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  ENN 28 Jun 06
Wildlife Twinning - the World Land Trust in Partnership with Zoos and Aquariums
By World Land Trust

SUFFOLK, U.K.--WILD SPACES is the name of an exciting new initiative launched by the World Land Trust at the annual conference of BIAZA (British & Irish Association of Zoos & Aquariums), held at Chester Zoo in May.

This new initiative offers zoos and aquariums a unique opportunity to get involved with the work of the World Land Trust in creating protected nature reserves through supporting their current projects involving land acquisition in partnership with local organizations.

Current projects include the development of sustainable farming alongside wildlife conservation in the coastal steppes of Patagonia; an innovative coral transplant project restoring degraded reefs in western India; and a carbon sequestration project in Ecuador.

There is also the potential for developing new projects as the World Land Trust is always on the alert for new areas requiring urgent protection.

The Trust has embarked on this partnership with zoos and aquariums to strengthen the important role that they can play in the conservation of wild species and their habitats.

Many of the animals found on World Land Trust reserves are popular in zoos, thereby creating a crucial link between captive breeding programs and their contribution to conservation in the wild.

It also provides a strong education message to visitors of zoos and aquariums highlighting the role they have to play in conservation of wild animals.

The new initiative was enthusiastically received by the zoo and aquarium community and is already leading to cooperative projects between the World Land Trust and BIAZA members.

With nearly 20 years experience in protecting some of the world's most biologically diverse habitats, the World Land Trust has an extensive knowledge of developing and managing successful conservation projects in the field.

The Trust was launched in 1989, by the doyen of the zoo world, the late Gerald Durrell and its patrons include Sir David Attenborough. Through its network of local partners the WLT has been instrumental in the permanent protection of more than 300,000 acres of rainforests and other habitats in Central and South America, India, the Philippines and the UK.

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