By: Kym Gopp, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
It is estimated that a third of the world’s 6,000 amphibian species are threatened with extinction. The status of many more is unknown but believed to be imperiled, bringing the percentage of threatened species potentially as high as 50 percent. The global amphibian crisis is affecting our world in countless ways and is considered to be the greatest species conservation challenge in the history of humanity.
Recently the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and its Amphibian Specialist Group have created a global conservation campaign—The Amphibian Ark—and designated 2008 as “The Year of the Frog.” In 2008, Amphibian Ark will lead zoos across the world and their conservation partners in a globally coordinated public awareness campaign for “The Year of the Frog.” The main goal of this campaign is to generate public awareness and understanding of the amphibian extinction crisis, bring attention to the amphibian conservation movement, and highlight ways in which the public can make positive contributions to conservation through activities in their daily lives.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (CMZ) decided to participate in the “Year of the Frog,” and then started to reach out locally to conservation colleagues in Northeast Ohio in an attempt to work together to spread the word and get people involved in amphibian and wetland conservation. Over the past year, CMZ has worked with a number of regional partners to develop the “Year of the Frog” regional initiative—“Leap into Action”—targeted to children and families and focused on three major elements: “LEARN”….about amphibians; “ACT”….to help amphibians and their habitats; “SHARE”….your story and enthusiasm.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Cleveland Metroparks are working with more than 20 regional conservation partners in 2008 to execute “Leap into Action.” With “Vern” the wood frog (short for vernal pool of course) as their mascot, collectively—“Leap into Action” partners will host over three dozen family-friendly amphibian events and activities in 2008. There will be opportunities for people to get involved and actively participate in amphibian conservation, and even contribute directly to the creation of new habitat for amphibians in Cleveland Metroparks. Kids will be encouraged to participate in as many “Leap into Action” events as they can using a “LIA Passport”—adding special “LEAP points” at each event they attend, then earning prizes for their efforts at a the “Leap into Action” party in the fall.
CMZ is hosting the “Leap into Action” website—www.ForFrogs.org—where people can learn more about amphibian conservation, get information about regional activities and events, and kids can contribute stories and images to the “Frog Blog” about what they’re doing to help amphibians. There are so many ways to get involved—so learn, act, share and spread the word. For more information email forfrogs@clevelandmetroparks.com.