european meeting
at the
Pfalzmuseum Bad Dürkheim
On invitation of the DGHT (Deutsche
Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde e.V.), on December 6th / 7th
2003 people from herpetological societies of 6 countries met at the
Pfalzmuseum Bad Dürkheim and founded a new association for coordination and
improvement of cooperations within Europe.
Special attention will be paid to stadardisation of rules and laws for keeping
and breeding reptiles and amphibians within the EU
(fotodocumentation, proof of knowledge, minimum requirements, etc.). There will
be also more presence at relevant organs in Brussels.
For more information feel free to contact
Gerhard Schaffer, +4369912208680
or
Ingo
Pauler
Im Sandgarten 4
D-67157 Wachenheim
Tel. 06322-64962
e-mail: i-w.pauler@gmx.com
_________________________________________________________________________________
Memorandum of
Understanding:
On 6th and 7th of December the
following people met:
Mission statement: EUFORA (European
Forum for Reptiles and Amphibians) seeks the harmonisation
within Europe of conservation, welfare, husbandry, and legislation that impact
on the long term future of all aspects of herpetology.
Objectives:
Realizing the need to cooperate more
closely in a European framework we have discussed and agreed the following:
1) EUFORA is a basis of
pan-european cooperation (at present this is no legal entity, with option to
become one at some stage in the future).
2) EUFORA supports the
concept of “sustainable use” as enshrined in the principles of IUCN (and as
accepted by the EU).
3) EUFORA represents all
aspects of herpetology (scientific & zoo
herpetology as well as herpetoculture and
conservation)
4) EUFORA wishes to
establish a consensus of agreed codes of best practice that identify minimum
requirements concerning welfare and husbandry for the education and
qualification of people who are interested in amphibians and reptiles.
Established standards of best practice could be used as basis for development
and new research findings will be incorporated as necessary.
5) EUFORA will be pro-active
regarding pan-european identification systems especially for protected
amphibians & reptiles. We support sealed picture-identification as the most
humane, non-invasive and tamper-proof system.
6) EUFORA encourages the
exchange of information and cooperation between specialized reptile and
amphibian veterinarians.
7) EUFORA encourages the
exchange of information with its participants electronically (email) and
arranges meetings at least once per year.
8) EUFORA invites all kinds
of organizations and individuals, who endorse its ideas and principles, to join
us.
more information on the official EUFORA - Webpage
______________________________________________________________________________________________
(Copyright 2006;: ISV)