IZE is both an organization and its members.

Who we are as an association: 

Guided by its Board of Directors, IZE supports an international community of conservation education professionals, provides strategic direction for advancing the field, and builds capacity for social change. 

Who we are as a community: 

IZE is a global network of conservation educators connected through our passion for wildlife and desire to work with society to save biodiversity.

Mission: International Zoo Educators Association (IZE) is a trusted leader for conservation education professionals, dedicated to guiding zoos, aquariums and other conservation organisations to achieve educational and social outcomes crucial to their organisational missions.

Vision: Multiplying the educational impact of zoos and aquariums worldwide.

As our current focus, we aim to deliver on our vision by:

• Providing leadership for conservation education professionals in social change for biodiversity conservation
• Evolving into a truly international membership organisation
• Supporting our diverse members’ needs to meet the recommendations in the World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Education Strategy (WZACES)
• Strengthening our partnerships and leveraging collaborations
• Advancing diversity, equity, access and inclusion practice and culture within our profession

Advocate

We use our unique position to advocate for the value of education in zoos, aquariums, and other wildlife conservation organizations. 

Collaboration

We strengthen our partnerships and leverage collaborations with other like-minded organizations to ignite change together and amplify the impact of conservation education. 

Evidence based

We are data driven and use evidence to guide our efforts around advancing best practices in conservation education. 

1972

6 continents, 50 countries and counting!

IZE is organized into 7 regions to provide a more customized experience for our global members.

IZE recognizes 7 world regions: Africa, Europe/Middle East, Latin America, East & Southeast Asia, South & Central Asia, North America, and Oceania. View the map of regions.

Regional Representatives are members of the IZE Board of Directors. View the Regional Representative bios and contact them through the Member Directory.

View the dropdown menus to see which countries belong to each region.

There are two places that have good listings of global zoos by country:

• The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, an accrediting agency, has a listing of all its worldwide accredited institutions.
• The Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, which helps manage the species collection of zoos worldwide has a great international directory.

Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA)

European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA)

La Asociación Latinoamericana de Parques Zoológicos y Acuarios (ALPZA)

Japanese Association of Zoo and Aquariums (JAZA)

Southeast Asian Zoos and Aquariums Association (SEAZA)

Zoo & Aquarium Association Australasia (ZAA)

Start with this document! Social Change for Conservation — The World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Education Strategy

Important characteristics of a good conservation education program include:

• Engage the community and serve the zoo’s audiences
• Address and employ a diversity of perspectives
• Demonstrate excellence in content knowledge
• Incorporate learning theory and educational research into practice
• Employ a variety of appropriate educational tools to promote learning
• Deliver conservation messages and actions that affect visitor’s knowledge, attitudes and behaviors about wildlife and wild places
• Promote education as central to the zoo’s mission
• Set goals and measurable objectives and adopt strategies to achieve and document them
• Promote professional development within the museum community, promote a spirit of inquiry and openness to new ideas and approaches
• Influence public policy in support of zoo learning

Register for membership here! Payment can be made online using a credit card or via wire transfer.

IZEA membership connects you to a vibrant global network of zoo and aquarium educators, providing the tools and support you need to excel in your field and make a lasting difference in conservation. Learn about all the benefits of membership.

Members can log in here.

Cost of membership depends on the level (Institutional, Individual, or Associate) and the category (1 or 2, based on World Bank categories to ensure global accessibility). Annual membership dues range from $20USD to $600 USD. Learn more about the cost of membership.

IZE offers a tiered pricing structure based on World Bank categories to ensure global accessibility. Check your country category here.

IZE offers three membership levels to meet the diverse needs of our community: Institutional, Individual, and Associate. Learn more about membership options.

IZE gives you access to a wealth of knowledge, tools, and training opportunities to enhance your impact in zoo and aquarium education. Explore our curated collection of publications, strategic frameworks, and training programs designed to support your professional growth and enhance your educational impact. More on Resources.

The IZE Journal is the premier publication of the International Zoo Educators Association. This annual, peer-reviewed journal is an excellent resource for articles on conservation, interpretation, zoo education, innovative methods and techniques, and program evaluation. More info about the IZE Journal.

As the first unified global strategy on conservation education, Social Change for Conservation signifies an extraordinary step-change for many zoos and aquariums. It affirms IZE’s (International Zoo Educators Association) and the WAZA’s (World Association of Zoos and Aquariums) commitment to lead and support its members, colleagues, and the wider zoo and aquarium community to build expertise, leadership, and capacity in quality conservation education.

Through its set of recommendations, Social Change for Conservation: The World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Education Strategy guides zoos and aquariums to achieve educational and social outcomes crucial to their organisational mission.

No, the International Zoo Educators Association does not have a scholarship or sponsorship program at this time.

We offer a range of options, from online courses to immersive job experiences! Learn more about training opportunities.

The IZE Job Experience Program offers a unique opportunity for zoo and aquarium educators to gain practical experience at a different institution, broaden their perspectives, and build their professional network. Learn more about JEP.

The Animal Care and Conservation Academy offers a comprehensive selection of online courses designed specifically for zoo and aquarium educators. Learn more about ACCA.

IZE hosts a biennial conference, typically on even-numbered years during the month of October. We also offer periodic webinars and regional events.

Check the full calendar of events.

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To minimize environmental impact, we transitioned to Pressable hosting, which is known for its efficient infrastructure, switched to the lightweight and performance-optimized Twenty Twenty-Five theme, and optimized all images for web use. We also conducted environmental impact testing using the Digital Beacon tool to guide our optimization efforts.

Please fill out the contact form with any questions. Please note, IZE is a volunteer-led board and not all requests can be met. We do read all emails and will respond as soon as possible.