About Us

The IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) recognises that botanic gardens, aquariums and zoos can, and do, contribute significantly to species conservation. However, this role is often under-valued, underrecognised and misunderstood. The SSC drafted a position statement, which directly contributes to the implementation of WCC-2020-Res-079 on linking in situ and ex situ efforts to save threatened species. Along with the IUCN Guidelines on the Use of Ex Situ Management, the position statement provides guidance to help accredited zoos and aquariums achieve their full potential. African Lion Safari has developed the Canadian Species Initiative to help us meet this challenge, and ensure that endangered wildlife in Canada can thrive in the wild. We hope that our work will provide an example and leadership to encourage the global species conservation community to work in a collaborative and integrated fashion towards reversing biodiversity declines.

The Canadian Species Initiative (CSI) focuses on restoring populations of endangered species in Canada. The Canadian Species Initiative is working to bridge the gap between in situ and ex situ conservation to ensure the needs of species requiring human intervention are met in Canada. As a founding member of Canada Regional Resource Center (RRC) of the IUCN Species Survival Commissions’ Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) in Canada, Canadian Species Initiative is putting into practice CPSG’s science-based, participatory and inclusive planning processes, adapted to the Canadian context, to catalyze positive conservation change for our native species. We are then uniquely placed to ensure that the ex situ management needs of Canadian species at risk are met, either through our own hands-on programs, or through the network of Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA).