Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Acronyms and Abbreviations

There are an extensive number of acronyms and abbreviations commonly used within the zoological and conservation communities. The following is a list of those use most frequently, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. Users are invited to submit additional contributions to .

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | R | S | T | U | V | W | Z

AAALAC – American Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care
AAAS – American Association for the Advancement of Science
AABGA – American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta
AAEE – Australian Association of Environmental Educators
AAM – American Association of Museums
AAV – Association of Avian Veterinarians
AAZK – American Association of Zoo Keepers
AAZPA – American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (legal name of AZA)
AAZV – American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
ABA – American Birding Association
ABC – American Bird Conservancy
ABS – Animal Behavior Society
ABWAK – Association of British Wild Animal Keepers
ACOPAZOO – Asociación Colombiana de Parques Zoológicos
ACORENA – Asociación para la Conservación de los Recursos Naturales (Costa Rica)
ADISC – Animal Data Information Systems Committee
ADZG – Association of Danish Zoological Gardens
AEO – Animal Exchange Online
AEZA – Asociación Española de Zoos y Acuarios
AFA – American Federation of Aviculture
AFO – Association of Field Ornithologists
AfRSG – African Rhino Specialist Group (SSC)
AI – Artificial Insemination
ALPZA – Asociación Latino Americana de Parques Zoológicos y Acuarios (formerly LAAZGA)
AMACZOOA – Asociación Mesoamericana y del Caribe de Zoológicos y Acuarios (formerly AMAZOO – Association of Meso-American Zoos)
ANPJZP – Association Nationale de Parcs et Jardins Zoologiques Prives (France)
AOU – American Ornithologists' Union
AP & WS – American Pheasant & Waterfowl Society
APHIS – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
ARAZPA – Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria
ARCS – Annual Report on Conservation and Science (AZA)
ARKS – Animal Records Keeping System
ASIH – American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
ASM – American Society of Mammalogists
ASMP – Australasian Species Management Programme
ASP – American Society of Primatologists
AsRSG – Asian Rhino Specialist Group (SSC)
ASTC – Association of Science and Technology Centers
ASZK – Australasian Society of Zoo Keeping
AVPZA – Asociación Venozolona de Parques Zoológicos y Acuarios
AWA – Animal Welfare Act
AYM – Association of Youth Museums
AZA – Association of Zoos and Aquariums (formerly American Association of Zoos and Aquariums)
AZCARM – Association of Zoos, Breeders and Aquariums of the Mexican Republic (Asociación de Zoológicos, Criaderos y Acuarios de la República Mexicana)
AZDANZ – Association of Zoo Directors of Australia and New Zealand
AZE – Alliance for Zero Extinction
AZH – Association of Zoological Horticulture

BFF – Black-footed ferret
BLM – Bureau of Land Management (USDI)
BNHS – Bombay Natural History Society
BRD – Biological Resources Division (US Geological Survey)

CAM – Conservation and Animal Management Committee (of British Federation)
CAMP – Conservation Assessment and Management Plan
CAP – Conservation Action Partnership (formerly FIG) (AZA)
CAUZ – Consortium of Aquariums, Universities, and Zoos
CAZA – Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (formerly CAZPA)
CAZG – Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens
CBSG – Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (formerly Captive Breeding Specialist Group) (IUCN/SSC)
CCF – Cheetah Conservation Fund (Namibia)
CDC – Centers for Disease Control (U.S. Public Health Service)
CDC – Conservation Data Centers (TNC)
CEF – Conservation Endowment Fund (AZA)
CI – Conservation International
CIRCC – Committee on Interregional Conservation Coordination (WAZA)
CITES – Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
COGBAZ – Council of Governing Bodies of Australasian Zoos
CONAF – Corporación Nacional Forestal (Chile)
COS – Cooper Ornithological Society
COSEWIC – Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada
CPC – Center for Plant Conservation
CPR – Captive Propagation Rescue
CPRG – Conservation Programs Resource Guide (AZA publication)
CRC – Conservation & Research Center (NZP)
CRES – Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species (ZSSD)
CREW – Center for Reproduction of Endangered Wildlife (Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden)
CPRG – Conservation Programs Resource Guide (AZA)
CSZF/USCZG – Union of Czech and Slovac Zoological Gardens
CWGBT – Cooperative Working Group on Bird Trade
CWS – Colonial Waterbird Society
CZA – Central Zoo Authority (India)

DAPTF – Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force (IUCN/SSC)
DOE – Department Of Energy (US)
DRG – Division of Research Grants (NIH)

EAZA – European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (formerly ECAZA)
EARAZA – Euro-Asian Regional Association of Zoos and Aquaria (Russia)
ECAZA – European Community of Zoological Gardens and Aquaria (now EAZA)
ED – Department of Education
EEP – European Endangered Species Programme
EIS – Environmental Impact Statement
EPA – Environmental Protection Agency
ESA – Ecological Society of America
ESA – Endangered Species Act
ESP – Ecosystem Survival Plan
EUAC – European Union of Aquarium Curators
EZE – European Zoo Educators

FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization (UN)
FASEB – Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
FCAG – Field Conservation Advisory Group (CAP Chairs)
FCC – Field Conservation Committee (AZA)
FCRG – Field Conservation Resource Guide (AZA publication)
FFI – Fauna and Flora International
FGE – Founder genome equivalent
FIC – Founder importance coefficient
FIG – Fauna Interest Group (now CAP) (AZA)
FUNDAZOO – Fundación Pro Zoológico (Foundations for Zoos) (Costa Rica)
FUNPZA: Fundacion Nacional de Parques Zoologicos y Aquarios (Venezuela)
FWS – US Fish and Wildlife Service
FZGGB – Federation of Zoological Gardens of Great Britain and Ireland

GASP – Global Animal Survival Plan (now GCS) (CBSG)
GCAP – Global Captive Action Plan (now GCAR) (CBSG)
GCAR – Global Captive Action Recommendation (formerly GCAP) (CBSG)
GCS-Global Conservation Strategy (formerly GASP)
GDAWR – Guam Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources
GHSP – Global Heritage Species Program
GIS – Geographic Information System
GLAZE -Gay and Lesbian Association of Zoo Employees
GLT – Golden lion tamarin
GMPWG – Global Management Plan Working Group
GSA – General Services Administration
GU – Genome uniqueness

HCP – Habitat Conservation Plan
HL – Herpetologist League
HSUS – Humane Society of the United States

IAAAM – International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine
IAAPA – International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions
IAATE – International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators
IACUC – Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
IADISC – International Animal Data Information Systems Committee
IAFWA – International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
IBA – Important Bird Areas (National Audubon Society)
IBAMA – Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Natural Renewable Resources
IBPGR – International Board for Plant Genetic Resources
ICBP – International Council for Bird Preservation (IUCN)
ICC – Invertebrate Conservation Center (ZSL)
ICP – Institutional Collection Plan
ICSI – Intracytoplasmic sperm injection
IGBP – International Geosphere and Biosphere Program
ILAR – Institute of Laboratory Animal Research
IDMAG – Institutional Data Management Advisory Group
IMATA – International Marine Animal Trainers Association
IMLS – Institute of Museum and Library Services
IPAM – International Partnerships Among Museums
IPCC – International Panel on Climate Change
IPPL – International Primate Protection League
IPS – International Society of Primatologists
IRF – International Rhino Foundation
ISEC – International Society for Endangered Cats
ISIS – International Species Information System
ISPTR – International Society for the Preservation of the Tropical Rainforest
ISZ – International Society of Zooculturists
IUCN – The World Conservation Union (formerly the Int'l Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources)
IUDZG – International Union of Directors of Zoological Gardens (now WZO)
IUPN – International Union for the Protection of Naturl (now IUCN)
IVF – In vitro fertilization
IVM – In vitro maturation
IWC – International Whaling Commission
IWWA – International Wild Waterfowl Association
IZDA – Indian Zoo Directors Association
IZE – International Zoo Educators
IZN – International Zoo News
IZPA – Indonesian Zoological Parks Association
IZY – International Zoo Yearbook

JAZAE – Japanese Association of Zoo and Aquarium Educators
JAZGA – Japanese Association of Zoological Gardens and Aquariums
JGI – Jane Goodall Institute
JMSC – Joint Management of Species Committee
JWPT – Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust (now Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust)

KV – Kinship value

LAAZGA – Latin American Association of Zoological Gardens and Aquariums (now ALPZA)
LSIG – Librarians Special Interest Group (AZA)
LTER – Long-Term Ecological Research Sites (NSF)

MAI – Maximum avoidance of inbreeding
MAP – Museum Assessment Program
MAZA – Mid America Zoo Alliance
MBTA – Migratory Bird Treaty Act
MEDARKS – Medical Animal Records Keeping System
MET – Ministry of Environment and Tourism (Namibia)
MK – Mean kinship
MMPA – Marine Mammal Protection Act
MOP – Memorandum Of Participation
MOU – Memorandum of Understanding
MVP – Minimum viable population

NAAMP – North American Amphibian Monitoring Program
NACAP – Conservation Action Partnership: North America (formerly NAFIG) (AZA)
NAS – National Academy of Sciences
NAS – National Audubon Society
NCI – National Cancer Institute
NEA – National Endowment for the Arts
NEH – National Endowment for the Humanities
NEPA – National Environmental Policy Act
NERP – National Environmental Research Parks (DOE)
NFHZG – National Federation of Hungarian Zoological Gardens
NFRZG – National Foundation for Research in Zoological Gardens (Netherlands)
NFWF – National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
NGO – Nongovernmental organization
NHP – Natural Heritage Program (TNC)
NIC – National Institute for Conservation
NIH – National Institutes of Health
NMFS – National Marine Fisheries Service
NOAA – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOAH – National Online Animal Histories (Regional ISIS-like database system in the UK and the Netherlands)
NOAHS – New Opportunities in Animal Health Sciences (NZP)
NPS – National Park Service (USDI)
NSF – National Science Foundation
NSF-ISE – National Science Foundation-Informal Science Education
NTIS – National Technical Information Service
NVD – Nederlandse Vereniging van Dierentuinen (Dutch Federation of Zoos)
NWF – National Wildlife Federation
NWRA – National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association
NZP – Smithsonian National Zoological Park

OC – The Ornithological Council
OMA – Office of Management Authority
OSA – Office of Scientific Authority
OSI – Office of Scientific Integrity (NIH)

PAAZAB – African Association of Zoos and Aquaria
PADU – Protected Areas Data Unit (World Conservation Monitoring Center)
PAWS – Performing Animal Welfare Society
PERC – Portable Elephant Restraining Chute
PETA – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
PHPA – Nature Conservation and Forest Protection (Indonesia)
PHVA – Population and habitat viability analysis
PKBSI – The Indonesian Zoological Parks Association
PMC – Population Management Center (AZA)
PMP – Population Management Plan (AZA)
PSG – Pacific Seabird Group
PVA – Population Viability Analysis
PZS/PZDA – Polish Zoological Society

RCC – Research Coordinators Committee (AZA)
RCP – Regional collection plan
REGASP – Regional Animal Species Collection Plan

SAG – Scientific Advisory Group (AZA)
SAIO – Salim Ali Institute of Ornithology
SASZ – Swiss Association of Scientific Zoos
SAVE – Save African Endangered Wildlife Foundation
SAZA – Swedish Association of Zoos and Aquaria (formerly SAZPA)
SCB – Society for Conservation Biology
SCOPE – Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment
SEAZA – South East Asian Zoo Association (Indonesia)
SER – Society for Ecological Restoration
SMCC – Species Management Coordinating Council (ARAZPA and COGBAZ)
SMM – Society for Marine Mammalogy
SNDPZF – Syndicat National des Directeurs de Parcs Zoologiques Francais
SPARKS – Single Population Analysis and Record Keeping System
SPMAG – Small Population Management Advisory Group
SSAR – Society for the Study of Amphibian and Reptiles
SSC – Species Survival Commission (IUCN)
SSCJ – Species Survival Committee of Japan
SSP – Species Survival Plan Program® (AZA)
SSPSC – Species Survival Plan Subcommittee (AZA WCMC; no longer exists)
STF – Save the Tiger Fund
SZB – Socieda de Zoologicos do Brazil

TAG – Taxon Advisory Group (AZA)
TFAP – Tropical Forest Action Plan
TMA – Taxon Management Account
TNC – The Nature Conservancy
TP&WD – Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
TRAFFIC – Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce

UCSZG – Union of Czech and Slovak Zoological Gardens
UIZA/ UIGZ – Unione Italiana dei Giardini Zoologici
UNEP – United Nations Environmental Programme
UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
USAID – United States Agency for International Development
USDA – United States Department of Agriculture
USDI – United States Department of the Interior
USFWS – United States Fish and Wildlife Service
USGCRP – United States Global Change Research Program
USGS – United States Geological Survey (USDI)
USMAB – United States, The Man And the Biosphere Program

VDZ – Verband Deutscher Zoodirektoren (German Zoo Union)

WAZA – World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
WCMC – Wildlife Conservation and Management Committee (AZA)
WCMC – World Conservation Monitoring Centre (Great Britain; formerly IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre)
WCS – Wildlife Conservation Society
WII – Wildlife Institute of India
WOS – Wilson Ornithological Society
WPTC – Wildlife Preservation Trust Canada
WPTI – Wildlife Preservation Trust International
WRI – World Resource Institute
WSPA – World Society for the Protection of Animals
WWF – World Wildlife Fund (US)
WWF – World Wide Fund for Nature (International)
WZO – World Zoo Organization (formerly IUDZG)

ZCOG – Zoo Conservation Outreach Group
ZIMS – Zoological Information Management System
ZOO – Zoo Outreach Organisation (India)
ZPOT – Zoological Park Organization of Thailand
ZRA – Zoological Registrars Association
ZSL – Zoological Society of London
ZSSD – Zoological Society of San Diego