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By Linda Sekura
Worldwide discoveries of amphibians total 5,743 species. Since
1980, over 120 of these species have gone extinct. Currently, 43%
(2,469 species) are in decline and 32% are threatened. This list
doesn’t include the worldwide extinct and endangered mammals,
birds, butterflies, and just about any category of living organism.
Ohio has hundreds of endangered species, including amphibians such
as the eastern hellbender. We have 23 endangered fish, 24 endangered
mussels, and numerous mammals, birds, butterflies, moths, etc.
Ohio’s endangered plants outnumber any of these.
In response to the worldwide amphibian decline, the Amphibian
Specialist Group of The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has declared
2008
as the Year of the Frog. The main goal is to generate public awareness
and highlight ways that people help. A consortium of more than
two dozen northeast Ohio groups, spearheaded by Cleveland Metroparks
Zoo, is organizing 40 or more events, programs, and activities
during 2008 in a regional campaign called “Leap into Action,” including
the creation of new habitat for amphibians in the region. Learn
more at the Zoo-hosted “Leap into Action” website (ForFrogs.org),
and have your child contribute stories and images to the “Frog
Blog” about what they’re doing to help amphibians.
Why do we care about endangered species? Aside from the moral
and
ethical right to life for all species, why care? The intact ecosystems
that provide a healthy environment for us are the same conditions
that nearly all living organisms require. Endangered species are
the canaries in the coal mine, since they (especially amphibians)
are more sensitive to changes and toxics in their surroundings.
Aside from obvious need for clean water and air, the loss of a
single species in a system can set off a chain reaction affecting
many other species. And we can never know all of the purposes served
by one species in that system.
Many medicines and cures for human
ills have been discovered in our wild species, and not only plants.
Aspirin was originally derived
from willows, and heart medicines from Foxglove beardstongue. But
compounds isolated in some amphibian secretions have been shown
to be more powerful than morphine, a frog toxin may hold a treatment
for the HIV virus, and other secretions may provide new antibiotics.
Maintaining
biological diversity keeps the processes of evolution rolling.
Adaptation, a process that permits the natural evolution
of new species depends on genetic variability (without human manipulation).
When genetic variability is reduced, as with the Florida panther,
the risk of extinction increases. Solutions to problems in agricultural
production lie in access to our genetically pure wild species.
As with mountaintop removal mining, extinction is an irreversible
environmental impact. According to Niles Eldredge of the American
Museum of Natural History, “There is little doubt left in
the minds of professional biologists that Earth is currently faced
with a mounting loss of species that threatens to rival the five
great mass extinctions of the geological past. As long ago as 1993,
Harvard biologist E.O. Wilson estimated that Earth is currently
losing something on the order of 30,000 species per year -- which
breaks down to the even more daunting statistic of some three species
per hour. Some biologists have begun to feel that this biodiversity
crisis -- this "Sixth Extinction" -- is even more severe,
and more imminent, than Wilson had supposed.”
This is a worldwide effort. In early January, Germany’s Zoo
Leipzig held a “Year of the Frog Eve” event. Sir David
Attenburgh started an “In Cold Blood” series on amphibians
(and reptiles) in late January on the BBC. By the time you read
this, our Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will have held its February
29th Leap Frog Day. Keep an eye out and be a part. Watch for updates
about events at: www.forfrogs.org.
Sierra Club contact: Linda Sekura,
216-663-1876.
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The City of Cleveland's 
Do you know of a local environmental issue in need
of attention? Do you have inside information on what's
going on in your city or township? With over 5,000
members in Northeast Ohio we count on you to be the
Club's eyes and ears of the region. While the Federal
government and large corporations continue to wreak
havoc on our environment, it is more important than
ever before to act as watchdogs in our own backyards.
For those new to
calling state or federal representatives, it's easier and
less confrontational than it sounds. You will never
speak directly with your rep or senator - an aide
will answer the phone, take brief notes plus your name and city (sometimes), and that's it.