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Zoos serving the battle against the extinction of species, with Xavi Manteca
“The scientific community agrees in that we are submerged in a process massive extinction caused by humankind”.
This is howĚýXavier Manteca, on of Spain’s most prominet experts in biodiversity and a professor at theĚý, expressed his concern. Looking at the high percentage of species that are currently in critical danger of extinction, threatened or vulnerable, Manteca supportsĚýthe role payed by zoosĚýto counteract the current trends through knowledge, education, and research.
“We are not realizing the amount of scientific information about animal species that is produced by zoological institutions”, stated the expert, who also moderates theĚýBiodiversity Experts’ Focus Group promoted by the Parques ReunidosĚýFoundation.
He also pointed out thatĚýzoos can be both a place of leisure and entertainment as well and educational tools, thus provinding useful knowledge about the preservation of species in their natural habitats, and promoting conservation programs bouth in situ and ex situ.
Manteca added that one of the main roles of zoos is their contribution to educating and raising awareness among their visitors about the current biodiversity crisis and about the negative effect it can have on natural ecosystems and on our general welbeing.
BIODIVERSITY EXPERTS’ FOCUS GROUP
Promoted by theĚýParques Reunidos Foundation, this Focus Group has been created with the objective of bringing together aĚýmultidisciplinary team of experts focused on biodiversity and conservationĚýof species, and aims to promote greated collaboration between the different institutions. This effort is in line with the Foundation’s social and environmental engagement through the “Parques Reunidos Spirit”.
The Group is possible thanks to the participation of the following:
- Enrique Alonso, Permanent Member of Spanish State Council;ĚýĚýChair on Spatial Design and the Environment; Honorary Researcher at theĚýĚýand the Monterey International Institute of California ;
- Alberto DĂez,ĚýĚýspokesperson ;
- Pablo Fernández de Larrinoa, Director of theĚýĚýMediterranean Monk Seal Conservation Program ;
- JesĂşs Fernández, President of theĚýĚý;
- Luis Mariano González, head of Conservation Action at the General Sub-directorate on Biodiversity and Natural Environment,ĚýMinistry for Ecological Transition;
- Pedro Lorenzo, Dean of theĚý;
- Xavier Manteca, Professor, Animal and Food Science Department,Ěý, who will be the group’s moderator;
- Odile RodrĂguez de la Fuente, General Director and President of theĚýFundaciĂłn FĂ©lix RodrĂguez de la Fuente;
- Julián Santiago, Research Professor at theĚý;
- Andrea Torres, biologist for InfoZoos;
- Felipe Vilas, President of theĚýMadrid Official College of Veterinarians.
They have all meant to highlight the need to foster all initiatives aimed at improving the conservation of ecosystems and the protection of animal species. They took the change of the first meeting to debate about how zoo can contribute to mitigate the biodiversity crisis.
One million species at risks of extinction
The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services has recently warned the international community that one million animal and vegetal species are at the verge of becoming extinct.
Similarly, the data presented by the UN report on biodiversity serioulsy questions the viability of theĚýSustainable Development Goals (SDG), that are currently guiding many public policies. Last year, during the UN Convention of Biodiversity, the Convention’s execitive director,ĚýCristiana Pasca Palmer, made a statement toĚýThe GuardianĚýin which she said that “the loss of biodiversity is a silent death (…). It is different to climate change, whose impact can be felt on our daily lives. The loss of biological diversity will be noticeable when it’s too late”.
