Taronga Conservation Society Australia (Taronga) is a leader in the fields of conservation, research, animal welfare, wildlife rehabilitation and environmental education. With two zoo's, Taronga Zoo in Sydney and Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, they create experiences for its 1.7 million guests that inspire lasting connections between people and wildlife.
This week, Taronga Zoo is celebrating the arrival of an endangered Pygmy Hippo calf, the first born at the Zoo in nearly seven years. A vital addition to the region’s insurance population of Pygmy Hippos, the calf is the first born at Taronga since Kambiri in June 2010.
Native to the forests and swamps of West Africa, Pygmy Hippos are solitary animals that generally only come together for breeding. Little is known about them in the wild, with the majority of research recorded about the species learned from those cared for in zoos.
“These elusive animals continue to be threatened by loss of habitat as their forest homes are logged and converted to farmland at an alarming rate. They are also vulnerable to poaching, hunting and civil unrest and their wild populations continue to decline. Protecting their natural habitat is critical in ensuring the survival of wild populations and we can all help Pygmy Hippos by choosing paper and wood products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council” said Keeper, Renae Moss.
The Forest Stewardship Council sets Forest Management standards to ensure environmental, social and economic interests in forests are balanced. The standards are set through public consultation with the global FSC network to ensure that forest standards represent everyone’s needs, from Indigenous Peoples to endangered animal species. FSC standards are recognised by leading environment groups Australian Conservation Foundation, WWF and Greenpeace.
As stated by WWF, "In many of the countries of Western and Central Africa, current practices do not meet the increasing international consensus of expectations regarding forest management standards. Forest certification and timber labelling could serve as a tool to improve the quality of forest management."
In West Africa, on ground benefits of FSC Certification include wildlife conservation, as highlighted by Taronga Conservation Society Australia. Further, recent research in the Congo Basin showed dramatic health benefits for local communities and forest workers.
On Ground Benefits in FSC Certified forests in the Congo Basin;
- 100% of individual homes have showers
vs. 46% in non-FSC certified concessions - 100% of staff have health insurance
vs. 25% in non-FSC certified concessions - 100% provide 24/7 electricity to locals
vs. 50% in non-FSC certified concessions - 100% provide medical facilities
vs. 38% in non-FSC concessions - 78% provide educational opportunities
vs. 33% in non-FSC concessions
Take a look at the infographics series below.
The infographics are part of research done by Tim Rayden technical advisor at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Rayden is an expert in the field of forest certification and the timber trade. He works in the Congo Basin, the second largest rainforest on Earth. Tim comments on seeing change on the ground.
“There is a substantial difference between certified and non-certified forests in the tropics. FSC-certified forests clearly have a positive impact on the social aspects... The fact is: FSC is helping. It’s part of the solution. The circumstances are a lot better in the FSC logging concessions than in the non-FSC logging concessions. At the end of the day, it’s that simple.”
Consumers and businesses can be part of the FSC solution by looking fo the Checkmark Tree logo when purchasing forest products.
