Reversing the loss of the most threatened group of vertebrates
Earth is home to more than 8,000 species of amphibians – frogs, toads, salamanders, newts and worm-like caecilians. These fascinating animals exhibit a remarkable diversity of colours, forms and appearances and have inspired human cultures around the world for millennia. More recently, their skin secretions have been identified as offering potential hope in the battle against diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and many more. Unfortunately, amphibians are by far the most threatened group of vertebrates. Around 40% are at risk of extinction, a far greater proportion than mammals (25 %) or birds (14 %).
Our Programme
Amphibians are threatened primarily by habitat loss and disease. Those most at risk are found in the tropics where there is often a great need for the development of more expertise in practical amphibian conservation and research. The response of conservation organisations and donors to the amphibian crisis has been nowhere close to what is needed. To address this insufficient response, Synchronicity Earth has developed its Amphibian Programme with three key goals: