Tuesday, May 13 marked a historic moment for conservation professionals in France: the opening of the 20th IUCN Species Conservation Center, which will be located at ZooParc de Beauval!
Since 2021, the IUCN Species Survival Commission has been working to open these centers, whose objective is to identify gaps in conservation strategies at the state level and strengthen conservation efforts to protect endangered species through a geographical, thematic, or taxonomic approach. To this end, the centers work closely with the Species Survival Commission groups to carry out assessment, planning, and action.
With seven centers already open in Europe, France is now home to the eighth. It will be run by the French Association of Zoological Parks (AFdPZ) and located at Beauval Zoo.
In line with the IUCN’s “One Plan” approach, the center will support integrated planning for the conservation of declining native French species in order to reverse the trend. The center’s actions will focus on four areas:
- Strengthening conservation actions for French species
- Combating the illegal trade in wild species
- Networking and strengthening the capacities of stakeholders
- Developing strong advocacy
The inauguration took place on May 13 during the AFdPZ’s annual general meeting, hosted by CERZA Parc des Safaris in Normandy. This exceptional event was attended by Dr. Jon Paul Rodriguez, Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, whom we had the privilege of welcoming to France, as well as many other prominent figures: public authorities, institutional partners, environmental associations, and professionals from the sector. It was a memorable occasion that brought together more than 200 people from all over France, overseas territories, and Belgium.
In conclusion, I would like to quote a few words spoken by Rodolphe Delord, President of the AFdPZ, which perfectly sum up the ambition behind this center: “The creation of the IUCN SSC Center dedicated to French species, in partnership with the AFdPZ, demonstrates the concrete commitment of the association and its members to biodiversity conservation, as well as its inclusive vision of conservation. This is a major step forward for French species and ecosystems. The AFdPZ welcomes the collaboration and trust of the Species Survival Commission, a global reference in species conservation.“
I would like to warmly thank the CERZA teams for their hospitality and all the participants for their commitment.
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