Solution to Biodiversity Loss – Our planet is currently faced with serious environmental crises such as major biodiversity loss through habitat degradation, climate change, and human population encroachment. These conditions are only getting worse. Without a major intervention in these trends, human civilization, as well as all life, is severely threatened. Extreme problems call for extreme solutions, global in scope. It is time for societies (large and small) and their economies to take responsibility and address these issues in a direct, responsible and effective way.

Commitment to Sustainability – Bice is committed to sustainability in all its forms. This will include incorporating recycled building materials in all construction, local sourcing of materials, construction methods least intrusive to natural landscaping, rainwater collection, and energy sources such as wind and solar, wherever possible. BICE facilities that feature ‘species-viewing’ restaurants winning utilize ‘farm to table’ sourcing.

Custom, Pre-Planned Templates to Accommodate Cities and Towns of All Sizes – Biodiversity Institutes for Conservation and Education is a non-profit organization which creates affordable and efficient plans for communities of all sizes to involve their citizenry in the responsible stewardship of specific animal groupings (organized by taxonomy). Not unlike identifying with a sports team, communities are offered direct, hands on, ‘team efforts’ to take responsibility for the conservation of their assigned animal groupings.

Holistic Solutions – We have brushed the edge of environmental catastrophe and the human experience must decide between domination over or being in cooperation with nature. These are issues that need to be addressed in a holistic method in order to get the best solutions to problems facing wildlife, wild places and the human benefits of such an endeavor. BICE is charging human societies with the responsibility of saving the planet’s wildlife by providing the designs and implementation of zoological facilities to cities, counties/regional subdivisions, states/provinces and countries all over the world.

Incorporating and Franchising Proven Concepts – BICE builds on the successes of existing conservation organizations, evolving to a next generation of cooperative, global programs. Duplicating systems with proven track records from around the world, BICE creates templates utilizing these most successful captive breeding, research and conservation programs. BICE designs and franchises pre-planned concepts providing the most efficient, effective, affordable and sustainable designs possible.

Connecting Children with Nature – Most children, in this day and age, have little to no connection with the natural world. The modern trend of children being on their electronic devices to the degree that they are, makes this especially evident. BICE intends to bridge that gap, reuniting us with our natural heritage and our innate curiosity of the natural world. Connection with wildlife and nature has healing benefits unable to be duplicated, found elsewhere or manufactured.

Fostering Community Pride and Responsibility – BICE is designed to bring balance back to the human experience. All communities, of any size, taking responsibility for the re-population of decreasing species and sub-species within specific taxonomic groups is the answer.

Matching Plans with Population Means and Dynamics – It is our belief that every city and metropolitan statistical area with a population of 100,000 people or more needs to have a full-fledged biodiverse zoo. We believe that every city or town of 1,000 to 99,999 people needs to have a specialized facility (which we call “Institutes”) with each collection plan focused solely on a specific taxonomic group (i.e. Gazelles, Pelicans, Rhinos, Toucans etc.). These individual Institutes will be hosted by cities according to their population, climate, geographic area and   fiscal dynamics. Any city, of any size, is capable of doing their part in conserving the natural world.

Providing Insurance Populations Through Ex-Situ Conservation – The purpose of Biodiversity Institutes for Conservation and Education (BICE) is to save the world’s diminishing biodiversity (wild animal and plant species, subspecies, and distinct population segments) and the habitats and ecosystems upon which they depend. Global in scope, we do this through the systematic design and implementation of specialty facilities with a taxonomic focus (referred to as “Institutes”) and full-fledged zoos, sometimes with a zoogeographic or bio-climatic focus. The intention of each facility is to build “insurance populations” for specific animal groups through captive breeding programs, focusing primarily on diminishing species, subspecies, and distinct population segments for re-population to their native habitats. This is accomplished through pre-planned, specially designed, template facilities offered to cities, towns and counties, offering each city its own stewardship of a specific taxonomic group based on city population, climate, area and fiscal dynamics.

Species and Subspecies Population Sustainability – In order to create and manage sustainable populations of the specific species and subspecies that BICE is trying to conserve, specialty facilities will be systematically designed to optimize successful animal care and sustainability. Performing much like franchises, many of the taxonomically designated specialty facilities will be repeated/duplicated in other climatically appropriate states in order to build strong, sustainable populations of those taxa to eventually return to their native regions. Formulaic, systematic designs (or templates), will allow for efficient alterations to accommodate other, similar but various species’ institutes. Basic templates will allow for cost-efficient design, implementation and construction budgets as well as provide a consistent, identifiable aesthetic across all BICE facilities. Construction methods, building materials and designs will duplicate wherever possible.

Preserving Captive Populations, Long Term – Many animal species and subspecies from other institutions are being phased out or “managed to extinction” due to lack of space or interest. Because of this trend many managed endangered and threatened species and subspecies end up on birth control, often permanently damaging a population’s delicate reproductive capabilities and/or developing cystic growths and other illnesses.

Recognizing the Importance of and Building Natural History Museums – BICE also formulates and designs natural history museum collections to be built on college and university campuses, and for counties and other regional subdivisions lacking institutions of higher education. Historic and pre-historic records and fossils play a huge part in human understanding and orientation of our living planet and the fragility of all living species. 

Formulating Natural History Research Collections for Further Scientific Study and Context – There are many important reasons for more museum collections to be housed under the care of institutions of higher learning. Current and future conservation is enhanced by the research and study of our planet’s extant (living) and extinct creatures. An historic and pre-historic context for what we know and what we need to learn gives context for our very existence, informing the decisions we make for our future. For the purposes of further education and scientific research, BICE also helps counties (and similar regional sub-divisions), community/junior colleges and universities plan, design, and build natural history museums with collections and repositories for paleontological, contemporary zoological, and herbarium/contemporary botanical specimens and material. When animals at our facilities die, the remains would be sent to an appropriate local junior college or university to assist in the planning, development, and construction of their natural history museum and its collections.BICE HQ will act as a central database for excess and discarded natural history specimens to be placed in an appropriate collection. Headquarters will maintain relevant transitional repositories.

Preservation and Expansion of Natural History Specimen Collections Through Cooperation Between Institutions – Many fossil species and specimens go undiscovered due to lack of funding or limited /lack of storage facilities and repositories to house such material. Many existing natural history museums must rent off-site buildings to store surplus specimens, which is costly. It would be more cost-effective to loan or gift specimens to new (or expanding) college and university collections, promoting the sources of these generous contributions.

Broadening Data and Range of Study – There are accumulations of surplus specimens (zoological, paleontological, herbarium/botanical) which may be, potentially, scientifically important specimens which are going under-researched. Often, this material ends up getting disposed of or sold to private collections (which limits access to scientific study). Working in cooperation with existing museums, BICE-designed museums provide homes and storage space for such material while promoting existing museums and researchers. One such example is Archaeopteryx, a genus of bird-like dinosaur that is transitional between non-avian feathered dinosaurs and modern birds. Many specimens of this taxon cannot be studied. We do not know as much as we could about their flight because some of the specimens with the best-preserved feathers are in private collections, whose owners don’t allow access to scientific study. 

Preservation of Genetic Material – BICE HQ will operate a centralized ‘Frozen Zoo’ and Botanical Seed Bank. This will be a storage facility in which genetic materials (DNA, sperm, eggs, embryos, and live tissue) are taken from animals and stored at -196 degrees Celsius in tanks of liquid Nitrogen. This is for research and protection of the gene pool of endangered and threatened species and subspecies. The cost of each facility having their own Frozen Zoo and Seed Bank would be too high. BICE would work in cooperation with other organizations to these same ends.

The Big Picture – BICE also believes that every community college and public university needs to have a public natural history museum on its campus. We believe that every wild animal and plant species, subspecies and distinct population segment, when and where possible, needs to have a “captive insurance population”. In the world today, we are faced with extreme environmental problems such as climate change, habitat degradation, and biodiversity loss at staggering rates, which all threaten human civilization and survival.

Non-Profit Status – Biodiversity Institutes for Conservation and Education (BICE) is a non-profit organization which creates affordable and efficient plans for communities of all sizes to involve their citizenry in the responsible stewardship of specific animal groupings (organized by taxonomy). Not unlike identifying with a sports team, communities are offered direct, hands on, ‘team efforts’ to take responsibility for the conservation of their assigned animal groupings. Income and revenue notwithstanding, the Non-Profit status of BICE lends consistency of operation that benefits its long-term focus of its purpose, principles and independence as well as being more conducive to BICE’s values and accomplishment of its goals. 

Franchising Facilities – Though there are many examples of organizations around the world that have been successful with breeding and re-introducing wild animals to their native habitat, BICE is the first of its kind to formulate and franchise pre-planned facilities at efficient costs to offer to cities and communities of all sizes in order to contribute their part in conservation of nature and natural resources. By holistically organizing, designing and planning its facilities with ‘the bigger picture’ in mind, BICE believes every city and town can contribute to this new, necessary paradigm by assuming custodial care of an individual species.  Basic templates will allow for cost-efficient design, implementation and construction budgets as well as provide a consistent, identifiable aesthetic across all BICE facilities. Construction methods, building materials and designs will duplicate wherever possible. BICE designs and prioritizes institutes and zoos for communities according to conservation status (priority), climate (appropriate, most similar to native habitat) and, in some cases, regional and cultural relevance and connection (city, high school or college/university mascots, etc.). With the participation of as many   population centers as possible, these community-friendly facilities will become as familiar and commonplace as city parks and playgrounds.

International Facility Planning Policy – Cities and towns in the developed world (United States, Canada, Europe etc.) would have collections (both full-fledged zoos and institutes) with broad geographic diversity, however, those in developing countries would have collections restricted to what is native to their region. This would encourage economic and environmental sustainability through education, research and tourism.

Novel Zoonotic Diseases – Due to the climate change crisis and biodiversity loss caused by environmental degradation, habitat loss and ecosystem encroachment, our global societies and economies are more susceptible to epidemics and pandemics, as viruses, parasites and bacterium jump from plant and animal hosts to human hosts. Continued environmental degradations will produce far more and far worse pandemics than have thus far been experienced.

Political Principles – Although BICE is politically non-partisan, BICE does engage in political advocacy and lobbying concerning environmental matters, endorsing or opposing (globally) individual policies pertaining to relevant issues (similar to the World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, National Audubon Society, Center for Biological Diversity and Safari Club International, etc.).

In-Situ Land and Water Conservation – Similar to the Nature Conservancy and National Audubon Society, BICE maintains a separate foundation called the BICE Land and Water Conservation Fund that purchases land (former farmland, former ranchland, etc.) and restores the land, converting it back into the habitat/ecosystem that occupied it prior. On that land, when feasible or necessary, we release native animal taxa that were captive-bred at BICE facilities, for restorations of such habitat and for conservation of those species. We also plant on that land native plants that were grown at BICE facilities for the restoration of that habitat. On the lands BICE owns, after restoration is complete, we open public access to the lands for non-intrusive recreational activities such as hiking, camping, biking, horseback-riding, swimming, kayaking, canoeing etc.

The land is open to scientists and educational groups conducting field research such as paleontological excavation, archeological excavation, geological surveys, ecological surveys, animal, plant, fungi and soil specimen collection, and camera-trap settings among many other scientific research endeavors. On these parcels of land, we set up a visitor center that, essentially, serves as a nature center, similar to those of the National Audubon Society. (Public fees for day use admission would apply, as well as special reservation and fees for camping and RV spaces, as determined by land space of each).

E.O. Wilson, an American biologist, theorist, naturalist and author is quoted as saying that we need to set aside half, if not two-thirds of our planet for wildlife, and habitat/ecosystem preservation. Based on scientific proof, BICE is of the belief that proximity to nature benefits human societies. With the continued growth of existing pockets of human population and encroachment of wild areas, as well as anticipating eventual migrations of human populations due to climate change, it is necessary to design migration corridors connecting habitats in order to maintain and increase genetic diversity of animal and plant populations. (Lack of genetic diversity has serious health and survival consequences). BICE believes it is possible to integrate human development with animal and plant development by “conscious design”, that is, by preserving or introducing vast areas of wilderness connected by migration corridors, intermixed with areas of human populations. This by extension of the concept of county, state and national parks and preserves along with natural animal highway overpasses connecting wild areas.

Existing Zoo Consultation with Expansion, Planning Assistance and Relocation – Biodiversity Institutes for Conservation and Education also consults with existing zoos in their process of expansion into bordering parkland or golf courses by helping them draw up master plans for such endeavors. 

Home Range Captive Management and Transition Process – Institutes for Conservation and Education engages in a “reciprocal process” of animal management, with special attention to successful capture and acclimation to captivity before transport to a facility in the developed world. BICE creates breeding and education facilities in their home range, from where these animals are being collected. Done in this way, their native species and subspecies can gradually adjust to captivity before export into the developed world, increasing chances for successful transportation and acclamation.

Conservation Adaptations and Flexibility – In order to most successfully transition these insurance populations back into their native range, equally important is the management of wild animal taxa being conserved, propagated and raised in captivity in the developed world’s facilities. As for some developed countries such as Australia, only their native species would be managed in their specialty facilities/institutes due to the number of endemic species and their sensitivity to outside influences of pathogens to which they may not have adapted or evolved immunity.

Job Creation and Human Empowerment to Promote Conservation and Sustainability – BICE breeding, research and education facilities and BICE’s habitat-restored lands in the native developing countries would create economic opportunities for employment which would replace the devastating effects of poverty-inspired illegal activities that harm the environment (such as poaching, illegal logging, and illegal mining) with sustainable jobs. In some areas, former poachers have been successfully converted into conservationists and advocates as paid employees of the wilderness parks and preserves. This creates a new, loyal, human protective force of conservators and caretakers with a new sense of purpose, pride and dignity.

Focus on Education – “In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.”  -Baba Dioum, Senegalese Forestry Engineer. BICE believes the key to conservation is human acknowledgement of its necessity for planet survival. When designing exhibits, planning collections, writing signage, giving presentations, etc., BICE seeks to educate the public on an academic level, akin to living museums. A number of zoos in the United States and other parts of the developed world today try to be all things to all people and often end up looking disorganized and unfocussed which can send negative subliminal messages to their uninformed patrons with regards to the treatment of their animals and their dedication to conservation.

Job Creation and Human Empowerment to Promote Conservation and Sustainability – BICE breeding, research and education facilities and BICE’s habitat-restored lands in the native developing countries would create economic opportunities for employment which would replace the devastating effects of poverty-inspired illegal activities that harm the environment (such as poaching, illegal logging, and illegal mining) with sustainable jobs. In some areas, former poachers have been successfully converted into conservationists and advocates as paid employees of the wilderness parks and preserves. This creates a new, loyal, human protective force of conservators and caretakers with a new sense of purpose, pride and dignity.

Focus on Education – “In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.”  -Baba Dioum, Senegalese Forestry Engineer. BICE believes the key to conservation is human acknowledgement of its necessity for planet survival. When designing exhibits, planning collections, writing signage, giving presentations, etc., BICE seeks to educate the public on an academic level, akin to living museums. A number of zoos in the United States and other parts of the developed world today try to be all things to all people and often end up looking disorganized and unfocussed which can send negative subliminal messages to their uninformed patrons with regards to the treatment of their animals and their dedication to conservation.

Running a zoo, aquarium, museum, or similar institution, can be like a politician trying to cater to too many demands of varied constituencies while losing site of their purpose of serving. The best, most effective and successful politicians over-serve their base, and that is what BICE facilities endeavor to do: Over-serve their base by elevating the visitor’s experience to an academic level. BICE values education over entertainment, linking knowledge in the public’s awareness of even the smallest and most obscure species with its larger, more important biologic role in the ecosystem. The nonprofit status of BICE facilities makes this possible, rather than the profit-based competition for tourist dollars edging out the purpose of the institutes to conserve, educate, propagate, and restore animal populations. 

Along with the animals themselves, BICE considers its ‘base/constituency’ to be natural scientists and scholars, both amateur and professional. 

If it were not for zoos there are multiple species that would now be extinct (such as the Przewalski’s wild horse, Arabian oryx, Scimitar horned oryx, Addax, Addra gazelle, Mhorr gazelle, Pere David’s deer, Black footed ferret, California condor, Mauritius pink pigeon, Socorro dove, etc.). With the need to generate funds and attract revenue for operations, many facilities focus on providing an over-arching entertainment aspect that often crosses into a theme park atmosphere to attract visitor revenue. As well as divergence from the Institutions’ telos, this adds liability and operational expenses that could be better spent on the animal collection and field conservation. 

Though effectively conservation-oriented, typical zoos achieve their goal through a limited, lay-person’s perspective. By contrast, Biodiversity Institutes for Conservation and Education serve animals and their conservation, primarily, while serving the public in the form of advanced education, recreation, awareness, and opportunity for the responsibility and community pride of stewardship. Teaching respect for animals, BICE pays utmost respect to the animals’ well-being by not conflating animals with playing the role of ‘entertainment’ for humans. BICE Institutes are stewards of its animals, plants and fossils primarily, and places of public recreation, secondarily.

Studbook Documentation – Every species and subspecies kept in BICE facilities will have an assigned studbook to document the pedigree and history of each animal in order to ensure genetic diversity and to carefully plan breeding and transfers. Each studbook is maintained by a studbook keeper assigned by correlating TAGs (Taxonomic Advisory Groups). When goals to reintroduce animals into the wild are planned and discussed, studbooks make planning for this task easier.  Studbooks are used to analyze historical and current genetic and demographic dynamics of each taxon’s captive population. This makes collaboration and cooperation with other institutions easier and more organized.

Landscaping and Botanical Gardens – Landscaping and botanical gardens using plant taxa native to the regions where the animal species and subspecies in the collection originate will be featured in each facility. This serves as an important aspect for conservation and education while creating pleasing aesthetics and a pleasurable and immersive experience for visitors. Each plant taxon in the collections will have correlating signage.

Involvement in IUCN SSC’s – “The IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) is a science-based network of volunteer experts working together in more than 160 Specialist Groups, Red List Authorities and Task Forces. Some groups address conservation issues related to particular groups of plants, fungi or animals while others focus on broader issues such as reintroduction of species into former habitats, climate change, wildlife health and sustainable use and trade.” – From the website IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature & Natural Resources. With the importance that BICE places on the involvement in Ex-Situ conservation, collaboration with IUCN SSC’s are essential. With species and subspecies that don’t yet exist in captivity, IUCN SSC’s would be useful in pointing out variables to help with that transition. Directors, General Curators, and Registrars of each Institute would be involved with taxonomically relevant SSC’s.

Company Culture – The administrative hierarchy of BICE reflects the clear objectives of BICE. The executive directors of each BICE facility would be required to have a degree, background and experience in the natural sciences, as the focus of their career. Financial and business skills can be the background of other positions in upper management on whom the executive directors will rely. It is BICE’s intention to pay its employees a competitive, living wage, as is commiserate with the region where the Institute is located, with intention to pay no less than $15/hour, (possibly more, based on performance and responsibilities), with benefits. From tour tram drivers to Executive Director, BICE will build the right team for each facility: Dedicated professionals focused on the same conservation and education goals.