01/02/2021
The City Council establishes its Science and Ethics Committee for Barcelona Zoo
The establishment of this consultative body complements the amendment to the Barcelona Byelaw on the Protection, Ownership and Sale of Animals, which was approved in 2019, together with the Strategic Plan for the New Barcelona Zoo Model
The Committee is made up of 9 men and 6 women, all independent, with extensive experience and scientific knowledge in biodiversity research, conservation and management, animal welfare and its management in zoos, with a multidisciplinary vocation
Barcelona City Council establishes its Science and Ethics Committee (CCE) for the Zoo, made up of fifteen independent experts in biodiversity conservation and management and in animal welfare. This is a collegiate advisory body, answerable to the Third Deputy Mayor’s office, the area responsible for animal protection. This new advisory body has been created in accordance with the July 2019 amendment to the Byelaw on the Protection, Ownership and Sale of Animals.
More specifically, the amendment to the Byelaw’ 4th Additional Provision, the result of a citizen initiative, was approved together with the Strategic Plan for a New Model for Barcelona Zoo with a 2031 horizon, and which aspires to gradually turn Barcelona Zoo into a world benchmark for research, animal conservation and education in nature-friendly values. The New Model for Barcelona Zoo prioritises the conservation of the world’s most endangered species, especially native and Mediterranean fauna.
The Science and Ethics Committee held its first meeting yesterday afternoon, presided over by the Third Deputy Mayor, Laia Bonet, during which the Committee’s members were introduced. It also provided the opportunity for sharing the body’s draft operative rules, which will involve improved transparency and greater participation in the implementation of the New Model for Barcelona Zoo.
The Committee’s functions, as established under the Byelaw that created it, will be:
1) To issue reports on the situation of animals at Barcelona Zoo for their referrals
2) To ensure the correct application of the criteria for rearing or breeding animals in captivity
3) To prepare reports for the approval of habitat and species projects and to ensure their correct application
The Committee may be required to issue other reports owing to their expertise in animal research, conservation or welfare.
The Committee is made up of 9 men and 6 women, all independent, with extensive experience and scientific knowledge in biodiversity research and conservation and animal welfare with a multidisciplinary vocation.
- Pere Puigdomènech: CSIC Research Lecturer in AgriGenomics (CRAG)
- Marta Legido: Veterinary Clinic
- Marita Giménez Candela: Full Professor of Animal Law at the UAB
- Lydia Chaparro Elias: a member of the Animal Coexistence, Defence and Protection Council, specialising in the field of marine biology
- Xavier Manteca: Full Professor of Animal and Food Science at the UAB
- Montserrat Colell Mimó: Lecturer and researcher in Primatology. UB
- Jose Domingo Rodriguez-Teijeiro: Full Professor of Zoology at the UB
- Ricard Casanovas Urgell: Head of the Fauna and Flora Service, Department of Territory and Sustainability
- Jordi Ruiz- Olmo: Deputy Director-General of Hunting Activities and Continental Fishing at the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries
- Lluis Cardona: Lecturer in Zoology at the UB
- Jaume Bertrantpetit: Full Professor of Anthropology at the UPF
- Cristina Pujades: Researcher in Experimental Health Sciences at the UPF
- Jaume Fatjó: Director of the Affinity Animals and Health Foundation Chair at the UAB
- Daniel Guinart: Director of the Conservation Programme for the Montseny Biosphere and Natural Park Reserve
- Paula Casal: ICREA Researcher at the UPF
Barcelona City Council - also spurred on by the Barcelona Zoo Foundation's Board of Trustees - has worked hard to ensure maximum parity among its members, taking into account the limits that come with having institutional members who are associated with the position they hold and are, in this case, men. It also regrets that it had to delay the launch of its Science and Ethics Committee by several months, because of the pandemic.