Convenors: Onnie Byers, John Fa
The Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE), a consortium of biodiversity conservation organizations, focuses on species that face extinction either because their last remaining habitat is being degraded at a local level, or because their tiny global ranges make them especially vulnerable to external threats and imminent extinction if no appropriate conservation action is taken.
AZE can offer zoos an excellent prioritization platform on which to base their species conservation choices. This approach is attractive, compelling and takes full advantage of the skills, experience, and unique value the zoo and aquarium community can provide while assisting the most endangered species and sites worldwide.
At last year’s CBSG Annual Meeting, 26 people from 9 countries discussed this approach. It was agreed that there is a need for action by zoos on behalf of species in imminent danger of extinction and that collaboration with AZE would offer a favorable cost-to-benefit ratio for conservation action.
Initial actions were identified including determining where, within the zoo and aquarium world, there are current programs (ex situ population management or in situ field conservation programs) for AZE species. Information on preliminary numbers of ex situ population management programs were compiled and presented to the AZE Board meeting in Washington, D.C. on 25 October 2012 as part of a proposal for a connection with the zoological community. The AZE Board is extremely interested in the potential for collaboration with the zoo and aquarium community.
This year we will build our case and begin defining how to operationalize this concept and how CBSG can assist in the implementation of these collaborations. We will outline, and perhaps begin drafting, a white paper describing to the zoo community the AZE prioritization process and the value of their participation in conservation efforts for AZE sites and trigger species.
Briefing Material:
Back to 2013 Briefing Book.