Today, on World Wildlife Day, we celebrate the critical role of conservation finance in protecting our planet's biodiversity. As progressive aquariums and zoos, we are uniquely positioned as major investors in wildlife conservation.
Each year, WAZA members, aquariums and zoos, collectively invest in conservation projects worldwide. This extends beyond just funding and also includes investing in people, communities, and in building expertise and capacity to work to protect the future of our planet.
In the face of unprecedented biodiversity loss, aquariums and zoos stand at the forefront of species protection and recovery. Our members are vital centres of conservation expertise, combining practical wildlife management with scientific research to help hold species decline. Through strategic conservation investment, WAZA members work to protect critical habitats, restore endangered populations, and maintain the delicate balance of Earth ecosystems.
This World Wildlife Day, I encourage everyone to think about conservation as an investment, an investment in our communities, in our future, and in our shared planet. Together, we can ensure that wildlife thrives for generations to come.