Frankfurt Zoological Society / Zoologische Gesellschaft Frankfurt

The Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), founded in 1858, is an international conservation organization headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The FZS is dedicated to the protection of biodiversity and the preservation of wildlife and their habitats worldwide.

The mission of the FZS is to conserve wildlife and their habitats in protected areas and extensive wilderness areas. The FZS pursues this goal with a dedicated and professional team united by a passion for nature[4].

The values of the FZS are based on respect, sustainability, and transparency. The organization treats all people and nature with respect, regardless of gender, nationality, ethnicity, religious, sexual, or political orientation. Sustainability is a core principle that encompasses all aspects of the work, from financial investments to promoting young talents and project planning[4].

The FZS is active in 18 countries across four continents with about 30 projects. The projects focus on the conservation of habitats such as grasslands, wetlands, forests, and mountains. The FZS provides logistical support to conservation areas worldwide, finances wildlife counts, offers conservation-related education, and advises organizations on establishing protected areas[5].

Some of the prominent projects take place in Africa, such as in the Serengeti, Selous, and Mahale ecosystems in Tanzania, in North Luangwa National Park in Zambia, and in Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe. In Asia, the FZS is active in the Bukit Tigapuluh Sanctuary in Sumatra, where it promotes the protection of rainforests and orangutans. In South America, the FZS supports the protection of biodiverse forests on the eastern side of the Andes and in the adjacent lowlands[5].

The FZS is an independent, non-profit organization that finances its projects through membership fees, private donations, inheritances, and income from the "Help for Endangered Wildlife" foundation. Additional funding comes from third-party sources such as other foundations and charitable trusts[1].

The FZS works closely with national protected area authorities, governments, local stakeholders, other NGOs, scientific institutions, and donor organizations. These partnerships are long-term and based on mutual trust and a shared understanding[4].

The FZS is deeply committed to sustainability. An important aspect is the integration of local communities into the projects to ensure that conservation measures also meet local needs. Examples include community-based forest management in Bale Mountains National Park in Ethiopia and the promotion of climate-smart agriculture in the region[3].

Additionally, the FZS is involved in various international initiatives, such as the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16), where it focuses on issues like conservation financing, illegal gold mining, and collaboration with local and indigenous communities[Information].

The FZS was founded in 1858 to establish the Frankfurt Zoo. Until 1915, the FZS operated the zoo as a joint-stock company before the city of Frankfurt took over its management. After World War II, the FZS was re-established in 1950 to rebuild the zoo. Since the 1950s, the FZS has increasingly focused on international conservation, while the Frankfurt Zoo continues to be operated by the city of Frankfurt[2][3].

The close connection between the FZS and the Frankfurt Zoo is reflected in shared goals such as conservation and the protection of endangered species. The FZS also supports the educational and informational work of the zoo through conservation ambassadors and information points like the Grzimek Camp[2].

Another important project is the establishment of the Frankfurt Conservation Center (FCC), which is intended to serve as an innovation space for conservation organizations. The FCC is being developed in collaboration with the Senckenberg - Leibniz Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research and Goethe University Frankfurt and aims to promote new, sustainable conservation methods[2].

Overall, the Frankfurt Zoological Society is a dynamic and committed organization that passionately and professionally works for the protection of nature and biodiversity. Its work is an important contribution to addressing the global environmental and biodiversity crisis.

• 1 - https://fzs.org/en/about-us/organization/frankfurt-zoological-society/
• 2 - https://fzs.org/en/about-us/organization/fzs-zoo-frankfurt/
• 3 - https://fzs.org/en/timeline/
• 4 - https://fzs.org/en/about-us/organization/our-values/
• 5 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankfurt_Zoological_Society