Zoo BAPs: Biodiversity Action Plans for Conserving Native Wildlife in and Around Zoological Gardens

TY - JOUR

T1 - Zoo BAPs

T2 - Biodiversity Action Plans for Conserving Native Wildlife in and Around Zoological Gardens

AU - Hambly, Natasha

AU - Marshall, Andy

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - Failure by the international community to meet Convention on Biological Diversity targets has heaped added pressure on national and local Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs). A Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) is a document which sets out targets for biodiversity based on priority species and habitats, and is widely used at a local and national level. Measures of success (or “targets”) using designated indicators are central to the design of a BAP, which allow compliance with national-level BAPs (e.g. UK Biodiversity Actions Reporting System; BARS) and international demand for evidence-based conservation. Zoological gardens are playing an increasing role in practical conservation of wild habitats, but zoos have rarely developed formal BAPs. Here we introduce the concept of Zoo BAPs, i.e. strategic plans for the conservation of biodiversity in and around zoological gardens. We use the first formal Zoo BAP, developed at Flamingo Land Resort in the UK, to introduce a framework for the establishment, monitoring and re-evaluation of a Zoo BAP. Throughout the framework we emphasise stakeholder participation, particularly involving zoo staff and local government biodiversity representatives. Species and habitats must be selected that are locally relevant, and are either threatened or have value as indicators of flagships for conservation. Each species or habitat must have targets that can be measured, monitored, and then evaluated for annual revision of conservation actions. This kind of Adaptive Management should allow a flexible, evidence-based approach to conservation. Use of national and international frameworks for biodiversity assessment should also help zoos to become increasingly aligned with the international conservation community.

AB - Failure by the international community to meet Convention on Biological Diversity targets has heaped added pressure on national and local Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs). A Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) is a document which sets out targets for biodiversity based on priority species and habitats, and is widely used at a local and national level. Measures of success (or “targets”) using designated indicators are central to the design of a BAP, which allow compliance with national-level BAPs (e.g. UK Biodiversity Actions Reporting System; BARS) and international demand for evidence-based conservation. Zoological gardens are playing an increasing role in practical conservation of wild habitats, but zoos have rarely developed formal BAPs. Here we introduce the concept of Zoo BAPs, i.e. strategic plans for the conservation of biodiversity in and around zoological gardens. We use the first formal Zoo BAP, developed at Flamingo Land Resort in the UK, to introduce a framework for the establishment, monitoring and re-evaluation of a Zoo BAP. Throughout the framework we emphasise stakeholder participation, particularly involving zoo staff and local government biodiversity representatives. Species and habitats must be selected that are locally relevant, and are either threatened or have value as indicators of flagships for conservation. Each species or habitat must have targets that can be measured, monitored, and then evaluated for annual revision of conservation actions. This kind of Adaptive Management should allow a flexible, evidence-based approach to conservation. Use of national and international frameworks for biodiversity assessment should also help zoos to become increasingly aligned with the international conservation community.

KW - CMP Open Standards

KW - conservation evidence

KW - indicator species

KW - in situ

KW - native species

KW - strategic framework

M3 - Comment/debate

VL - 2

SP - 18

EP - 21

JO - Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research

JF - Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research

IS - 1

ER -