FZS is an international conservation organisation based in Frankfurt in Germany. Founded by citizens of Frankfurt to initially establish and run the Frankfurt Zoo in 1858, FZS was re-established by Bernhard Grzimek in the 1950ties as a conservation organisation. FZS is committed to preserve wildlands and biological diversity in the last remaining wilderness areas on the planet and focuses on large, biodiversity-rich areas in east Africa, in central South America and south-east Asia, and also in central and eastern Europe.

The Academy was founded to give forests and their living inhabitants a voice. Our goal is to initiate a re-think about the way we treat forests in Central Europe. Through our research, we want to raise questions and provide answers around the ecological, climatic and social importance of natural forests and the impact that close-to-nature forest management has on, for example, climate and species protection.

The Wild Europe initiative promotes a coordinated strategy for protection and restoration of wilderness and large wild areas of natural process and habitat, addressing the threats and opportunities facing them. The partnership is currently comprised of agencies, NGOs, other institutions and key individuals. Its links reach beyond conservation to seek consensus with farming, forestry, business and urban social interests.