Wildlife Conservation Fund

The Association's Wildlife Conservation Fund was established in 2001 as a key mechanism to direct resources to conservation projects in the wild.

Photo courtesy: Murray Roberts

100% of funds raised or donated to the Zoo and Aquarium Association's Wildlife Conservation Fund go directly to endorsed projects. The Association covers all administrative costs.

The Wildlife Conservation Fund:

• provides avenues for members (particularly those not currently involved in conservation) to become involved with in situ conservation projects;
• makes a genuine, united contribution towards conservation and the environment;
• strengthens the conservation credentials of the Australasian zoological industry.

In 2008 the Association established the Field Conservation Committee to guide the conservation efforts of the Association and its members. Among this Committee’s responsibilities are the development of procedures to strengthen evaluation of in situ conservation projects, assess projects against approved Project Selection Criteria and recommend projects to the Wildlife Conservation Fund for subsequent endorsement by the Association’s Board.

These processes are now in place and the Committee is seeking project submissions from Association Institution members. Consequently, support for the eight projects previously supported through the Wildlife Conservation Fund is on hold pending the outcomes of the project review process underway. We expect to finalise the list of new projects to be endorsed by the Association by early 2011.

About the Field Conservation Committee

In 2008 the Association established the Field Conservation Committee (FCC) to guide the conservation efforts of the Association and its members. The Field Conservation Committee is appointed by the Association Board and comprises of members with expertise in conservation project assessment and management. Among this Committee’s responsibilities are the development of procedures to strengthen evaluation of in- situ conservation projects, assess projects against approved Project Selection Criteria and recommend projects to the Wildlife Conservation Fund for subsequent endorsement by the Association’s Board.

The current members of the Field Conservation Committee are:

• Chair, Chris Banks, Zoos Victoria
• Clare Campbell, Perth Zoo
• Wendy Foster, Zoos SA
• Peter Fraser, Auckland Zoo
• Katja Geschke, Wellington Zoo
• Rebecca Spindler, Taronga Conservation Society Australasia

 
ENDORSED WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PROJECTS
Endorsement of a project by the Association Board strengthens grant applications by participating institutions, as endorsement demonstrates that the project has met rigorous selection criteria.

Projects assessed as meeting the criteria to be an Association-endorsed project will be eligible for funding through the Wildlife Conservation Fund (WCF).

Please note that the projects previously supported through the WCF will no longer receive financial assistance via the Association, unless they are submitted and endorsed through the “call for nominations of wildlife conservation projects.” The FCC have agreed that all conservation projects to be supported or endorsed by the Association should be considered equally and evaluated against the Project Selection Criteria.

Only projects that demonstrate measurable conservation outcomes in the field will be considered. The criteria for selection will favour projects which focus on broad habitat conservation and include species recovery/conservation.

Please click here for the Project Support Application and Selection Criteria.

 APPLICATIONS WILL ACCEPTED IN LATE 2011