Designed to raise awareness of the plight of coral reefs worldwide, the project will involve support of aquarium-based education conservation scientific, and public relations efforts aimed at coral reef conservation. Preliminary discussions regarding funding have occurred with several potential corporate donors and foundations. Approved by the AZA Board of Directors, this historic MOU provided the basis for a cooperative effort on behalf of aquatic conservation in the United States and its associated territories. Representative of these agencies and AZA met on 9 June and 12 July 1996 at the National Aquarium in Baltimore to discuss implementation, including specific cooperative projects that might be undertaken. The meeting, held in Bethesda, Maryland from 8-9 December 1995, was attended by nearly 15 experts from AZA member institutions with direct experience in international programs.
Efforts are also underway to fund support for species management and veterinary courses.
Similar planning efforts are underway for other regions covered by AZA FIGs. Packages of information on AZA international training workshops and schools were distributed to all regional coordinators in attendance. The book has received excellent reviews in several publications, including Zoo Biology and The Boston Globe. The AZA developed a cooperative relationship with Endangered Species Update , a monthly publication by the University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources and the Environment, which goes to state and federal wildlife agencies. Published monthly, each edition now includes reports on AZA conservation and science programs.