Zoos vital as EU aims to meet biodiversity targets
by Lesley Dickie
06 January 2012
The EU has a mechanism to ensure that zoos and aquariums fulfil conservation requirements but is it being implemented as well as it should?
Europe is home to some world-beating zoos and aquariums. They carry out extraordinary work that benefits both human culture and the conservation of biodiversity.
The European Union zoos directive acknowledges the role that they can and should play in conservation in the wild. It contains measures that the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria have been calling for but the directive will only work if national authorities enforce it – which, sadly, is not always the case.
Going to the zoo is always a fun day out. It stimulates young minds and provides an unforgettable experience for all – young and old. European zoos welcome an astonishing 130 to140 million visitors every year and the popularity of zoos is growing. But it's important to understand that a major attraction of going to the zoo is the educational value. Five million children a year are formally educated on conservation and biodiversity. Our zoos are the largest non-governmental education network in Europe.
Collectively EAZA members annually devote more than €100m to conservation in the wild. The association's zoos partner with the world's foremost conservation body, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which recognises responsible zoos as key components in conserving the Earth's biodiversity. In 2012, IUCN is partnering with EAZA in a joint international campaign to raise funds for the conservation of the biodiversity of Southeast Asia.
So why do zoos get a bad time from their critics? It's simple: because in some cases, they deserve it. Some zoos need to do more to improve their standards and their conservation commitments. It is easy for critics to generalise – a zoo is a zoo is a zoo. But some zoos are better than others. The EAZA cannot speak for those poorly performing zoos since our membership is based on the highest standards but they are in the minority and what we can do – and are doing – is help bring them up to speed. The zoo community, like any other sector, should not be represented by the worst cases.
But what about the conservation role of zoos in a world that is seeing ever increased species decline and widespread failure by governments to reach the targets set through the former 2010 Convention on Biological Diversity? Well, there is also a legislative mechanism via the EU Zoos Directive (1999/22/EC).
The EAZA lobbied repeatedly throughout the 1990's for its introduction – and is also the only body named in the text of the directive as an example of good practice. This directive seeks to ensure that Article 9 of the Convention on Biodiversity is carried out effectively in the EU. And it has been implemented into many national legislations in an exemplary manner.
A recent study commissioned by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the United Kingdom demonstrated that zoos are working well in countries where there is a good application of the existing regulatory framework. ADAS, a consultancy group, carried out a review of UK implementation. While this study pointed out areas of improvement it also found that inspections were taking place as they should and that indeed there had been great improvements in the past 10 years.
The legislation is also well implemented in a number of other member states, not least countries such as Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Ireland, France and many more. But as the EU continues to expand, care must be taken to ensure that standards are harmonised across member states. In some countries, the directive is being implemented more slowly, which frustrates good zoos as they struggle for the recognition they deserve.
Member states need to ensure that they are implementing the directive to the highest level and the EU should provide guidance and resources to help them undertake this work. A good start would be using the systems that have been shown to work in countries such as the UK as best practice examples. Providing training mechanisms whereby zoo inspectors are trained by the real zoo experts would be invaluable.
The zoos of Europe are a huge resource and can be an important contributor to the efforts reaching the 2020 biodiversity targets. Target number one states that: "By 2020, at the latest, people are aware of the values of biodiversity and the steps they can take to conserve and use it sustainably." This is something that good zoos do every day. More targeted evaluation of learning in zoos is being developed and is starting to show dividends, but there are research opportunities for Member States and the EU in this field.
By ensuring that every zoo lives up to the highest standards the EU has the opportunity to lead in all aspects of achieving the 2020 biodiversity targets. Europe should treasure its good zoos – in the near future more and more species are going to rely on them for their very existence.
Dr Lesley Dickie is the executive director of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria
Europe is home to some world-beating zoos and aquariums. They carry out extraordinary work that benefits both human culture and the conservation of biodiversity.
The European Union zoos directive acknowledges the role that they can and should play in conservation in the wild. It contains measures that the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria have been calling for but the directive will only work if national authorities enforce it – which, sadly, is not always the case.
Going to the zoo is always a fun day out. It stimulates young minds and provides an unforgettable experience for all – young and old. European zoos welcome an astonishing 130 to140 million visitors every year and the popularity of zoos is growing. But it's important to understand that a major attraction of going to the zoo is the educational value. Five million children a year are formally educated on conservation and biodiversity. Our zoos are the largest non-governmental education network in Europe.
Collectively EAZA members annually devote more than €100m to conservation in the wild. The association's zoos partner with the world's foremost conservation body, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which recognises responsible zoos as key components in conserving the Earth's biodiversity. In 2012, IUCN is partnering with EAZA in a joint international campaign to raise funds for the conservation of the biodiversity of Southeast Asia.
So why do zoos get a bad time from their critics? It's simple: because in some cases, they deserve it. Some zoos need to do more to improve their standards and their conservation commitments. It is easy for critics to generalise – a zoo is a zoo is a zoo. But some zoos are better than others. The EAZA cannot speak for those poorly performing zoos since our membership is based on the highest standards but they are in the minority and what we can do – and are doing – is help bring them up to speed. The zoo community, like any other sector, should not be represented by the worst cases.
But what about the conservation role of zoos in a world that is seeing ever increased species decline and widespread failure by governments to reach the targets set through the former 2010 Convention on Biological Diversity? Well, there is also a legislative mechanism via the EU Zoos Directive (1999/22/EC).
The EAZA lobbied repeatedly throughout the 1990's for its introduction – and is also the only body named in the text of the directive as an example of good practice. This directive seeks to ensure that Article 9 of the Convention on Biodiversity is carried out effectively in the EU. And it has been implemented into many national legislations in an exemplary manner.
A recent study commissioned by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the United Kingdom demonstrated that zoos are working well in countries where there is a good application of the existing regulatory framework. ADAS, a consultancy group, carried out a review of UK implementation. While this study pointed out areas of improvement it also found that inspections were taking place as they should and that indeed there had been great improvements in the past 10 years.
The legislation is also well implemented in a number of other member states, not least countries such as Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Ireland, France and many more. But as the EU continues to expand, care must be taken to ensure that standards are harmonised across member states. In some countries, the directive is being implemented more slowly, which frustrates good zoos as they struggle for the recognition they deserve.
Member states need to ensure that they are implementing the directive to the highest level and the EU should provide guidance and resources to help them undertake this work. A good start would be using the systems that have been shown to work in countries such as the UK as best practice examples. Providing training mechanisms whereby zoo inspectors are trained by the real zoo experts would be invaluable.
The zoos of Europe are a huge resource and can be an important contributor to the efforts reaching the 2020 biodiversity targets. Target number one states that: "By 2020, at the latest, people are aware of the values of biodiversity and the steps they can take to conserve and use it sustainably." This is something that good zoos do every day. More targeted evaluation of learning in zoos is being developed and is starting to show dividends, but there are research opportunities for Member States and the EU in this field.
By ensuring that every zoo lives up to the highest standards the EU has the opportunity to lead in all aspects of achieving the 2020 biodiversity targets. Europe should treasure its good zoos – in the near future more and more species are going to rely on them for their very existence.
Dr Lesley Dickie is the executive director of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria
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