FAQs

Q: What is Tree Walkers?

A: Tree Walkers International is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of the world’s declining amphibian populations through individual action.

Q: Where did the name come from?

A: Tree Walkers International was started by a group of people interested in the captive care and management of frogs in the Dendrobatidae family, which means "tree walker" and refers to these amphibians' rather arboreal nature.  Although TWI as an organization is concerned with the conservation of all manner of wild amphibian populations--frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, caecilians--we felt it appropriate to name the organization after the group of frogs from which the entire idea sprung.

Q: Who founded Tree Walkers?

A: The organization was founded by a diverse group of individuals with a shared concern over the current global amphibian crisis. TWI founders include zoo professionals, scientists, professional conservationists, students, artists, and concerned individuals. The diversity of our founders gives TWI a unique collective perspective that allows us to explore the potential of previously untapped solutions in the struggle to preserve the world’s amphibians.

Q: Are you a hobby advocacy group?

A: In a word...no.  At least not in the sense that some may think.  The point of TWI is to serve as a vehicle through which private hobbyists can engage in actual amphibian conservation.  Since our inception, the mission of TWI has been to "support the protection, conservation, and restoration of wild amphibian populations through hands-on action both locally and internationally."  We foster personal relationships between people and nature by providing opportunities for people of all ages to become directly involved in both local and global amphibian conservation.  As such, our programs and policies will always reflect our commitment to the conservation of wild amphibians and the environments on which they, and ultimately we, depend.

Q: Can I buy rare amphibians through you?

A:  TWI does not, as an organization, own any animals.  We are not an animal broker, importer, or wholesaler.  We do provide the medium and structure through which participants in our Amphibian Steward Network (see below) can buy, sell, or trade animals with one another, but that takes place using animals from their own personal collections.

Q: Why was Tree Walkers founded?

A: Amphibians are in the midst of a global extinction event. Of the more than 5,000 currently recognized species of amphibians, more than one third are suffering serious declines or have recently gone extinct. Despite having survived millions of years, from the Triassic to the present, amphibians are now facing a crisis like no other. The reasons for the decline are varied and include habitat loss, environmental pollutants, epidemic disease (such as chytrid fungus), and unsustainable harvest for the pet trade. TWI was founded to allow individuals to become directly involved in amphibian conservation to help reverse the declines of wild amphibian populations.

Q: What happens when I become a member?

A: After registering for membership and paying your annual membership fee, you get access to the “behind the scenes” portion of the TWI website. You can participate on the TWI forums which allow communication between members on all sorts of topics, from current amphibian issues to the captive husbandry of all manner of species and genera.

TWI is truly a volunteer-driven organization, and all of our programs and initiatives are the result of the time and energy put forth by our members, from executive committee members to editors to TMP coordinators. As a member you can engage as much or as little as you feel comfortable. Some are simply content to know that their annual membership fee is being used to help fund things like our ASN chytrid study or for a TWI representative to attend a regional amphibian conservation conference…or even to provide a small grant for a class to install a frog pond in their schoolyard. Others choose to spearhead a TMP for the captive management of a specific species or coordinate ASN stewards. Or, if you have an idea about something TWI could be doing, submit the idea to one of our directors. We don’t ask you to entrust the conservation to someone else: we help you do it yourself!

Q: How is TWI different from other amphibian conservation organizations and initiatives?

A: There are a number of dedicated professional organizations working to address the global amphibian crisis. TWI was created to form a bridge between these groups and individuals. The current crisis is so large that we need to exploit every available resource to be successful. TWI organizes individuals into a powerful resource that conservation professionals can use without exhausting their limited funds.

Q: Why should people be concerned about declining amphibian populations?

A: Aside from the philosophical supposition that the world is simply a more interesting and beautiful place with amphibians, there are many practical reasons.

Amphibians have long played a key role in the advancement of biological sciences and human medicine. From using amphibians in high school biology classes to human pregnancy testing labs, humans have benefited from them in many ways. For example, poisonous compounds isolated from an Ecuadorian frog (Epibatadine) have been used to develop a painkiller that is many times more powerful than morphine but lacks addictive side effects. Medical researchers are exploring whether other amphibian-derived chemicals can be used to treat diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Some amphibian species can survive being frozen solid. Understanding the processes that make this possible could provide breakthroughs for developing cryogenic treatments that would allow human life to be suspended during prolonged surgery.

More recently, the role of amphibians in sustaining healthy ecosystems is being recognized. Amphibians consume an enormous number of insects and other potential pests. Some evidence suggests that the disappearance of amphibians may result in increased incidence of insect-borne disease such as malaria. A recent study from Panama suggests that the disappearance of amphibians may result in catastrophic ecosystem collapse. Although it might sound like a cliché, amphibians may be the canary in the coal mine warning us of imminent ecological disasters on a global scale. TWI believes that maintaining healthy amphibian populations will contribute to sustaining a healthy environment and strong economies, both of which humans need to support a high quality of life.

Q: How does TWI help offset the global amphibian crisis?

A: Tree Walkers International provides a way for individuals to become directly involved in amphibian conservation through organized programs designed for maximum efficiency and impact. Whether through the Amphibian Steward Network, which uses the resources and skills of individuals for the captive propagation of imperiled amphibians, or through Operation Frog Pond, where individuals create vital amphibian habitats in their own backyards and neighborhoods, TWI volunteers can make small contributions to amphibian conservation that accumulate into a large positive difference.

Q: What is the Amphibian Steward Network?

A: The ASN was developed to address two important goals: (1) eliminate the unsustainable harvest of amphibians from the wild, and (2) support the protection and restoration of critically threatened amphibian populations in the wild through captive management and propagation.

ASN harnesses the passion, skills, and resources of private amphibian enthusiasts to help conserve wild amphibians by organizing and providing the necessary resources for stewards to establish long-term sustainable captive populations of amphibians that retain their original wild characteristics. These populations are then used to help supply commercial demand for amphibians in the pet trade and reduce collecting pressure on wild populations. ASN stewards also support commercial trade practices that work for (rather than against) wild amphibian conservation.

To become an ASN steward, you simply need to fill out a steward application. Some of the benefits of becoming a stewards include:

• Ensure the long-term maintenance of captive amphibian populations.
• Access to a centralized database (ISIS) of captive holdings and studbooks (the same database used by zoos and aquariums).
• Participate in an organized network of other hobbyists and breeding/stock exchanges.
• Access to a steward-developed knowledgebase of husbandry and conservation practices.
• The potential to participate in other amphibian captive breeding/management programs.

Q: What is Operation Frog Pond?

A: One of the single greatest reasons for amphibian declines in the United States is loss of habitat. The goal of OFP is to create high quality habitat for amphibians by promoting the establishment of amphibian-friendly ornamental ponds and wetlands. To do so we provide information for individuals to use in the construction of their own ponds.

We also award small grants to teachers, schools, and community organizations who would like to construct frog ponds in their schoolyards and neighborhoods. This enables many groups and classes the opportunity to clear the hurdle of material costs in the construction of such projects. Once created, these ponds not only provide crucial breeding habitat for area amphibians, but also serve as outdoor classrooms for students and points of interest/awareness for area residents.

Q: Does TWI have an education mission?

A: Yes, TWI is committed to educating the public about the ongoing amphibian crisis and the importance of maintaining healthy amphibian populations. TWI works with schools and universities through both the Amphibian Steward Network and Operation Frog Pond to get teachers and students directly involved with amphibian conservation. In addition, through collaboration with TWI, Justin Yeager has spearheaded Operation Atelopus, which is producing a documentary about the devastating effects of chytrid fungus on neotropical amphibians.

Q: How can people help?

A: TWI uses the power of skilled volunteers to provide an enormous “bang for the buck” in addressing the global amphibian crisis. However, the ultimate success of TWI will depend on developing a small, dedicated staff to move TWI’s ambitious programs forward and make them successful. Becoming a member is the quickest way to get involved. Beyond membership, TWI needs volunteers to help develop programs such as the Amphibian Steward Network and Operation Frog Pond. These programs form the backbone of TWI activities and need volunteer support to succeed.

Q: How are membership donations used?

A: A small portion of the donations are used to cover the modest expenses incurred to operate TWI. The majority of donations are used to develop educational and promotional materials that get the word out about the plight of amphibians globally, fund our small grants program for conservation programs, as well as other costs of TWI's innovative programs.