Wild Spaces Programme

Zoos and aquariums play a vital role in biodiversity conservation by raising awareness of conservation issues, maintaining collections of endangered species and supporting in situ conservation. The Wild Spaces Programme offers zoos, aquariums and their associations an opportunity to help save wildlife in the wild.

The BIAZA Reserve, Brazil

The BIAZA Reserve Project in Brazil is an exciting collaboration between the World Land Trust and the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), who work together to raise funds through BIAZA members and their visitors. 25 BIAZA members have already collectively raised over £120,000 towards the purchase of 1651 acres (668 ha) of Atlantic forest or Mata Atlântica. Known as ‘The BIAZA Reserve’ this property is now owned, protected and managed by WLT project partners REGUA.

The BIAZA Reserve now protects acres of important wildlife habitat. Photo © Nicholas Locke.

With only 7% of the original forest remaining, conserving this strategic parcel of forest next to the existing Guapi Assu Reserve is a great success.

Keepers of the Wild

Now the BIAZA reserve is secure, the next phase of the programme is to ensure its future protection. BIAZA member zoos are continuing to raise funds for the project, which will now go towards funding reserve rangers for REGUA. Find out more about Keepers of the Wild »

The Atlantic Forest is extremely diverse in wildlife and Sloths such as this Brown-throated three-toed sloth are often seen at REGUA. Photo © Alan Martin

The Atlantic Forest - conserving a biodiversity 'hotspot'

The Atlantic Rainforest or Mata Atlântica is a major 'biodiversity hotspot' and one of the most ecologically important eco-regions in the world. It is a unique ecosystem with high biodiversity and extremely high levels of endemism, home to over 20,000 plant species, 40% are endemic and over 50% of tree species are unique to the area.

Of the 260 mammal species found there, 70 are endemic, including the Maned Sloth, the Thin-spined Porcupine, 4 species of Lion Tamarins, and two species of Muriquis (Woolly Spider Monkeys).

There are over 930 bird species of which 144 species are endemic, including the endangered Red-billed Curassow, which has been reintroduced to REGUA. It is also a critically-important area for amphibians and several endemic species of reptile.

Learn more about the species protected at Guapi Assu on the REGUA website

The massive destruction of this "Global Hotspot for Biodiversity" has been described as "one of the biological tragedies of this century" by Sir Ghillean Prance (FRS, former Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and leading expert on South American rainforest conservation).

Much of the Atlantic Forest has been lost through the spread of agriculture. The BIAZA Reserve will help ensure the permanent protection of some of the remaining forest.

More information for Zoos

For more information about the Wild Spaces Programme and ways in which WLT can help you develop and achieve your conservation targets, please contact us.