Barcelona hosts the Iberian Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Annual Conference

Barcelona Zoo is the host venue and organiser of the meeting, to be held on 1 and 2 June at the UPF’s Ciutadella Campus, under the slogan “Caring for Biodiversity” 

Over 150 professionals will be taking part in the conference, discussing, debating and sharing knowledge of species conservation and the role played by zoos today

Barcelona will be hosting the Annual Conference of the Iberian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AIZA) on 1 and 2 June, which resumes its face-to-face format after a two-year break. Barcelona Zoo is the organiser and host venue of the meeting, which is to be held in the Ciutadella Campus of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, with over 150 zoology and aquarium experts from around the Spanish State taking part. 

Under the slogan “Caring for Biodiversity”, the conference's programme will include numerous scientific lectures, roundtables and talks on the role zoos currently play in the preservation and conservation of species. The meeting will be divided into four main thematic areas corresponding to AIZA's work groups: veterinary science, education and communication, and conservation and aquariums. 

An institutional reception was held this morning, presided over by AIZA's Chair, Javier Almunia; the Deputy Chair of the Barcelona Zoo Foundation, Xavier Paton; and the Director of Area Services in Barcelona at the Catalan government’s Ministry of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda, Josep Pena. 

It was immediately followed by an opening lecture given by the environmental communicator, José Luis Gallego, entitled “Proteger la biodiversidad: un objetivo común” [Protecting biodiversity: a common goal]. An extensive programme of activities then began for sharing the experiences of zoological institutions in the management of biodiversity conservation, breeding programmes for endangered species, animal welfare and the importance of scientific dissemination work in society. 

Notable talks among those scheduled include the presentation of the Iberian Biodiversity Conservation Network (Red CBI), a project aimed at promoting endangered-species rearing and conservation projects in AIZA zoos and aquariums for the purposes of subsequently boosting their populations in the natural environment. Taking part in the session will be Spain's Secretary of State for the Environment, Hugo Morán, as well as the heads of biodiversity services from various autonomous regions. 

Special importance will also be given to a roundtable where representatives from the University of La Laguna, the University of Navarre, ESADE and Barcelona Zoo will be discussing the vision currently held by society of zoos and aquariums. 

The Zoo, for its part, will be taking advantage of the meeting to present some of its latest strategic projects, such as the creation of the BioBanc and the application of a new experience-based and ongoing educational methodology aimed at making citizens aware of the Zoo’s new role as a space committed to education, research and conservation.