Amphibians are facing unprecedented perils in their 370 million year history on Earth. At least one third of the more than 6,000 known species of amphibians are believed to be suffering critical declines or have recently gone completely extinct. The reasons for these declines are many, but one thing is clear, amphibians are disappearing far faster than traditional conservation methods can be implemented to save them. For this reason, a monumental effort is underway to establish the most critically endangered amphibians in captive breeding programs so they may be some day returned to the wild when the threats to their existence have been resolved. Success depends on pooling as many resources as possible to work toward the common goal of securing a place in the future for our planet’s amphibians. The Amphibian Steward Network is but one part of this larger collective effort.

In the western hemisphere, thirty nine percent of amphibians are threatened with extinction. From southern Mexico to the tip of South America, amphibian losses equivalent to those of the dinosaurs are taking place. Never in the history of humanity have we have witnessed first-hand such massive, global extinctions.

Saving amphibians can start in your own backyard!

A boreal chorus frog breeding pond in Yellowstone National Park

The alluring sight and sound of water in the home landscape has made water gardening one of the fastest growing segments of home gardening. Millions of people are enjoying ornamental ponds and watercourses at their homes at a time when frogs, toads, and other amphibians are facing declines due to loss of breeding habitat. Tree Walkers International has launched Operation Frog Pond to put the popularity of home water gardening to work for amphibian conservation.