2008 Year of the Frog is here!

This year is going to be a busy one, and a major global focus is going to be raising awareness of the causes and effects of the amphibian extinction crisis. The Patron of AArk, Sir David Attenborough, has kicked off the year with an impassioned plea; "Today, amphibians can be found in enormous variety and occupy a wide range of water and land habitats, except for the oceans and the frozen polar regions. They are so familiar to most people that they have become part of the myths, legends, and folk tales of many cultures. Yet their habitats are being destroyed at such a speed that now many species may disappear before we even discover that they exist. Infections of chytrid fungus, for which there is no known cure, are today spreading rapidly and threatening entire species. There is thus the real possibility that much of an entire category of animals may become extinct unless we prepare to act quickly." [link] I feel that this is a good rallying call, and despite the gloom there is much to be positive about. That AArk is occurring at all is testament to the commitment of the conservation and scientific community to address the problems facing amphibians. Lets belive that 2008 will be the year that Science and Policy weld together to address the amphibian crisis. Stay tuned to this blog for further news, synthesis, treatment protocols and the launch of the Global Bd Mapping Project.