News

New Amphibian Conservation Action Plan published to inform global conservation efforts

31 July 2024

Eleutherodactylus Nortoni Copyright Ariadne Angulo (1) — Eleutherodactylus nortoni is a Critically Endangered species that occurs in the Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti and Sierra de Bahoruco in the Dominican Republic and is threatened by the loss of the few remnant cloud forests where it lives. © Ariadne Angulo

The newly published Amphibian Conservation Action Plan (ACAP) collates the most up-to-date evidence to inform amphibian conservation action. The collaborative document was authored by more than 100 global experts, including two Durrell staff members.

The new Plan highlights developments in amphibian conservation knowledge and practice over the last 15 years. The IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG), who oversaw the document development, hopes it will help provide a solid evidence-base for amphibian conservation actions globally, as well as highlighting areas of knowledge where more research is needed.

Nearly 41% of amphibian species are at risk of extinction according to the Second Global Amphibian Assessment published on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ in 2023, which confirmed the group’s status as the most threatened class of vertebrates. The new ACAP publication updates earlier versions, first published in 2007 and updated as a digital resource in 2015. The Plan highlights the need for urgent action to address this conservation crisis.

Yangsan Clawed Salamander (Onychodactylus Sillanus) Copyright Kenneth Chin Yu An (1) — Onychodactylus sillanus, the Yangsan clawed salamander in situ in Yangsan, Republic of Korea. The species is threatened by habitat loss and climate change; its taxonomic description in 2022 helped citizen science groups and non-governmental organisations to link up with the local government to discuss the development of conservation programs, and a potential update to national environmental regulations. © Kenneth Chin Yu An

ASG Co-Chair, and one of the documents editors, Professor Amaël Borzée, said “The new ACAP is a cornerstone for amphibian conservation globally, as well as regionally, and it provides an advanced tool kit to all interested in the conservation of these species”.

The Plan is the first of two complementary documents that will make up the 2024 ACAP. This document, conceived and edited by the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, is authored by over 100 experts from more than 25 countries, including Durrell’s Field Programme’s Manager Jeff Dawson and SAFE (Saving Amphibians from Extinction) Programme Coordinator Bela Barata. It synthesises developments over the last 15 years in major themes relevant for amphibian conservation. For each of those themes the authors identify key knowledge gaps and conservation priorities.

The purpose of this updated ACAP document is both to help guide researchers in identifying the most important knowledge gaps, work on which will have a significant impact to on-the-ground action, and to support those implementing amphibian conservation activities to make evidence-based decisions. While not a one-size-fits-all solution – all chapters will not be applicable to all species – conservation practitioners can pull information from relevant sections to help guide their work.

ASG’s goal is that this globally scoped document can inform action at regional and local levels, and likewise that ASG acts as a conduit for regional experiences to feed these into global knowledge, improving amphibian conservation action worldwide.

Darwin's Frog (Rhinoderma Darwinii) Copyright Andrés Valenzuela (1) — Darwin’s frog (Rhinoderma darwinii) is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, due to its small area of occupancy, fragmented population and ongoing threats. In 2023, the amphibian chytrid fungus was found to have reached Tantauco Park, Chile, causing the collapse of the largest known populations of this species. An emergency rescue plan has been developed, and needs to be implemented urgently in order to protect this last stronghold. © Andrés Valenzuela

“To halt and reverse the long-standing amphibian population declines and prevent more species extinctions, it is critical that amphibian conservation becomes both an integral and a conspicuous part of the biodiversity conservation agenda worldwide” added Sally Wren, ASG Deputy Chair, and lead editor. “Adequate financial and human resources and necessary policy measures are key to addressing this decades-long crisis.”

The Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG) is part of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is a volunteer network of over 300 of the world’s leading amphibian experts providing the scientific foundation to inform effective amphibian conservation action around the world. Under the umbrella of the ASG, the Amphibian Red List Authority is the body responsible for overseeing the assessments of all amphibians on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Amboli Caecilian Gegeneophis Danieli Copyright Vishal Kumar Prasad (1) — The Amboli caecilian (Gegeneophis danieli) is a rare caecilian found in the Western Ghats of India. Despite having a narrow distribution range and facing threats such as ongoing habitat loss and fragmentation, it is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List because knowledge is lacking on how much disturbance this species can tolerate. © Vishal Kumar Prasad

Learn how Durrell is making a difference through our Saving Amphibians from Extinction (SAFE) programme.