Nordens Ark

In May 2009 an international twinning agreement was signed between Nordens Ark in Sweden (NA) and Conservation Ark (CA).

Nordens Ark has a strong focus on Nordic native species, including white-fronted geese, the green-spotted toad and the longhorn beetle. In addition to the zoos role in public education, and endangered species breeding, NA has close links with Göteborg University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, playing a role in both education and research.

This agreement recognizes that these two, not for profit organisations, share a very similar and uncompromising approach to their conservation mission. Their strong conservation vocation is achieved through species, habitat and community support and by informing and inspiring people to care for the natural world. It recognizes that sustainable human development, environmental stewardship and ecological health/biodiversity conservation are interwoven and the first two components depend on the third.

Both organisations are zoo based but increasingly extending their range of activities to achieve greater impact in the wild and in terms of public understanding and political/society priorities relating to the environment and biodiversity. Both are also part of wider international networks under the auspices of the IUCN, WAZA, Amphibian Ark, etc.

The leadership of NA and CA see the benefit of a declaration of shared values and aspirations leading to a joint or overlapping array of programs and activities, such that “the sum of the parts exceeds the whole”.