OO. 11.5 Enhance international coordination and effective exchange of information between ex situ conservation centres (zoos, botanic gardens)

Gene banks, zoos, plant nurseries, botanic gardens, aquariums, etc. contribute to the ex situ conservation of wild plant and animal species of foreign origin by securing the long-term conservation of species outside their natural habitat (ex situ).

For species and varieties of crops and for domesticated animal races, ex situ conservation centres allow a broad genetic pool to be maintained to ensure the viability and the improvement of quality in the future. On the basis of scientific knowledge, ex situ conservation centres will be encouraged to keep species, varieties and domesticated animal races in a manner that guarantees their conservation. Due to the wide diversity of collections, there is a need to reinforce coordination between ex situ conservation centres, for instance through information-sharing and facilitated access to data of foreign origin for the countries of origin, in order to ensure long-term conservation and facilitated access to information and collections.