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Amphibian Conservation

Conservation at a Glance

• Amphibians are an important component of the global ecosystem, as indicators of environmental health and contributors to human health.
• Amphibians provide vital biomedicines and are considered an indicator species for endocrine disruptors and unsafe environmental conditions
• They are also vital components of their ecosystems - in areas of the world where amphibians have declined, there has been an increase in invertebrate pests that damage crops and carry human diseases. 
• Today, one third to one half of all amphibian species worldwide are threatened with extinction. 
• The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) has joined with two branches of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (IUCN/SSC) - the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) and the Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG) - to form the Amphibian Ark (AArk).
• As an integral part of the Amphibian Conservation Action Plan, AArk was formulated to ensure that select species which would otherwise go extinct will be maintained in captivity until they can be secured in the wild. 
• AArk keeps constant attention on the obligation to couple ex situ (in a captive setting) conservation measures with necessary efforts to protect or restore species in their natural habitats.
• AArk’s goal is to save as many species as possible by providing global coordination, technical guidance, training, necessary linkages to other IUCN groups, communications, and guiding publicity and capital campaigns.
• AArk’s goal is 100% participation of WAZA zoos and aquariums and the regional associations.