Towards Effective Environmental Education

By engaging the visiting public with live animals, zoos and aquariums can be effective providers of environmental education | In 2010, governments agreed to the United Nations Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020, which aims to halt and eventually reverse global biodiversity loss (http://www.cbd.int/ sp/default.shtml). To build support and momentum for this urgent task, the United Nations General Assembly declared the period 2011–2020 to be the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity. For this initiative, five strategic goals and 20 ambitious targets were defined, collectively known as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets (http:// www.cbd.int/sp/targets/default. shtml). Their purpose is to inspire broad-based action in support of biodiversity. The very first target (Target 1 of Strategic Goal A) states that " by 2020, at the latest, people are aware of the values of biodiversity and the steps they can take to conserve and use it sustainably ". To achieve such a policy target, a major global effort from governments as well as civil society organisations is required. Amongst the wide array of non-governmental organisations officially committed to this effort are accredited zoos and aquariums working through their unifying global organisation, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). On educational matters, WAZA closely collaborates with the International Zoo Educators Association (IZE). The potential of zoos and aquariums to contribute to Aichi Biodiversity Target 1 is worth investigating given their global popularity. Zoos and aquariums reportedly attract over 700 million visits worldwide every year (Gusset & Dick 2011; Zoo Biol. 30: 566–569). So, can these visits serve a wider public engagement purpose by promoting awareness of biodiversity and sustainable behaviour? The rhetoric from zoos and aquariums indicates that they see themselves as valuable providers of pro-biodiversity public education. A study analysing US zoos' mission statements found that 131 out of 136 specifically refer-enced education; conservation per se was only mentioned in 118 (Patrick et al. 2007; J. Environ. Educ. 38: 53–60). Clearly, zoos and aquariums justify their existence at least partly on educational grounds that directly relate to Aichi Biodiversity Target 1. The majority of zoos and aquariums offer engagement and learning opportunities , but how effective are these educational interventions? Surprisingly few studies have attempted to measure awareness-raising and learning impacts on zoo and aquarium visitors on a large scale. WAZA is an official partner of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) during the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity. A global impact evaluation of public …