One of the greatest strengths of EAZA is our ability to work with partners to enhance our collective impact. Our commitment to working together across diverse cultures and at all levels is especially evident through our Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). EAZA currently has renewable 5-year MoUs with:
- European Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians (EAZWV)
- European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM)
- European Union of Aquarium Curators (EUAC)
These MoUs highlight areas of mutual interest and where cooperative working can enhance our common goals, for example by allocating seats on respective committees and working groups, collaborating on species and collections management, joint communications, and lobby work.
EAZA also partners with other zoo and aquarium associations, including having MoUs with:
- Asociación Latinomericana de Parques Zoológicos y Acuarios (ALPZA)
- Pan-African Association of Zoos and Aquaria (PAAZA)
- Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Reproductive Management Centre
These MoUs assist in sharing of information and best practice to make sure our increasingly international work occurs in a comparative and collaborative environment.
EAZA is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA) and holds a seat on WAZA Council, as well as working with WAZA on interactions with the International Air Transport Association (IATA). EAZA also holds seats on the Boards of international organisations such as Species360 and the Amphibian Survival Alliance. EAZA plays an important part in many Global Species Management Plans (GSMPs) under the auspices of WAZA. In particular, EAZA is part of a MoU with Indonesia Zoo and Aquarium Association, AZA, IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group, and IUCN SSC Wild Pig Specialist Group concerning GSMPs for anoa, banteng, babirusa and Sumatran tiger.
EAZA develops specific partnerships in support of our regular Conservation Campaigns. As part of our Conservation Campaign, Silent Forest: Asian songbird crisis EAZA agreed the MoUs with partners IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Asian Songbird Trade Specialist group, Birdlife International, and TRAFFIC. As part of the Which Fish?: Sustainable aquatic resources Campaign 2020-2021, specific MoUs were signed with EAAM and EUAC. They outline joint work developing and implementing education/awareness strategies aimed at both visitors and institutions, developing Positions Statements, and encouraging Members to be part of the Campaign.
EAZA is a member of IUCN and Members and staff from the EAZA Executive Office continue to have strong links with the IUCN SSC and hold seats on Specialist Groups such as the Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) and work with the Asian Species Action Partnership (ASAP). In 2017, the MoU between EAZA, IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation on the restoration (reintroduction) of the Persian leopard in the Western Caucasus was also renewed for another five years.
EAZA has a MoU with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Akagera Management Company (AMC) running from 2018-2023. This important MoU concerns EAZA, RDB and AMC working together to release and monitor Eastern black rhinoceroses from the EAZA Ex Situ Programme to the Akagera National Park, Rwanda. A MoU between EAZA and AAP regarding cooperation for the EAZA Ex situ Programme (EEP) for Barbary macaque is running 2020-2025
The EAZA Biobank became fully established in 2019 and MoUs were agreed with the four hubs based at Antwerp Zoo, Copenhagen Zoo, IZW, RZSS. A MoU with Cardiff University is in place on CryoArks biobanking, and ones with Nature’s Safe and The Autonomous University of Barcelona on further biobank collaborations.
Partner organisations
