FReep Mail me to be added or removed form the ECO-PING list.
Posted on 10/04/2005 8:40:21 AM PDT by GreenFreeper
Environmentalists proposed a $404 million global action plan yesterday at a conference in Washington D. C. to protect and preserve amphibian species. The conference came in response to a study last year that revealed one-third of all amphibian species face a high risk of extinction.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Conservation International joined other wildlife groups to plan further research studies and long term initiatives to protect amphibian habitats. Next is the task of securing funds for the projects from private institutions and individual donors.
"The frogs are trying to tell us something," said Andrew Dobson, a Princeton University professor who studies infectious diseases in the wild. "We're making the world a sicker place and, mercifully, the frogs have picked up on it before humans."
The Global Amphibian Assessment, released last October, revealed that of 5,743 amphibian species, 34 are known to be extinct and more than a hundred others are believed to have suffered extinction. While scientists said the most common threat to amphibians appears to be the fungal disease chytridomycosis, viral disease, habitat loss, drought and pollution are other commonly cited reasons for population declines.
The effect of chytridiomycosis on frog populations in south and central America, Australia, Africa and Europe has become the primary cause for concern as scientists push for captive breeding programs to protect species from the disease.
Not all scientists agree that removing threatened amphibians from the wild is the answer. "We've been running a captive breeding program with the Boreal Toad since 1995," said Cynthia Carey, a professor at the University of Colorado. "We've tried reintroducing them to the wild seven or eight times, but every time they die within a couple of years; if you don't get rid of the fungus, all you're doing is providing it with lunch."
FReep Mail me to be added or removed form the ECO-PING list.
Yeah, maybe that you people are nuts.
so quick to spend other peoples money.
I wonder how much it WOULD have costs to save the Dinosaurs?
The dinosaurs went extinct because they did not have a space program.
"The frogs are trying to tell us something,"
Bud Wise Er
Well things like chytridomycosis and viral disease should be of concern to even those that do not care about amphibians as it could have major impacts on humans (i.e commerical fisheries, livestock, agriculture, etc.).
Interesting proposition but if the Dinosaurs were still around, we likely wouldn't be. A case against impeding evolution and natural selection.
We just rousted out all the wildlife in the woods behind my subdivision to build another large apartment complex. I was marvelling at the two majestic prarie chickens (rare) that took to nesting 7 eggs in a neighbor's flower bed. They were quite forceably evicted and I feel a tinge of guilt watching them squawk and strut to try and keep away people that strolled by. that's all.
Gosh I feel superior and proud to have put a whupping on the prairie chickens. That'll show nature!
/would have preferred the chickens to what's moving into the apartment housing
Ya, they are saying "I taste better cooked in butter with a little salt and pepper.
Yep...Its time to chill and have a Bud.
Soylent Green ~ the answer to environmentalists!
I vote we set aside 404 million for an Environmentalist Eradication program....
That is not too much money; why not let all the enviro and hollywood folks chip in the tax break money they think they should not be keeping - fund it your freaking selves.
If you're soliciting donations, fine. If you're soliciting government cash, drop dead.
Ivan
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.