EAZA DOCUMENTS

Codes and Standards, Position Statements, Annual reports and more...

Running a zoo or aquarium for ex situ conservation is a complex interaction of scientific principle, ethics and culture.  A shared set of standards and documents helps our members to work together to ensure constantly improving animal welfare, education, research and conservation across Europe and report our progress objectively to our visitors.

The documents in this section set out how EAZA functions as an organisation and how EAZA members are expected to carry out activities that fall under EAZA's remit. Any zoo or aquarium considering applying for membership of EAZA should study these documents carefully before submitting their application. Please note that the documents presented here are revised from time to time. A presentation giving an overview of how these documents relate to each other can be seen here

 
 
 

Governing documents

These are the core documents that govern and direct the functioning of EAZA as an organisation and the activities of its Members.

The EAZA Code of Ethics and Conduct also requires members to observe the following documents from the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and WAZA (World Association of Zoos and Aquariums).

 
 
 

Standards

EAZA members are obliged to comply with the provisions set out in the documents listed below. Other important documents concerning member participation in EEPs (European Endangered species Programmes) and ESBs (European StudBooks) can be found in the collection planning chapter on this website.

 
 
 

EAZA Guidelines

EAZA Guidelines represent Council approved advice on specific issues which Members are strongly encouraged to follow.

 
 
 

Strategies

EAZA regularly develops strategic plans to guide the activities of the organisation for a set period. These strategy documents are published externally where it is judged that there will be a benefit in doing so. 

 
 
 

Position statements

From time to time EAZA publishes position statements setting out the organisation's current position on a key issue and what we would like to see happen in the future. Some of these concern issues that directly affect zoos and aquariums and their functioning, whereas others pertain to wider issues of interest to EAZA members, with particular regard to the mission areas of conservation, education and research. 

 
 
 
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Best Practice Guidelines

EAZA Best Practice Guidelines are produced by the various Taxon Advisory Groups (TAGs) to merge expert husbandry knowledge and make it widely available within and outside the borders of the EAZA community.

Annual reports

The reports summarize the work of EAZA and the activities carried out by all of the EAZA Committees. They can be downloaded by selecting the link:

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TAG Reports

EAZA’s Taxon Advisory Groups (TAGs) cover all groups of animals held by EAZA collections. A TAG meeting is held at least once per year, which brings breeding programme managers, other experts and interested parties together. To ensure the quality of intensively managed populations, the TAGs evaluate their EEPs every five years. A detailed overview of these activities can be found in the TAG Reports listed below. If you wish to receive more information on any of the topics raised, please contact the EAZA Executive Office via info@eaza.net.

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