Image © 2007 Laura Watson

There are over 6,000 different kinds of amphibians that we know about on the earth, and more are being discovered almost every day! The scary fact is that many are disappearing before we even have a chance to identify them. It is estimated that we will lose 1/3 to 1/2 of the world's population of amphibians in the coming decade.

Why is this happening?

Throughout history, different groups of animals have been lost to extinction, naturally. Everyone knows what happened to the dinosaurs. These recent amphibian declines are a very different story. Amphibians are disappearing for a variety of reasons, but most are not natural at all. They are disappearing because their environment is becoming polluted, their habitats are being destroyed, people are illegally taking them for pets, disease is being introduced to their habitats, and global warming is changing their climate making it impossible for them to survive. The amphibians are warning us that our planet's health is in danger, and our health therefore is also in danger!

More information on the global amphibian declines:

• AMPHIBIAWEB
• About.com
• Frogwatch USA

We Need Amphibians

So we know that amphibians are disappearing, but why should we care? Amphibians have been around since the Devonian Period, approximately 350 million years and since then have been respected in many cultures as symbols of good fortune, wealth, fertility, and rebirth. They are also an important subject of fairy tales, and are a symbol of the spring season being upon us. Frogs are important to all of us. How many things can you think of that have to do with frogs? Have you ever played leap frog, or had a frog in your throat? What about the beautiful princess who had to kiss a frog? Amphibians also help us by eating insects. Some of these insects carry disease which can harm or even kill people (malaria, dengue fever) and many of these insects attack our crops. When the insects eat our crops, then we usually resort to using pesticides that are not only harmful to amphibians, but they are harmful to people and the planet too! If we had more amphibians, we wouldn't need to use pesticides. Amphibians are what is known as a bioindicator species. They tell us about the health of our environment and can warn us of trouble ahead.

Amphibians bring to us an amazing array of information, some of which could one day save your life, or the life of a loved one! Several different species have been found to produce substances in their skin that can be used as strong, non-addictive painkillers, a way to treat high blood pressure, and even to kill the AIDS virus. Everyday, we are loosing species to extinction. Could the next one be the frog that held the cure for cancer? We may never know, unless we try to save them today.

What can I do to Help Save Amphibians?

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

So what can a single person do to help amphibians and the planet? A lot! Simple choices we make everyday can help the amphibians and our environment. Start with being a responsible consumer. For example, many of us know about how recycling helps the environment, but let's take a closer look... Before you can recycle products and materials you have to buy them, right? When you go to the grocery store, really examine what you put in your cart. Do the products you buy have excess packaging? Is the packaging made from recycled materials? Are the products produced in ways that harm the environment? The way we spend our money drives business and the economy. By purchasing environmentally friendly products you send the word to the companies that this is what is in demand. The power is in your hands as a consumer to effect real change. Find out more about the tremendous power that you have in the simple choices that you make and how to be an eco-friendly consumer.

We all want a healthy planet, right? Check out ACT to learn about the many ways you and your family can protect the environment and improve life for us all!