Booking a seat on the AArkBooking a seat on the AArk

Richard Gibson and Kevin JohnsonRichard Gibson and Kevin Johnson

AArk Taxon OfficersAArk Taxon Officers

The IUCN The IUCN Amphibian Amphibian Conservation Action PlanConservation Action Plan

(ACAP), published in 2007, (ACAP), published in 2007, calls for unprecedented levels calls for unprecedented levels of conservation funding and of conservation funding and activity in order to avert an activity in order to avert an amphibian extinction crisisamphibian extinction crisis

Among the disciplines Among the disciplines considered essential for the considered essential for the successful mitigation of this successful mitigation of this crisis is crisis is ex situex situ conservation conservation

– or captive breeding– or captive breeding

(that’s US dollars!)(that’s US dollars!)

There are more than 6000 There are more than 6000 species of amphibian, of species of amphibian, of

which 1/3 to 1/2 are which 1/3 to 1/2 are threatened with extinction threatened with extinction

to some degree. to some degree. However, not all require, or However, not all require, or

will benefit from, will benefit from, ex situex situ conservationconservation

We must therefore choose We must therefore choose where to apply our limited where to apply our limited ex ex

situsitu conservation resources… conservation resources…

In February 2005, the IUCN In February 2005, the IUCN CBSG and WAZA organised CBSG and WAZA organised

and facilitated the and facilitated the Amphibian Amphibian Ex SituEx Situ

Conservation PlanningConservation Planning workshop in workshop in

El Valle, PanamaEl Valle, Panama

Home of the Home of the Panamanian Panamanian golden frog, golden frog,

now feared now feared extinct…extinct…

© © Paul CrumpPaul Crump

One of the working groups at One of the working groups at this meeting produced a draft this meeting produced a draft species ‘selection’ process species ‘selection’ process

which, after multiple revisions which, after multiple revisions and improvements, is now the and improvements, is now the

Amphibian Ark process: Amphibian Ark process: Species Prioritisation for Species Prioritisation for Ex SituEx Situ

ConservationConservation

The full process is divided The full process is divided into three parts:into three parts:

1. Prioritisation 1. Prioritisation 2. Authorisation 2. Authorisation

3. Implementation 3. Implementation

We will focus on part 1.We will focus on part 1.

The prioritisation process is The prioritisation process is designed to identify which designed to identify which

species:species:

1.1. most urgently need most urgently need ex situex situ conservation conservation

2.2. will most benefit from will most benefit from ex situex situ work work

3.3. we are most likely to ‘succeed’ with – i.e. we are most likely to ‘succeed’ with – i.e. meet the goals of any programmemeet the goals of any programme

Remember,Remember, ex situ ex situ conservation is not limited to conservation is not limited to

captive breeding, whether captive breeding, whether short-term for short-term for

reintroduction or as a reintroduction or as a long-term safety-net long-term safety-net

Research and Research and education / awareness education / awareness programmes utilising programmes utilising

ex situex situ populations can populations can both make invaluable both make invaluable

contributions to amphibian contributions to amphibian conservationconservation

The process works by The process works by considering a series of questions considering a series of questions

about each species:about each species:

1.1. Extinction risk according to GAAExtinction risk according to GAA

2.2. Likelihood of mitigating threats in the wildLikelihood of mitigating threats in the wild

3.3. ‘‘Role’ in captivityRole’ in captivity

4.4. Phylogenetic distinctiveness (Phylogenetic distinctiveness (EDEDGE)GE)

5.5. Biological significanceBiological significance

6.6. Cultural or socio-economic importanceCultural or socio-economic importance

7.7. Scientific importanceScientific importance

These questions are usually These questions are usually answered in a workshop answered in a workshop

attended by an assembled attended by an assembled group of amphibian biologists group of amphibian biologists with expertise in the species with expertise in the species

being consideredbeing considered

The process operates through The process operates through a semi-automated Excel a semi-automated Excel

spreadsheet – pre-filled with spreadsheet – pre-filled with species scientific and species scientific and

common names, country of common names, country of origin and all the questionsorigin and all the questions

For each question/column the For each question/column the answers are either pre-filled from answers are either pre-filled from

existing databases (Extinction existing databases (Extinction Risk – GAA and Phylogenetic Risk – GAA and Phylogenetic

Significance – Significance – EDEDGE) GE) or possible answers are or possible answers are

provided in drop-down menus provided in drop-down menus from which the assembled panel from which the assembled panel

of experts chooses the most of experts chooses the most appropriate answer…appropriate answer…

An explanation of the An explanation of the Conservation Role can be Conservation Role can be

viewed by clicking the viewed by clicking the ‘Appendices’ tab at the ‘Appendices’ tab at the

bottom left of the screen…bottom left of the screen…

Notes and justifications for Notes and justifications for answers may be added by answers may be added by

inserting ‘comments’ on the inserting ‘comments’ on the appropriate cells for future appropriate cells for future review or general referencereview or general reference

The answers in each column The answers in each column translate into points which translate into points which are automatically assigned are automatically assigned and summed in column L – and summed in column L –

TotalTotalThe total score indicates the The total score indicates the species priorities for species priorities for ex situex situ

conservation actionconservation action

The questions and associated The questions and associated points can be viewed by points can be viewed by

clicking the ‘Help text’ tab at clicking the ‘Help text’ tab at the bottom left of the the bottom left of the

screen…screen…

……and the complete scoring and the complete scoring for a species can be seen by for a species can be seen by scrolling all the way to right scrolling all the way to right

of the spreadsheetof the spreadsheet

The spreadsheet can be filtered and The spreadsheet can be filtered and re-ordered by any column and with re-ordered by any column and with

any value/answer. You can therefore any value/answer. You can therefore also generate lists of, for example :also generate lists of, for example :

• high ED species and/or those with Biological high ED species and/or those with Biological Distinctiveness for husbandry researchDistinctiveness for husbandry research

• species with threats species with threats considered reversible considered reversible in the wild for in the wild for prioritising in situ activityprioritising in situ activity

• species recommended species recommended for Educationfor Education

Parts 2 and 3 of the process Parts 2 and 3 of the process are highlighted in blue are highlighted in blue

(Authorisation) and yellow (Authorisation) and yellow (Implementation). (Implementation).

They are rarely addressed in They are rarely addressed in the prioritisation workshops the prioritisation workshops as they are most relevant to as they are most relevant to the institutions tasked with the institutions tasked with

acting upon the priorities setacting upon the priorities set

They are intended to They are intended to encourage institutions to:encourage institutions to:

1. confirm the relevant 1. confirm the relevant conservation mandate conservation mandate before acting upon the before acting upon the priorities identified ….priorities identified ….

2. ensure Range State 2. ensure Range State (government/legal) approval for (government/legal) approval for

any proposed project and….any proposed project and….

3. consider all relevant 3. consider all relevant requirements and requirements and

commitments for the commitments for the implementation of a implementation of a potentially long-term potentially long-term

amphibian amphibian ex situex situ conservation programme.conservation programme.

A ‘yes’ to all questions means you’re ready to A ‘yes’ to all questions means you’re ready to

start your programme…start your programme…

Problems with the Problems with the prioritisation processprioritisation process

• Not all questions can be answered quantitativelyNot all questions can be answered quantitatively• Not all questions can be answered objectivelyNot all questions can be answered objectively• Inconsistent interpretationInconsistent interpretation• Language misunderstandingsLanguage misunderstandings• Insufficient expertise/knowledgeInsufficient expertise/knowledge• Disagreement between Disagreement between

participantsparticipants• Information rapidly Information rapidly

becomes out of datebecomes out of date

The answers (or excuses)…The answers (or excuses)…

• Incomplete knowledge of species, a problem in Incomplete knowledge of species, a problem in itself, necessitates subjective and qualitative itself, necessitates subjective and qualitative answersanswers

• Priority lists are NOT intended to be globally Priority lists are NOT intended to be globally comparable….consistent interpretation is comparable….consistent interpretation is therefore important within a workshop but not therefore important within a workshop but not so much between workshopsso much between workshops

• Workshops should be run by an experienced Workshops should be run by an experienced facilitator who is familiar with the process and facilitator who is familiar with the process and competent in language of the workshopcompetent in language of the workshop

……more answersmore answers• Workshops should aim to assemble a broad Workshops should aim to assemble a broad

range of relevant expertise, of varied affiliation, range of relevant expertise, of varied affiliation, and have access to the internet - but accept and have access to the internet - but accept data deficienciesdata deficiencies

• Agree to disagree. Qualitative and subjective Agree to disagree. Qualitative and subjective perspectives guarantee disagreement - a good perspectives guarantee disagreement - a good facilitator will resolve disputesfacilitator will resolve disputes

• Spreadsheets can be updated quickly and easily Spreadsheets can be updated quickly and easily if the information is fed to the AARK - if the information is fed to the AARK - e.g. new spp. e.g. new spp. Calotriton arnoldiCalotriton arnoldi recently added to therecently added to theEuropean priority listEuropean priority list

Imminent improvementsImminent improvements

• Re-build the programming of the Re-build the programming of the spreadsheet so that Conservation Role is spreadsheet so that Conservation Role is not answered by participants but is not answered by participants but is automatically generated according to the automatically generated according to the answers to the other questions – answers to the other questions –

e.g. all CR species automatically get e.g. all CR species automatically get listed as Rescue/Supplementation based listed as Rescue/Supplementation based upon the standing CBSG mandateupon the standing CBSG mandate

Imminent improvementsImminent improvements

• Further answer options will be added to the Further answer options will be added to the question on Threat Mitigation, including:question on Threat Mitigation, including:

Species is effectively Species is effectively protectedprotected

Species does not Species does not require conservation require conservation action at this timeaction at this time

Imminent improvementsImminent improvements

• Aim to have the process incorporated Aim to have the process incorporated into the GAA update, using same into the GAA update, using same expertise and consolidating all expertise and consolidating all information within one central information within one central amphibian conservation databaseamphibian conservation database

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What the process What the process doesn’tdoesn’t do do• Generate a global priority list. Generate a global priority list.

Each regional/national list is generated Each regional/national list is generated independently and is therefore incomparable independently and is therefore incomparable with others – in other words, a score of 55 on with others – in other words, a score of 55 on one list doesn’t make a species higher one list doesn’t make a species higher priority than one scoring 50 on another listpriority than one scoring 50 on another list

• Pretend to be perfect.Pretend to be perfect.If answers are subjective or qualitative in If answers are subjective or qualitative in nature they may also be inaccurate or nature they may also be inaccurate or change. Priority lists should therefore be change. Priority lists should therefore be viewed in the broad sense of identifying clear viewed in the broad sense of identifying clear trends and obvious urgent cases.trends and obvious urgent cases.

What the process What the process doesdoes do do

• Provides a logical, repeatable and, most Provides a logical, repeatable and, most importantly, transparent process for importantly, transparent process for guidingguiding amphibian amphibian ex situex situ conservation conservation activities within a country or regionactivities within a country or region

• Demonstrates a measured and Demonstrates a measured and responsible approach to the amphibian responsible approach to the amphibian extinction crisis by the extinction crisis by the ex situex situ community community

(this is not a ‘frog gold rush’)(this is not a ‘frog gold rush’)

Coming soon Coming soon to a zoo near to a zoo near

you….you….