Conservation in action
Conservation
Centre for Species Survival- Key Info
- What we’re doing
- What you can do
Conservation in action
Centre for Species Survival
Dublin Zoo is home to the Centre for Species Survival: Ireland, an official partnership between the Zoo and the IUCN Species Survival Commission. Based in Society House, this centre is a hub for Dublin Zoo’s Conservation and Science Team, who work to save wildlife in Ireland and around the world. This centre, one of less than 20 around the world, allows us to directly contribute to species conservation efforts in Ireland, while also uniting stakeholders and catalysing action for native Irish species. Simultaneously, this centre aims to empower local communities and amplify conservation successes, generating optimism and hope for conservation in Ireland.
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Centre for Species Survival
Dublin Zoo is home to the Centre for Species Survival: Ireland, an official partnership between the Zoo and the IUCN Species Survival Commission. Based in Society House, this centre is a hub for Dublin Zoo’s Conservation and Science Team, who work to save wildlife in Ireland and around the world. This centre, one of less than 20 around the world, allows us to directly contribute to species conservation efforts in Ireland, while also uniting stakeholders and catalysing action for native Irish species. Simultaneously, this centre aims to empower local communities and amplify conservation successes, generating optimism and hope for conservation in Ireland.
A Global Network of Centres
Ireland’s Biodiversity
With over 31,000 recorded species, Ireland has a rich biodiversity spanning terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments. These species and environments provide critical ecosystem services and immeasurable economic, cultural and societal benefits. Unfortunately, a significant proportion of Ireland’s biodiversity is currently threatened with extinction, and 91% of our assessed habitats have an unfavourable conservation status. The threats and pressures faced by Irish wildlife include habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and invasive species. Dublin Zoo is committed to protecting Irish wildlife, and our Centre for Species Survival allows us to directly contribute to the IUCN’s Species Conservation Cycle.
The Species Conservation Cycle:
At the Centre for Species Survival, our team use the IUCN’s Species Conservation Cycle to guide their work. This cycle includes the following steps:
– Assess: Monitoring the population size and threats faced by a species to understand their conservation status. This is achieved using tools such as the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
– Plan: Bringing together stakeholders, with a diversity of perspectives and experiences, to create an effective, inclusive and evidence-based species recovery programme and action plan.
– Act: Working with key partners, from government bodies to local communities, to implement, monitor and review the species recovery programme and action plan. This can include everything from habitat protection, to conservation breeding and reintroductions.
What is the IUCN Red List?
One Planet, One Plan
Central to the success of the Centre for Species Survival is the IUCN Conservation Planning Specialist Group’s ‘One Plan’ approach. This approach encourages integrated species conservation planning, and brings together the zoo community and the field conservation community. By adopting the ‘One Plan’ approach, we can integrate all our conservation activities for a species, including conservation breeding, field conservation and research, and conservation education and advocacy. This allows us to move beyond just managing populations of species in zoos, create opportunities to tackle broader threats to biodiversity, and influence the actions of people, organisations, and governments.
Dublin Zoo’s Irish Conservation Partners
Over the last 20 years, Dublin Zoo has created lasting relationships with field conservation partners around the world. These field conservation projects work to save more than 30 threatened species across more than 20 countries. In Ireland, we work with:
1. BirdWatch Ireland
2. Louth Nature Trust
3. Irish Peatland Conservation Council
4. Irish Grey Partridge Conservation Trust
5. Bat Rehabilitation Ireland
6. Kildare Wildlife Rescue
7. Seal Rescue Ireland
