Dallas World Aquarium; Dayton Society of Pure Historical past, Boonshoft Museum of Discovery; Detroit Zoological Society; Dickerson Park Zoo; Disney’s Animals, Science and Setting; Duke Lemur Heart; El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens; Ellen Trout Zoo; Essex County Turtle Again Zoo; The Florida Aquarium; Fort Wayne Kids’s Zoo; Fossil Rim Wildlife Heart; Fresno Chaffee Zoo; Georgia Aquarium; Nice Plains Zoo; Henry Vilas Zoo; Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens; Jenkinson’s Aquarium; Kansas Metropolis Zoo and Aquarium; Lake Superior Zoo; Lehigh Valley Zoo; Lincoln Park Zoo; Little Rock Zoo; The Residing Desert Zoo and Backyard; Los Angeles Zoo; Lubee Bat Conservancy; Marineland Dolphin Journey; The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk; Maryland Zoo in Baltimore; Memphis Zoo; Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Backyard; Millbrook’s Trevor Zoo; Miller Park Zoo; Milwaukee County Zoo; Mississippi State Aquarium; Moody Gardens, Inc.; Mystic Aquarium; Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens; Nashville Zoo; Nationwide Mississippi River Museum; New England Aquarium; New York Aquarium – A Wildlife Conservation Society Park; North Carolina Aquarium Society; Northeastern Wisconsin Zoo & Journey Park; Oakland Zoo; OdySea Aquarium; Oglebay Good Zoo; Oklahoma Metropolis Zoo and Botanical Backyard; Oregon Coast Aquarium; Oregon Zoo; Peoria Zoo; Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium; Level Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park; Polar Bears Worldwide; Prospect Park Zoo – A Wildlife Conservation Society Park; Pueblo Zoo; Queens Zoo – A Wildlife Conservation Society Park; Racine Zoo; Pink River Zoo; Reid Park Zoo; Riverbanks Zoo; Roger Williams Park Zoo; Rolling Hills Zoo; Saint Louis Zoo; San Antonio Zoo; San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance; Santa Barbara Zoo; Santa Fe School Instructing Zoo; Scovill Zoo; SEA LIFE Aquarium at LEGOLAND California Resort; Seattle Aquarium; SeaWorld Parks; Sequoia Park Zoo; Shedd Aquarium; South Carolina Aquarium; The Staten Island Zoo; Sundown Zoo; Tennessee Aquarium; The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium; Toronto Zoo; Tracy Aviary; Virginia Aquarium Basis; Virginia Zoo; Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo; Woodland Park Zoo; Zoo New England – Franklin Park Zoo & Stone Zoo; Zoo Miami; ZooMontana
###
About AZA
Based in 1924, the Affiliation of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit group devoted to the development of zoos and aquariums within the areas of conservation, animal wellbeing, training, science, and recreation. AZA is the accrediting physique for the highest zoos and aquariums in the US and twelve different nations. Search for the AZA accreditation brand everytime you go to a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you’re supporting a facility devoted to offering glorious look after animals, an awesome expertise for you, and a greater future for all residing issues. The AZA is a frontrunner in saving species and your hyperlink to serving to animals all around the world. To be taught extra, go to www.aza.org.
About Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
WCS combines the ability of its zoos and an aquarium in New York Metropolis and a International Conservation Program in additional than 50 nations to realize its mission to avoid wasting wildlife and wild locations. WCS runs the world’s largest conservation subject program, defending greater than 50 % of Earth’s identified biodiversity; in partnership with governments, Indigenous Individuals, Native Communities, and the personal sector. It’s 4 zoos and aquarium (the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and the New York Aquarium ) welcomes greater than 3.5 million guests every year, inspiring generations to look after nature. Based in 1895 because the New York Zoological Society, the group is led (as of June 1, 2023) by President and CEO Monica P. Medina. Go to: newsroom.wcs.org. Comply with: @WCSNewsroom. For extra data: +1 (347) 840-1242. Hearken to the WCS Wild Audio podcast HERE.