Ostrava Zoo welcomes you!
Ostrava Zoo was founded in 1951 as a leisure park for miners. It is located in a unique locality of the Great Ostrava Forest on an area of almost 100 hectares which makes it the second-largest zoo in the Czech Republic. The vast area as well as the array of various biotopes offered by the forest, meadows, and wetlands enable the zoo to provide animals with large and enriched enclosures. Almost 7,000 animals in more than 450 species and tens of thousands of plants can be found in Ostrava Zoological Garden and Botanical Park, many of them being highly endangered.
Since its beginnings, the zoo has gradually become an important centre of rest and education for all and especially a place where efforts are made to save animal species that face a high degree of threat in their natural habitats or have already disappeared from the wild. Ostrava Zoo is breeding an ever-increasing number of endangered species, many of which are included in the EAZA Ex-situ Programmes. Since 1995, the zoo has provided more than 600 animals of 11 species for release into the wild. Within the “3 CZK for Wildlife” program, over twenty in situ projects around the world have been supported financially in the past 7 years. The zoo also invests in conservation by employing field workers or providing projects with the necessary equipment, etc. The zoo puts emphasis also on protecting and enhancing the biodiversity of local fauna and flora directly in its own area. It is the protection of animals in their natural environment that is one of the main goals of modern zoos, which Ostrava Zoo undoubtedly fulfills.
Venue
The furtherance of species conservation has become the predominant objective of EAZA and its Members. It's now clear that the zoo and aquarium community's role in conservation extends far beyond helping to save endangered species through ex situ population management programmes. Through their links with in situ projects many Members of EAZA are active in the conservation of species within their different habitats and entire ecosystems. The EAZA Conservation Forum is a biennial event bringing together over 100 representatives of zoos and aquariums, conservation organisations and in situ conservation projects for three days of workshops, presentations and other activities. The programme will be have specific focus on how to deliver (field) conservation activities of high quality and impact, no matter the scale.
From 4– 7 June 2024, the EAZA Conservation Forum will be hosted by Zoo Ostrava in the Czech Republic
The location of the venue is:
Tyršova 1250
702 00 Moravská Ostrava a Přívoz
Czech Republic
Conference schedule (subject to change)
| Tuesday 4 June | EAZA Academy Course & Icebreaker |
| Wednesday 5 June | Forum Programme day 1 |
| Thursday 6 June | Forum Programme day 2 |
| Friday 7 June |
Forum Programme day 3 & Farewell dinner |
| Saturday 8 June |
Optional excursion |
Call for abstracts
During the Conservation Forum the EAZA Conservation Committee strives to create a meaningful platform where the zoo and aquarium community as well as the field conservation community can discuss and exchange experiences in conservation and continue to build bridges between the two worlds. The programme of the EAZA Conservation Forum 2024 will be partially based and formed with content coming from the zoo and aquarium community as well as the field conservation community – with a specific focus on how to best deliver conservation activities of high quality and positive impact, no matter the scale. Please scroll down a bit to find the general themes/topics we encourage you to submit your abstracts towards, with some examples of what to think about.
When submitting an abstract, please be aware we are specifically looking for talks and/or interactive sessions that deliver on one of the broader themes/topics described on the next page, that will have strong 'take home messages' and have applicability to a wide range of the participants. Therefore, we highly encourage evidence-based information to support your subject matter, but please avoid abstracts that are purely focusing on presenting and promoting specific conservation projects.
There are different formats accepted for your contribution: oral presentations, posters, movies, workshops, and discussion sessions. You will also be asked if you would be open to being part of workshops and/or discussion sessions with your content if there is the opportunity.
Submission
You can submit your abstract online before 1 March 2023 through the Oxford Abstracts platform. Please note, you will be prompted to create an account to be able to submit your abstract.
Questions? Please contact merel.zimmermann@eaza.net
Topics
The role of zoos and aquaria in the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)
- Ideas on how we can evidence the success and effectiveness of our work in species conservation.
- What has been your reach and significance?
- What processes have you changed?
- What behavior have you changed?
- What situations have you changed?
- Ideas on how we get ex situ conservation efforts included/acknowledged at governmental level reporting on the GBF.
- Stopping biodiversity loss through working with politicians – ideas on how to get involved with politicians; what has worked where?
Conservation Planning for Institutions
- Working on an institutional conservation plan: what would you put in, who have you involved?
- Thinking outside of the box: field conservation ideas that are not financially heavy or how do you get started?
Project Design and Selection
- Examples of how to ensure the precious resources committed are well invested and in appropriate actions to achieve conservation goals.
- Experiences with tools available
Setting Measurable Targets
- Examples of how you can set measurable targets for small scale or large scale conservation activities.
- Experiences with tools available
Monitoring, Evaluating and Adaptive Management
- Examples of methods to ensure conservation projects or activities stay on track and to demonstrate success at the end of the project or activity.
- Examples of how evaluation results have informed management decisions about changes that may be required within your projects or activities.
- Experiences with tools available
Communication of Conservation
- How should we communicate conservation work to different audiences: ourselves, funders, governments, and the wider conservation community?
European Species Conservation
- How do you connect with national environmental NGOs?
- How do you determine priorities?
Programme
Under construction
Registration
Early-bird registration will open mid-January 2024
Pricing schedule
| Full conference, early rate | € |
| Full conference, regular rate | € |
| Single day, early rate | € |
| Single day, regular rate | € |
Student discount fees are not available.
Optional costs:
- EAZA Academy course (EAZA members): €
- EAZA Academy course (Non-EAZA members): €
- Post-conference excursion
For questions about conference logistics and registration, please contact mirko.marseille@eaza.net
For questions relating to the programme, please contact merel.zimmermann@eaza.net
Please take notice of the following EAZA Events cancellation policy:
- If you cancel more than four weeks before the event starts you will be reimbursed the full registration fee minus €50,- handling charges.
- If you cancel less than four weeks before the event starts you will be charged 25% of the fees.
- If you cancel less than two weeks before the event starts you will be charged 50% of the fees.
Cancellations one week prior to the event will not be refunded
It is your responsibility to ensure that your cancellation for the Academy course/EAZA Conservation Forum is confirmed by the EAZA Academy or the EAZA Office respectively.