Conservation: The management of natural resources to avoid destruction of species and habitats.
Involves maintaining and protecting habitats, controlling the harvesting of natural populations, and seeking to reduce pollution and other threats to organisms resulting from human activity.

The Toledo Zoo's Green Guiding Values

The Toledo Zoo is committed to placing sustainability at the heart of our mission by creating these “Green Guiding Values” and by being a role model for the community through responsible use of resources to limit the detrimental impact on the environment and by educating our staff and the community on green practices.

What does this mean?

The Toledo Zoo will:

1. Protect our Natural Resources and Conserve utilities where possible by
     • Reducing energy and utility consumption, i.e. turning of lights when leaving        a room, turning off computers at the end of the day, not letting water run        while washing dishes, hands, etc.
     • Investigating the potential of grey water usage for horticulture needs
     • Continuing to replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent         bulbs
     • Conducting periodic energy audits
     • Continuing to reduce power use during peak hours through monitoring        devices
     • Continuing to use automated systems for HVAC use and Lights Before        Christmas
     • Replacing Lights Before Christmas light strands with LED lights
     • Engaging in green construction with new buildings and renovations when        possible
     • Investigating the possibility for cogeneration where applicable

2. Reduce waste and reuse or recycle all materials possible, reducing our impact in landfills and the environment.

3. Practice environmentally responsible purchasing by purchasing items in responsible packaging, increase our use of renewable resources and recycled materials, and by informing our suppliers of our desires and expectations.

4. Engage in green construction by establishing guidelines for contractors and using ecologically sound, environmentally sensitive, energy efficient green building practices.

5. Set standards to meet or surpass requirements of environmental legislation and commit to a process of continual environmental improvement.

6. Make accurate environmental information about our operations and policies available to our visitors, members, employees, and board members.

7. Inform suppliers, partners, and contractors of our environmental expectations and encourage them to adopt sound environmental management practices

8. Promote continual improvement in operations and maintenance practices and establish sustainability guidelines for internal and external work groups
9. Inform suppliers, partners, and contractors of our environmental expectations and encourage them to adopt sound environmental management practices.