The WAZA 2027 Population Management Goal
After consultation with WAZA regional and national zoo and aquarium association members and the WAZA Council through meetings in March, July, and September 2023, a resolution was passed during the 78th WAZA Annual General Assembly where WAZA members unanimously committed to the development and implementation of a WAZA Population Management Goal. The WAZA council therefore endorsed and recommended the 2027 Population Management Goal (27PMG) with the objectives that
By 31 December 2027:
- WAZA Regional* associations must have a science-based population management framework that reflects the specific professional and effective elements of population management as approved by WAZA.
- WAZA Regional associations must require participation of its institutional members in their population management framework, such that there is institutional responsibility for effective and impactful population management.
* Without the oversight of a Regional association, this responsibility will be that of the operating National association.
During the Global Zoo and Aquarium Population Management Workshop, representatives from WAZA-member national and regional associations, described the six specific elements of professional and effective population management frameworks, which are:
- Goal-driven species selection
- Sourcing, transfer and destination policyÂ
- Data, tools and scienceÂ
- Animal WelfareÂ
- Engagement and participation by members
- Capacity building and staffÂ
More information and the specific requirements under each of these elements can be found here.Â
The WAZA Self-Assessment Tool for implementation of the WAZA 2027 Population Management Goal
The WAZA Committee for Population Management developed this tool to help assess compliance with the six specific elements and the requirements that the Associations’ Population Management Frameworks need to meet to achieve the 27PMG.
Download the WAZA Self-Assessment Tool here.
How will the review of the Associations’ Population Management Framework work?
1. Self-evaluation by the reviewee (i.e. the association being reviewed), using the WAZA Self-Assessment Tool.Â
2. Send the form completed to the WAZA Executive Office.
3. Review by the WAZA Executive Office to ensure that no evidence or required reference is missing from the Self-Assessment form.
4. Self-Assessment sent to a Confirmation Panel for review.
5. If applicable, feedback with recommendations from the Confirmation Panel is sent back to the Association being reviewed and a revised submission is expected.
6. Once the final submission is reviewed by the Confirmation Panel, a report is finalised by the chair of the Panel, issuing a recommendation on an outcome for the WAZA Executive Committee to consider.
7. The final report is shared with the WAZA Executive Committee for issuing an official decision on meeting or not meeting the WAZA 2027 Population Management Goal.
Further information such as supporting documents, timeline of this process, and examples of completed assessments can be found here. You can also get in touch with us at conservation@waza.org
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is the global alliance of regional associations, national federations, zoos and aquariums, dedicated to the care and conservation of animals and their habitats around the world.
