The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums is the "umbrella" organisation for the world zoo and aquarium community. Its' members include leading zoos and aquariums, and regional and national Associations of Zoos and Aquariums, from around the world. Together they are United for Conservation. WAZA was originally founded in Rotterdam in 1946 as the International Union of Directors of Zoological Gardens (IUDZG). In 1995 it was renamed as WAZA to reflect a more modern institution working together at a global level to build cooperative approaches to common needs, to tackle common issues, to share information and knowledge, and represent this community in other international bodies such as the World Conservation Union (IUCN).