Citizen Conservation
Introduction
The Alliance’s citizen conservation goal is to engage visitors and communities in taking conservation action and connecting with nature. Alliance zoos and aquariums bring diverse science-based conservation topics to the general public. This information helps people take effective conservation actions in their daily lives and expand their conservation impact through community efforts.
Get Involved
Find out how you can get involved with local conservation efforts in your community to conserve and protect Pacific Northwest species and ecosystems.
Climate Action
The Alliance is developing a region-wide program to educate and inspire visitors to take conservation action to reduce climate change impacts in the Pacific Northwest.
Zoos and aquariums are working together to develop effective messages that focus on impacts on wildlife and ecosystems and how visitors can be part of the solution. The Alliance also is working closely with a new partnership between the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and ecoAmerica that will develop a national campaign for zoos and aquariums to inspire visitors to take climate action.
Learn more about climate change here:
FrogWatch
The goal of this project is to develop a region-wide citizen science effort that supports ecosystem-scale conservation priorities. FrogWatch, a program of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, trains the public to monitor for frog presence/absence using frog calls. The Alliance may develop a modified approach, adding egg mass identification, for a more effective approach tailored to the Pacific Northwest. Amphibian monitoring provides data relating to population status, distribution, and timing of events such as breeding.
Backyard Habitat
This project encourages the public to take conservation action by creating backyard habitat. Zoos and aquariums help people learn about local habitats and wildlife while enhancing the ecological functions of their yards.
As individuals become stewards of their backyard habitat, they also become more connected to local and regional conservation efforts.
Read more about Backyard Habitat, including:
- Why Create Habitat in Your Backyard?
- Habitat Basics: Food, Water and Shelter
- Sustainable Backyard Gardening
- Backyard Habitat Resources
Living with Carnivores
This project increases the public’s knowledge, respect, and conservation action related to carnivores. Alliance zoos and aquariums are working together to reduce conflicts between people and carnivores, including bears, wolves, mountain lions, sharks, and orcas.
Smart Pet Choices
This project prevents impacts on native species and ecosystems. Zoo and aquarium visitors frequently ask staff and volunteers about wild or exotic pets. Zoos and aquariums are also asked to adopt unwanted exotic pets, but do not have the capacity. This project provides reliable information to help visitors make good decisions about pets and wildlife.
Read more about Smart Pet Choices, including:
- Smart Pet Choices card
- Odd Pet Gazette website
- How to Choose an Appropriate Pet
- Pet and Wildlife Resources and Regulations
Please send any comments, suggestions, or changes to our webmaster.
