Download and view FrogLog 102.
FrogLog has undergone something of a metamorphosis in the past year or so with thanks to the vision of James Lewis and input of the ASG community. A year ago, almost to the day, we launched the first “Regional Focus” edition to shine the spotlight on the impressive array of work being done in different regions, both in understanding and combating amphibian declines. The response to this new format was inspiring, as are the stories of success from around the world.
We are bombarded on a daily basis by negative stories from the global media, and news about the state of our environment is rarely positive. But every now and then we are offered glimmers of hope that can serve to empower and inspire. Earlier this month Carlos Vasquez Almazan traveled to London to receive a prestigious Whitley Award for his incredible contribution to amphibian conservation in Guatemala. Carlos has been a key player in identifying and securing key habitat for amphibians including the Sierra Caral, home to a dozen globally threatened amphibians, five of which are found nowhere else in the world. Carlos is an inspiring example of an individual working tirelessly to bridge the gap between science and conservation, and has been a valuable ASG partner. The ASG is also proud to have supported the recent creation of the Rana Terribilis Amphibian Reserve in Colombia, another conservation victory thanks to an collaboration among international and local partners. And then of course there is the Search for Lost Frogs, a simple idea that has caught the attention of the masses from scientist to school children.
While we should not mislead people to believing that there is not a problem, we must give them something to believe in if we want them to support the cause to protect amphibians. This sentiment was echoed in a recent comment on Facebook in response to a post about the conservation efforts for the Mountain chicken frog (Leptodactylus fallax): “Successful programs like this need to become more widely known. I think people are willing to support them if they are aware that they pay off.” So let’s keep raising awareness about the plight of amphibians, let’s document and learn from our failures, but let’s also be sure to celebrate and spread the word about our successes, no matter how small or trivial they may seem, because these success stories may just help foster support for the cause.
News from the ASG
4 – Amphibian Red List Internship Available
4 – Lost Frogs update – Research Assistant Needed
4 – The Second Call for Proposals for SOS
4 – EPA and the Ecological Risks from the Use of Atrazine
5 – FrogLog Feature Editors Wanted
5 – Wanted: Partnership in Husbandry Research on the Frogs of Andasibe, Madagascar
6 – NHBS Gratis Books Scheme
Regional Updates
8 – Caribbean Update
9 – USA Update
10 – Conservation Status and Ecological Notes of the Previously Extinct Toad Incilius holdridgei (Taylor, 1952), Costa Rica
13 – Assessment of Risk of Local Extinction, a Fast – Acting Method in Mexico
16 – Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project – Panama
21 – Protecting Rare Amphibians Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act
24 – Conservation of the Florida Bog Frog, One of North America’s Rarest Amphibians
26 – Incorporating Search Method and Age in Mark – Recapture Studies of an Indicator Species, the Red -Backed Salamander
Global Update
28 – Concern Over Destroying Frog Habitat on the Occasion of Save The Frogs Day in Bangladesh