Save Jobs for NY: Speak Out for Zoos, Gardens & Aquariums

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is launching a petition drive and letter-writing campaign against the devastating cuts to the state budget line that funds 80 zoos, botanical gardens and aquariums across New York State, including WCS’s Bronx Zoo and the New York Aquarium.

The campaign is aimed to garner messages from thousands of New Yorkers demanding that our leaders in Albany reject a proposed cut to ZBGA—the name of the state budget line funding New York’s zoos, botanical gardens and aquariums. Governor Paterson has proposed to cut this budget line of $9 million by $4 million.

“When you cut zoos, botanical gardens and aquariums—important economic drivers in communities across our state—you are hurting New Yorkers and New York, especially during a time of high unemployment in our state,” said John Calvelli, WCS Executive Vice President of Public Affairs. “All of the 80 institutions which make up our state’s Coalition of Living Museums are in communities where families rely on them for jobs and where merchants rely on them to drive tourism and business.”

The WCS zoos and aquarium alone pump more than $400 million into the state’s economy annually. In addition, these institutions provide a much needed educational resource for children.

Take Action

As Albany lawmakers and the governor negotiate the state budget proposal, the Coalition asks New Yorkers to sign a petition telling Albany to fully restore ZBGA. Petition signatures are also being taken on-site at WCS’s Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium.

About ZBGA

For more than 30 years, ZBGA has proven its economic benefits to the entire state. Living museums generate millions of dollars each year for the state in tourism and economic development. Businesses depend on the money spent by ZBGA funded institutions and they depend on the income generated by tourists patronizing them. Money spent supporting the 80 living museums across New York State is money spent building and stabilizing the economy through jobs, education, and support for industries that depend on their existence.

ZBGA institutions are an integral part of the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and are critical to the goals of the EPF. During the last seven years, more than $500 million of dedicated environmental funding has been transferred from the EPF and spent on other non-environmental programs.

A Snowball Effect

Today New York State is struggling to honor its existing obligations based on the nearly half billion dollars that has been transferred from the EPF for general budget relief. Without properly addressing repayment of previously diverted EPF funds, the state runs the risk of exhausting future appropriations on previous commitments, risking progress on new projects. Calvelli said: “Slashing funds to these institutions is shortsighted. It will have a snowball effect on employment, commerce, and education in communities across the entire state.”

Living museums educate the next generation of conservation stewards and create an informed electorate about the values of the preservation of clean water, air, and land. The educational value of all living museums spans across the community and the state, and inspires the next generation of conservation-minded global citizens.