EAZA and Education

One of EAZA's objectives, as stated in its constitution, is "to promote education, in particular environmental education". This objective is interpreted in two ways:

1. EAZA wants to further the quality and extent of environmental/conservation education in its member institutions in order to increase effectiveness in nature conservation. EAZA wants to be a facilitator for the membership to help achieve this objective
2. EAZA wants to promote the enormous potential value of zoo and aquarium education to authorities and conservation bodies. EAZA seeks support for its members' individual and joint education programmes, and invites other organisations to make efficient use of these programmes.

As suggested in chapter 5 of the World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy (2005), zoos and aquariums should make a significant conservation contribution by acting as leaders and mentors in socially - and culturally - relevant formal and informal education, thereby influencing people's attitudes and behaviour toward wildlife and environments, local and global.

 World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy
 Summary version in English
 Summary version in German
 Summary version in Arabic

Zoos and aquariums reach hundreds of millions of people all over the world. The great majority of the people live in urban areas and have little to no contact with nature. Education - explaining the irreplaceable value of the entire biological system of our planet and all of its constituent components - is a most powerful tool in raising the level of general awareness.

Education Committee

The EAZA Education Committee, one of the Specialist Committees of EAZA, keeps a close watch on new developments relating to this area and stimulates a high level of education in the EAZA membership. Members of this committee are diverse educational specialists from zoos throughout Europe. European Board members of IZE (International Zoo Educators) are also members of the  EAZA committee.

The committee drafted Education Standards which were adopted by the EAZA Council in 2001 and updated in 2008.

 EAZA Education Standards (2008)

A new EAZA Eduction Strategy is currently in development by the EAZA Education Committee.