“By making it a point to prioritize sustainability in our organizational practices, we can lead by example in our community. We are often asked how people can get more involved with conservation, and engaging in sustainable practices is the best way to do that. What we do here at the Zoo and what people do at home doesn't just affect the conservation of one species or one ecosystem, but it can have direct, impactful results on the conservation of endangered species not only here in Nebraska, but around the world. We're grateful to have Verdis as a partner in helping us achieve these important goals.”
Jason Herrick, Vice President of Conservation and Science, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
We are proud to have worked with Nebraska’s largest tourist destination for the past twelve years. We recently created the Zoo’s first Climate Action Plan that combined both mitigation and climate adaptation strategies into a dynamic and flexible plan.
The climate action plan incorporated input from several sources, including but not limited to Zoo staff from all levels, best practices at other zoos, site visits, and energy, water, and waste data. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium has a long history of prioritizing sustainability, and we were thrilled to lead this participatory process helping ideate a more sustainable and climate-resilient future.
Our work with the Zoo started in 2012 with the Zoo’s first Sustainability Master Plan. Once the Master Plan was finalized, we turned our attention to implementation and engagement, which has kept us and our key stakeholders at the Zoo busy. We rolled out our online Pledge Tool, applied for and won grants to ramp up recycling efforts and conduct a composting study, and led a lighting retrofit. We also helped the Zoo set up a Green Revolving Fund and managed a project to install a solar photovoltaic system.
The results of these efforts have helped save $800,000 in estimated annual savings and $400,000 in new grants obtained. In 2021, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium received the Green Award from AZA in recognition of its incredible sustainability successes to date.
As part of its conservation mission, the Zoo is saving energy and water and reducing waste. These efforts go beyond simple economic savings. With these strategies, the Zoo is creating a healthy planet for animals and people for generations to come. We look forward to continuing major implementation efforts with the Zoo!
