Organisers: IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group Europe (CPSG Europe), the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA)
We will showcase the implementation of certain tools and processes in the IUCN Global Species Action Plan, that can be used to plan and act for threatened species whose recovery depends on species management actions. We will further illustrate the importance and breadth of ex-situ conservation measures in species conservation and address misperceptions about what ex-situ conservation is and is not.
Opening words: Ann-Katrine Garn (Copenhagen Zoo and Chair IUCN National Committee of Denmark). Speakers: Kristin Leus (CPSG Europe, Denmark), Merel Zimmermann (EAZA Executive Office, The Netherlands). Tomasz Rusek (EAZA Executive Office, Belgium), Alice Albertini (EAZA Executive Office, Belgium) Katharina Herrmann (CPSG Europe, Denmark), Danny de Man (EAZA, The Netherlands), Christina Hvilsom (Copenhagen Zoo, Denmark).
Saving species requires an effective and strategic joint effort, using diverse approaches. Target 4 of the CBD Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) focuses on the need for species management actions, including in situ and ex-situ conservation, to prevent extinctions and enable the recovery of species and their genetic diversity. Resolution 79 of the 2020 IUCN World Conservation Congress promotes the integration of in situ and ex situ conservation interventions by applying the One Plan Approach; and the IUCN SSC Position Statement on the role of botanic gardens, aquariums and zoos in species conservation urges the global species conservation community to work in a collaborative and integrated fashion towards reversing biodiversity declines.
Assessing which of the tens of thousands of globally or nationally threatened species can recover through the implementation of site, habitat or threat-directed biodiversity strategies, policies or GBF Targets; and which may, in addition, depend on species level planning and management actions, can be a daunting task. Through case studies implemented in conjunction with European and national Red Lists, we will showcase how the CPSG ‘Assess to Plan’ process and associated multispecies planning methodology provides a workflow to overcome these challenges.
For species flagged as potentially needing intensive management actions (in situ or ex-situ), CPSG and EAZA joined forces to design the Ex-situ Conservation Assessment (ECA) process that follows the One Plan Approach and uses the decision steps in the IUCN Guidelines for the Use of Ex situ Management for Species Conservation to assess if, and which, ex-situ management options are appropriate to include in a species’ plan. CPSG will introduce the ECA process, which can be used in the context of species planning, or for zoo, botanic garden, and biobank species planning. EAZA will illustrate its ECA-based Regional Species Planning process used to identify species benefitting from cooperative ex-situ conservation in the form of EAZA Ex situ Programmes. EAZA will furthermore showcase how the progressive and accredited zoos and aquarium community, collectively and through the work of individual members, is taking on the responsibility to Assess, Plan and Act for the conservation of species and their genetic diversity, locally and globally.
Finally, participants in the session will gain a deeper understanding of the importance, breadth and characteristics of effective ex-situ conservation actions, which will also provide guidance in the context of conventions (e.g. CITES) or regulations (e.g. EU Invasive Alien Species Regulation).
The session is a collaborative effort of IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group Europe (CPSG Europe) and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). CPSG Europe was established in 1979. Its mission is to increase the effectiveness of species conservation efforts through scientifically sound, collaborative planning that brings together people with diverse perspectives and knowledge. CPSG provides species conservation planning expertise to governments, other SSC Specialist Groups, zoos and aquariums, and other wildlife organisations. CPSG Europe is the European Regional Resource Centre of CPSG, hosted by Copenhagen Zoo. EAZA is the membership organisation that sets the standard for progressive zoos and aquariums and other partners across Europe, Western Asia and beyond. We strive continuously to define and demonstrate excellence in integrated species conservation through a transparent and collaborative approach to population management, wild animal care and welfare, representation with international organisations, conservation education, and scientific research.