2026–2028 EARAZA/RUZA Education Conservation Campaign “The Voice of the Forest”

Information letter by EARAZA/RUZA Working Group on Conservation Education

Dear Colleagues,

The EARAZA/RUZA Working Group on Conservation Education is calling on all educators from zoos, aquariums, nature reserves, and environmental education organizations to join their efforts, experience, and expertise for conducting the 2026–2028 education conservation campaign "The Voice of the Forest". Forests are the lungs of our planet. Forests are home to the majority of Earth's terrestrial animals and plants. At the same time, the area of ​​forests on our planet is continuously declining, which is largely caused by human activity. Our campaign is aimed at bringing information about forests and their importance to the health of the Earth to as wide an audience as possible in order to inspire people to care for the nature and, in particular, forests. Our active involvement will demonstrate the unity of zoos and aquariums and emphasize their role in environmental and conservation education.

The aim and objectives of the conservation campaign “The Voice of the Forest”

Aim:

Attracting attention of the wide public to the importance of the conservation of the forest ecosystems.

Objectives: 

·     Involvement of various visitor audiences in active forest conservation activities;

·     Holding events aimed at raising awareness among visitors of zoos and oceanariums about the threats to forest resources;

·     Coordination of interactions between zoos, oceanariums, nature reserves and environmental education organizations; exchange of experience for the implementation of educational programs dedicated to forests; and creation of a united community of educators.

Timing of the conservation campaign

The conservation education campaign “The voice of the Forest” will be carried out in the period from June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2028. The stages of the campaign will be focused on various forest types.

 Participants of the campaign

Both EARAZA and RUZA member institutions and other related organizations (nature reserves, museums, schools, universities and institutions of supplementary education, non-commercial and partner organizations, etc.) can take part in the campaign.

 If you have decided to participate in the campaign:

·    Please register using the link: https://forms.yandex.ru/u/6a06ef1890fa7b2038e64137.

·    Download needed materials (logos, teaching materials, and the campaign presentation video) using the link that will be sent to the participants after their registration process has been completed. Feel free to use all campaign materials for your events. Please include the campaign logos in your posters, flyers, and brochures for events prepared as part of the campaign, both in print and electronic formats, on social media, and on the organization's website.

·    Advertise your participation in the campaign on social media and on the organization's website. You can post a video about the campaign. If possible, please make the event covered by local media.

·    Conduct a common event for all campaign participants proposed by the Working Group within the designated timeframe.

·    At the designated time, organize the events dedicated to the campaign theme, using your own methodological developments or materials provided by the Working Group. Specific event dates can be selected individually by each organization in accordance with organization's schedule and working plan. You can schedule your events to coincide with the dates of the ecological calendar (such as Day of the Forest, days of forest animals; please see below).

·    Send a short report (with photos or videos) about each event that you have held to the Working Group’s email for publication on the campaign’s online resources. The report can be compiled in any form but must contain information about the date (timeframe) of the event, the format of the event, and the number of participants.

·    Share your teaching materials with your colleagues through the Working Group (optional).

Forms of activities

Events held within the framework of the campaign can take various forms:

·    Thematic Days (ecological celebrations, etc.);

·    Thematic guided tours to the zoological/botanical collection (e.g. “Inhabitants of the Rainforest”);

·    Field trips (to the forest or woodland park);

·    Lections (talks);

·    Interactive classes (blocks of classes);

·    Master classes and workshops;

·    Thematic camp;

·    Off-site events (at other organizations);

·    On-line programmes;

·    Social media activities (a series of informational posts, videos, etc.);

·    Competitions (both creative (photographs, drawings, crafts, cartoons, videos, essays, etc.) and intellectual);

·    Exhibitions;

·    Quests;

·    Quizzes;

·    Research projects (community science);

·    Actions (territory cleanup, ecological troops);

·    Networking events/collaboration;

·    Any other form of activity used by your institution.

The first stage of the campaign

The first stage of the campaign is dedicated to tropical forests; it will last from June through October of 2026. Tropical ecosystems are of great importance for the entire planet and for all regions. Tropical forests influence global and local climates, are part of the water cycle and store huge reserves of carbon. Tropical forests provide essential foods and medicines to people all over the world. Tropical forests are a hotspot for biodiversity on Earth. Each species in the tropical forest is interconnected with other organisms in food webs, pollination and seed dispersal systems, and maintenance of soil fertility.

The Working Group on Conservation Education has prepared informational and methodological materials for free use by all campaign participants. To engage in the topic, it is recommended to read the texts “General information about tropical forests”, “10 facts about tropical forests”, and “List of literature on tropical forests.” Methodological materials can be adapted to the specific situation depending on the zoological collection of the organization.

Join our general event: at the designated time, carry out a quiz dedicated to tropical forests. You can replace the quiz questions by introducing questions about animal species from your zoological collection. Any activity focused on the conservation of tropical forests is welcome. We would be grateful if you would share your methodological developments with all zoos and aquariums via the Working Group. Please send short reports about all events to the Working Group’s email for publication on the campaign’s online resources.

You can schedule your events to coincide with the dates of the ecological calendar:

June 5 – World Environment Day

June 11 – International Jaguar Day

June 29 – International Day of the Tropics

July 10 – Capybara Appreciation Day

July 16 – World Snake Day

July 29 – International Tiger Day

August 19 – World Orangutan Day

September 5 – International Amazon Rainforest Day

The first Saturday of September – Hummingbird Day

The third Sunday of September – Forestry Worker Day (in Russia)

September 20 – International Bat Night

 Our contacts:

Email: golos.lesa.26-27@yandex.ru. For any additional questions, please contact EARAZA Executive Office: earaza@mail.ru.

Dear Friends! We invite everyone to join the conservation education campaign “The Voice of the Forest”!