President and Executive Board members of the Southeast Asian Zoos Association (SEAZA) and Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (ARAZPA)

Dr Kwa Soon Bee, Chairman - Wildlife Reserves Singapore

SEAZA and ARAZPA members

Ladies and Gentlemen

A very good morning to all of you.

2 Environmental concerns are emerging as one of the hottest global issues today. After decades of rapid industrialisation and exploitation of the world's resources, many countries around the world are beginning to feel its effects and see the vital necessity to take stock and implement corrective measures.

3 Conservation efforts must be seen to play a complementary role to economic development. A balance must be struck between environmental conservation and socio-economic development. In other words, we must strive for sustainable development.

4 Sustainable development is everyone's responsibility - the governments, conservationists, industrialists and of course, individuals. And as two of the world's largest regional zoological institutions, I am sure that SEAZA and ARAZPA - as individual bodies as well as working collaboratively - will be able to make a difference in changing attitudes towards the protection of environments and their inhabitants.

5 Modern zoos in the region can play a meaningful role in initiating sustainable development in their respective countries through public education and research of animals and their fast disappearing habitats.

6 Today's SEAZA-ARAZPA Conference is a major step in such a mission. With its diverse expertise in zoology and zoo management, it is poised to take on an even more important role through the coordinated efforts of member zoos. Through SEAZA and ARAZPA, member zoos can share their experience and knowledge in managing zoos, creating environmental awareness and promoting sustainable development. Much potential also belies the regional conservation programmes, which I am sure can and will be coordinated by both regional zoological bodies.

7 As you gather here in Singapore for the next four days for the first SEAZA-ARAZPA joint conference, I hope that you would make full use of the opportunity to network with your colleagues in the region. There is indeed much we can learn from one another here with so many experts coming from diverse backgrounds, cultures and societies.

8 In closing, it is my sincere hope that the friendship and camaraderie forged here will extend far beyond this conference to ensure close cooperation in the future among the Southeast Asian and Australasian nations. The building of strong ties will facilitate the exchange of ideas, result in greater exposure to various aspects of zoo management and engender great public and government support for conservation programmes such as comprehensive ex-situ programmes for endangered animals and their environments.

9 On this note, I wish all of you a most fruitful and enlightening conference. I would now like to declare the SEAZA-ARAZPA Conference open.

Thank you.

Date : 24 Jun 2002

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Last updated on 18 May 2006