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Author: Dr Sarah Thomas, Auckland Zoo and IZE President.
(on behalf of the Editorial Team: Rosa Pons- WAZA, Lian Wilson, Zoos Victoria and Dr Judy Mann, Two Oceans Aquarium)
Posted: 28 November 2025
As outlined in Social Change for Conservation: The World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Education Strategy (Thomas, 2020), our role is clear:
“Zoos and aquariums play a critical role in building diverse and sustainable futures for people and nature… Urgent, effective, and collaborative action is needed to change how people collectively think, feel, and act toward the natural world.”
In this new WAZA–IZE special publication, Leading Social Change for Biodiversity Conservation, we share 14 inspiring articles from around the world that showcase the diversity of approaches that, collectively, demonstrate the transformative role zoos and aquariums play in driving behavioural and social change to shape a future where people and nature thrive together.
These articles tell a collective story – by prioritising community engagement, promoting well-being, fostering hope, empowering people, driving behaviour change and advocating for policy shifts, these zoos and aquariums are not only enhancing individual lives but also contributing to a collective societal shift in which nature is valued as essential to well-being and conservation becomes a shared social responsibility. We invite you to explore these compelling narratives, learn from the diverse strategies, and consider how we can all continue to scale such efforts to foster a more empathetic, resilient, and environmentally conscious future.
Read a summary of each of the articles below, and we invite you to download the magazine.
We hope this publication encourages you to think more deeply on your role in driving social change for conservation. How are your organisations contributing to collective impact? Which article/s sparked new ideas or encouraged you to further collaborate?
The Reverse the Red’s World Species Congress mobilised over 10,000 conservation professionals to strategically shift the conservation narrative from fear to hope and action. Post-Congress evaluations confirmed the success of this approach, with 91% of respondents reporting increased confidence in achieving conservation goals.
Brookfield Zoo (USA) spearheaded a coalition of nearly 170 organisations to secure the successful ‘Vote Yes for Clean Air, Clean Water and Wildlife’ referendum in Cook County, Illinois. This pivotal policy win secured $40 million in annual funding to protect and restore over 20,000 additional acres of open land.
Auckland Zoo (Aotearoa, New Zealand) is evolving its mission to serve as te pā hono—a place of connection—by implementing its ‘Wellbeing in Nature’ approach, which enhances community wellness and fosters intentional connections with the natural world. This holistic approach is grounded in the theory that prioritising well-being builds resilience and increases the motivation necessary for individuals to take conservation action
Recognising that high levels of stress emanating from environmental and social crises, prevent effective connection and learning, the Monterey Bay Aquarium (USA) shifted its education programming to prioritise participant wellness through a trauma-informed approach. The Aquarium utilises exhibits as spaces for healing, intentionally employing activities like “sit spots” and guided movement to reduce stress and foster a sense of belonging.
The Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia led a campaign that used behavioural science models and practical guidance, such as ‘catio’ workshops, to encourage cat owners to keep their pets happy and safely contained at home. Preliminary results indicate the campaign is effectively influencing attitudes, with 53% of respondents feeling more motivated to prevent their cat from roaming as frequently.
The Two Oceans Aquarium (South Africa) transformed its ‘Rethink the Bag’ campaign into a nationwide movement to eliminate single-use plastic shopping bags. The campaign succeeded by employing Community-Based Social Marketing (CBSM) techniques, including public commitments and a dedicated campaigner sharing a personal story to achieve widespread societal shifts.
The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre integrated conservation education with socioeconomic incentives in the Makanaga Wetland to protect the endangered shoebill. This community-driven approach reduced destructive practices like nest disturbances and led to a measured increase in the shoebill population.
The Welsh Mountain Zoo (Wales, UK) developed the free ‘Conservation Christmas Campaign’ to address the environmental impact of traditional Christmas cards through skill-based education. By teaching how to make eco-friendly seed paper cards, the project demonstrated high potential for retained sustainable attitudes, with 66.7% of surveyed learners reporting they would no longer buy standard cards.
Chester Zoo’s (UK) ‘Networks for Nature’ initiative uses the COM-B/Behaviour Change Wheel model to champion community participation in creating a thriving, nature-rich landscape across 60 square miles. The initial phase engaged over 12,000 people, resulting in the restoration of over 62 hectares and significant gains in participant wellbeing and practical conservation knowledge.
Animal Park Bern (Switzerland) launched a project integrating invertebrate conservation with citizen science to raise awareness about vital saprophytic beetles, which included building specialised habitats and breeding the rhinoceros beetle. Citizen science participants gained hands-on experience and fostered emotional connections, leading to measurable changes in community gardening practices to support invertebrates.
Zoos Victoria (Australia) developed the Fighting Extinction School Mentoring Programme to provide targeted, sustained support to teachers, enabling them to embed conservation action effectively. The strategic mentoring model proved highly effective: 63% of mentored teachers led students in conservation actions that year, compared to only 18% of non-mentored teachers.
The Singapore Oceanarium (Singapore) created the extended Youth Ocean Ambassador programme to empower youth aged 15-18 by fostering empathy and advocating for marine stewardship. The program integrated critical thinking and collaborative project work, enabling participants to apply science to problem-solving in line with national educational standards.
The North Carolina Zoo’s (USA) UNITE for the Environment program strengthened teacher capacity through regular training, enabling educators to reach approximately 10,000 students daily in Uganda. Surveys confirmed that the teacher-centred model successfully influenced entire communities, with households associated with UNITE schools adopting more sustainable practices in 12 out of 13 behaviours tested.
Fundación Temaikèn’s (Argentina) ConCiencia Activa programme strategically trains teachers and community educators to act as “multipliers” in the design and implementation of participatory educational projects. Since 2013, the programme has involved 4,306 leaders, resulting in the implementation of 949 environmental projects and successfully promoting a network effect within the community.
Do you have a story to share? IZE is seeking abstract submissions for the 2026 IZE Journal. Get in touch at ize.centraloffice@izea.net
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.
