A “mounting extinction crisis” is facing frogs, toads, newts, snakes and lizards across the UK and Europe according to a new charity.
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, which is being launched at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show today, has been formed from the merger of The Froglife Trust and The Herpetological Conservation Trust (HCT). It hopes that the new organisation will not only provide a single voice for the conservation of these animals and their habitats, but will also to use the limited resources available more efficiently, to tackle the causes of the recent decline in amphibians and reptiles.
The merger has attracted the support of wildlife presenter Kate Humble and zoologist and broadcaster Professor Aubrey Manning.
Kate, presenter of the BBC’s Springwatch series, said: “This is what it’s all about: people and organisations coming together and sharing resources and knowledge to make sure that their shared vision of saving wildlife can be realised.”
Aubrey added: “Amphibians and reptiles are often inconspicuous in Britain, but they are a fascinating and important part of the web of life.
“This merger will help to bring the best minds and resources to bear on their conservation.”
The charity said that major threats to reptiles and amphibians include habitat loss, pollution, non-native diseases, climate change and the isolation of populations by roads and other infrastructure.
More than half (59%) of all European amphibians and 42% of all reptile species are disappearing, according to a International Union for Conservation of Nature study, funded by the European Commission, published in May.
Of the UK’s 13 species of amphibians and reptiles, 10 are listed on the Government’s Biodiversity Action Plan Watchlist.
Jonathan Webster, amphibian and reptile conservation’s chair of trustees, said: “This merger is a common sense approach to wildlife conservation.
“Put simply, we can act with greater influence as a single organisation than as two separate entities.
“The merger makes us more effective in achieving our shared goal, which is to reverse the current widespread decline of amphibians and reptiles, by actively improving wildlife habitats and encouraging a wider audience to understand and appreciate the importance of these animals.”
Both Froglife and The HCT were formed in 1989. Froglife traditionally focused on public campaigns and education projects, while HCT focused on reserve management and protecting rare species like the natterjack toad, sand lizard and smooth snake.
As a single organisation Amphibian and Reptile Conservation will cover a range of activities to conserve frogs, toads, newts, snakes and lizards, including managing 80 nature reserves, working with the education sector, researching and monitoring species’ populations in the wild, working with other wildlife organisations and the public and influencing wildlife legislation relating to reptiles and amphibians.
As well as working in the UK, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation will also work in Europe and in the UK overseas territories. For more information visit www.arc-trust.org.