WAZA, through its Conservation Strategy in 2015, laid the foundation for leveraging the work of leading zoos and aquariums in support of the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework and its goals to address human-induced threats to biodiversity. At the 2022 Annual General Meeting, WAZA members also approved the WAZA Resolution 77.2: Changing Outcomes for Biodiversity that highlights the urgent need to address the ongoing loss of biodiversity and the failure of the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity 2011–2020 to effectively tackle this issue.

Zoos and aquariums have a vital role to play in addressing the decline of biodiversity and safeguarding endangered species. Recognising the urgency of this issue, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC) and other partners jointly launched Reverse the Red (RtR), a movement to inspire action and spread optimism for species conservation.

The WAZA x RtR Short Guide: How your Zoo or Aquarium Can Join Reverse the Red and Halt Biodiversity Decline has been developed to provide clarity on the ways that zoos and aquariums can join Reverse the Red, contribute to species conservation and optimise the unique skills and reach of our community. We hope you will be inspired and join us.

As the Short Guide establishes the foundations of the movement and its connections to various available conservation tools, it also showcases several success stories highlighting how WAZA Members have already taken the initiative. These case studies illustrate their contributions to various actions, such as enhancing the conservation status of species, establishing Centers for Species Survival, collaborating with local communities, and partnering with local governments to align and bolster joint conservation objectives.

We encourage you to take this guide, read it and explore ways in which your zoo and/or aquarium can support the Reverse the Red movement. By implementing the strategies laid out on this document, WAZA members can inspire action, spread optimism, and make a tangible difference in the conservation of our planet’s precious biodiversity.

Together, we can create a brighter future for endangered species.

Together we can Reverse the Red!