Strategic Focus

The Strategic Focus and Guiding Principles of Conservation Outreach

Calgary Zoological Society Conservation Outreach achieves positive conservation outcomes by engaging in the following activities:

1)  Conducting original research in order to provide insights which will guide conservation activities and interventions. 

2)  Conducting or supporting activities which will build capacity of project partners and local communities to undertake conservation activities over the long term.

3)  Providing specialized skills or resources to conservation partners, as summarized on the Outreach Projects page, here.

Calgary Zoological Society Conservation Outreach chooses its program partners and project initiatives based on the following principles:

1)  Conservation projects are more successful and sustainable when support is consistent and long term.

2)  To achieve long-term conservation success, the needs of local communities must also be met.

3)  Successful conservation approaches can and should be adapted to other situations where conservation intervention is required.

4)  Conservation is frequently a multi-facetted endeavour and requires a multi-disciplinary approach.
5)  Measurable conservation outcomes help to connect stakeholders and supporters to the conservation project and encourage ongoing support.

6)  Habitat-level conservation and working in areas of relative high biodiversity enable projects to benefit more than one species.

7)  Building a Future for Wildlife – the World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy (2005) provides detailed guidance for Conservation Outreach activities.  Some key principles of the strategy document are:

  • Zoos will make explicit links between all their major exhibits and field conservation projects.
  • Conservation activities should be collaborative.
  • Zoos must cooperate proactively with human development agencies, national and international conservation agencies, government departments and local communities, to ensure long-term sustainable solutions.
  • Zoos will achieve their conservation aims by forming strategic alliances with other organizations also working locally in the region of their field projects.

You can read Building a Future for Wildlife: The World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategyby clicking here.