ECA Formation

From October 24th through 28th 2006, The "FIRST INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP on ex-situ Eagle MANAGEMENT AND Conservation" was hold at the National Parador of Oropesa, Toledo, Spain. The workshop was organized and hosted by the following Institutions:
Aquila Foundation, Fort Worth Zoo, Zoological Society of San Diego, CRC-Smithsonian´s National Zoo, Mimi metro Zoo, Los Angeles Zoo and the Center for Studies on Iberian Raptors, CERI-JCCM.

The aim was to agglutinate individuals and institutions with remarkable interest on ex-situ eagle conservation to identify shared problems, needs and timeline actions, as well as to brainstorm a joined initiative directed to promote the development of self sustaining eagle populations by implementing scientific knowledge, public awareness and by all means ex-situ and in-situ eagle conservation worldwide. To meet this need, 32 specialists representing 10 countries from four continents met in Oropesa, Spain (24-28 October 2006) to discuss issues associated with eagle conservation and to consider and implement a plan for action.

An early accomplishment was identifying the strengths of a consortium. This exercise recognized that a group of like-minded eagle specialists would:

have vast collective expertise that could add value to worldwide eagle conservation.
have the capacity of integrating diverse scientific disciplines to benefit wild and captive eagles across mostly unstudied species.
include holders of many important eagle collections and specimens that are managed to maintain maximum gene diversity (heterozygosity).
be able to more efficiently generate basic and applied information, along with valuable scholarly knowledge for making critical conservation decisions or actions.
have experience in setting priorities for conservation action.
be generous and dedicated to sharing information and fostering collaboration.
have significant experience at building partnerships to improve capacity.
serve as a public forum for disseminating scientific information as well as raising public awareness.
would be willing to participate in group specific projects that are branded with the consortium’s name, thereby increasing likelihood of funding and overall success.
be a reservoir for practical knowledge that could be shared through formal training programs on diverse topics.

There also was early and substantial discussion about the targeted focus of a potential consortium. There was absolute unity in declaring that the highest priority always was to secure free-living, viable eagle populations in the country of origin. However, given the worldwide loss in habitat and continually emerging threats to virtually all wild populations, there is essential value in captive populations. All genetically valuable wildlife requires attention, intensive management and conservation.

ECA would like to acknowlege the following institutions for their unvaluable help in supporting ECA work and iniciatives: The Zoological Society of San Diego, the SeaWorld/Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, the Fort Worth Zoo, the CRC Smithsonian's National Zoo and the Aquila Foundation.