The Philadelphia Chapter of IFMA

By Bonnie Paul
Special to IFMAPhilly online

Our behind-the-scenes tour of the Philadelphia Zoo last September (2010) was such a success, we decided to visit again this year. In 2010, we learned in depth about the Zoo’s initiatives in going Green and then had a thorough tour guided by highly-informed Zoo personnel.

On September 27, we began our program with an update of the Zoo’s progress in achieving sustainability and learned of additional goals. Our Zoo presenters, Stephanie Boysen, Event Coordinator, and Valerie Peckham, Conservation Program Manager, spoke about linking animal behavior with conservation measures. Focusing on orangutans, which are indigenous to Indonesia and Sumatra, our speakers told us that this species is becoming critically endangered in the wild primarily threatened by human activities and development that causes the loss and degradation of their forest habitats.

Palm oil has become quite popular for use in a host of products such as lotions and foods. The countries able to grow the trees necessary to farm this product have been aggressively deforesting areas in order to create palm oil plantations. This deforestation is decimating the orangutan’s natural habitat reducing the population to the point of critical endangerment. Conservationists are encouraging the production and use of sustainable palm oil which include planting on degraded or already disturbed land vs. clearing pristine forest. In this scenario, there is minimal contact between plantation farmers and orangutans and other wildlife.

The Philadelphia Zoo, along with other conservation groups, is urging companies that use palm oil in their products to insist that the palm oil being sourced by their suppliers -- the largest United States supplier being Cargill -- is certified as “sustainable” by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Formed in 2004, the RSPO promotes the growth and use of sustainable oil palm products through credible global standards and engagement of stakeholders. (www.rspo.org) A “certified sustainable” certification includes environmentally and socially responsible agricultural practices.

On another note, zoo personnel are working with builders and architects to reduce the number of deaths of migratory birds that fly into the buildings because the birds are unable to distinguish between open sky and their reflection in the building glass. Partnering with the Audubon Pennsylvania, the Zoo held a program in May for architects to discuss the available ultraviolet and patterned film coatings that can be applied to glass. Several appear clear to humans, but are visible to birds and therefore help them see the windows. Another organization, The American Bird Conservancy, is working with the U.S. Green Building Council, USGBC, to pilot a credit for bird-friendly design that would better integrate into LEED. Currently, bird-friendly points can be earned through innovative credits. Following the short presentation, we visited a few areas of the zoo to see first-hand what has been done to their reflective surfaces.

We then divided into three teams named for some of the sponsors for this event, Hooke Installation, Inc., MCS Management Services, and Securitas, to begin our scavenger hunt. There was much joking and laughter among the participants as they sought to identify clues and find the answers to the questions the Zoo gave us. After careful tabulation of answers for the hunt, Hooke Installations, Inc. and Securitas tied as the winners! Fortunately, the threatening rain held off until the moment we had all gathered under the cover of the Impala Plaza to enjoy some delicious barbecue, beverages and networking.

Thanks to all of our sponsors – Hooke, MCS Management, Securitas and Mellon Certified Restoration – and the zoo staff for making this very enjoyable and informative event possible!