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Pedro Lorenzo: “It is very important to collaborate with zoos when we think about higher education”.

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THE ROLE OF ZOOS IN PROTECTING BIODIVERSITY

This year, 27% of species in our planet could disappear.

According to the, a total of28,338 species of animals, plants and funghi are at risk of becoming extinct.One of the main roles that zoos play in favor of the conservation of biodiversity is, precisely, to look after many of these species andensure their survival and their wellbeing.

Pedro Lorenzo, Dean of the Veterinary School at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and a member of the Experts’ Group on Biodiversity lauched by the Parques Reunidos Foundation, is a great proponent of this position.

“The collaborations that existe between zoos and universities are geared towards research, they contribute to imporving our knowledge on matters related to the function, reproduction and wellbeing of all these species”

Yet, he considers that the the majority of this work and research are unknown to society andhe encourages zoos to publicize all the work that they doto improve biodiversity conservation efforts.

“Without a doubt, the role of zoos must be to be actively engaged in projects such as in situ and ex situ, but it is alsoimportant to talk about what is being done, what it’s useful for, and since when is it an ongoing project…There is much more being do than what is being published and communicated”, points out Lorenzo.

Pedro Lorenzo has taken part in various research projects lead by a number of international institutions.He is currently leading a research team at the UCM studying the physiology and reproduction of lagomorphs. As a university professor, he defends that the collaboration betwee zoos and universities is very important when thinking about higher education.

“Estas sinergias permiten a los alumnos formar parte de los trabajos e investigaciones que se promueven desde el zoo y, por tanto, formarlos en primera persona en algo tan crucial como la biodiversidad”. En este sentido, añade, la universidad también colabora para mejorar la educación de las personas que visitan los zoos.

Lorenzo encourages topromotethese collaborations into the future and tofoster research projectswhich can contribute to improving animal wellbeing and to indetifying and establishing mechanisms to adapt facilities and environments to each species’ needs.

EXPERTS’ FOCUS GROUP ON BIODIVERSITY

Along with Lorenzo, the Experts’ Fous Group on Biodiversity is formed by:

  • Enrique Alonso, Permanent Member of Spanish State Council;Chair on Spatial Design and the Environment; Honorary Researcher at theand the Monterey International Institute of California;
  • Alberto Díez,ǰDz;
  • Pablo Fernández de Larrinoa, Director of theMediterranean Monk Seal Conservation Program;
  • Jesús Fernández, President of the;
  • Luis Mariano González, head of Conservation Action at the General Sub-directorate on Biodiversity and Natural Environment,Ministry for Ecological Transition;
  • Pedro Lorenzo, Dean of the;
  • Xavier Manteca, Professor, Animal and Food Science Department,, and the group’s moderator;
  • Odile Rodríguez de la Fuente, General Director and President of theFundación Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente;
  • Julián Santiago, Research Professor at the;
  • Andrea Torres, biologist for InfoZoos;
  • Felipe Vilas, President of theMadrid Official College of Veterinarians.

Sumary video from the first meeting of the Experts in Biodiversity Focus Groupe