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IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group
IUCN COMMISSION GROUP

IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group

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Overview and description

Description:
Amphibians are the most threatened vertebrate class on Earth, with 41% of species threatened with extinction according to The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist ...
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Amphibians are the most threatened vertebrate class on Earth, with 41% of species threatened with extinction according to The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG) is the only vertebrate specialist group focused on an entire taxonomic class. The ASG is a global network of volunteer experts who develop the science that supports global amphibian conservation action.
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Group leadership

Prof Amaël BORZÉE
Co-Chair
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I am the co-chair of the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. I am also a professor at Nanjing Forestry University, and my principal research interest is behavioural ecology and wildlife conservation. My original focus is on understanding the reasons behind the amphibian decline, the links with their behavioural ecology, and their conservation through research. I am now however shifting towards the breeding behaviour and conservation of species in general, in East Asia. My primary experience was with amphibians in Korea, until I started my lab in China in 2019. I now wish to address broader questions aimed at the conservation of multi-species populations over large landscapes, including multiple types of approaches and analytical tools.

I am the co-chair of the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. I am also a professor at Nanjing Forestry University, and my principal research interest is behavioural ecology and wildlife conservation ...

Mrs Janice CHANSON
Red List Authority Coordinator
Ms Sally WREN
Co-Chair

Sally joined the ASG as a Programme Officer in 2013, and had roles as Conservation Planning Officer, then Deputy Chair, before becoming Co-Chair in 2024. One of Sally’s main roles to date was leading the update of the global Amphibian Conservation Action Plan (ACAP), a key document to bridge the gap between scientific research and conservation implementation published in 2024. Prior to working with the ASG Sally spent several years at the Zoological Society of London; there she worked on IUCN Red List assessments of freshwater fish and reptile species for the Red List Index, helped develop the EDGE Amphibians conservation initiative, and managed both the EDGE Fellows Programme and ZSL’s Mongolia Programme. Sally has has expertise in improving conservation methods for amphibians, with particular emphasis on effective conservation planning and translocations.

Sally joined the ASG as a Programme Officer in 2013, and had roles as Conservation Planning Officer, then Deputy Chair, before becoming Co-Chair in 2024. One of Sally’s main roles to date was leading ...

More about the Specialist Group

Amphibians declines and extinctions have been an ongoing concern for decades, but it wasn’t until 2004 that we got a much clearer picture of the extent of the issue, when the Global Amphibian Assessment (GAA) provided the first comprehensive overview of amphibian extinction risk in the world. The results that emerged were nothing short of alarming, with one in every three amphibian species threatened with extinction and one in every four species with insufficient ...

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More about the Specialist Group

Amphibians declines and extinctions have been an ongoing concern for decades, but it wasn’t until 2004 that we got a much clearer picture of the extent of the issue, when the Global Amphibian Assessment (GAA) provided the first comprehensive overview of amphibian extinction risk in the world. The results that emerged were nothing short of alarming, with one in every three amphibian species threatened with extinction and one in every four species with insufficient data to be adequately assessed. Following the GAA, the ASG was established in 2005 from the amalgamation of the Declining Amphibian Population Task Force (DAPTF) and the Global Amphibian Specialist Group (GASG).

The ASG has a global secretariat and relies on four pillars to advance its remit:

  • Amphibian Red List Authority (ARLA): The ARLA is responsible for the update and maintenance of the amphibian database on the IUCN Red List. It is composed of the ARLA Coordinator and a small core team who work with volunteer ASG regional assessment coordinators around the world. The ARLA are currently working on the third Global Amphibian Assessment (GAA3).
  • Regional Groups: These are the geographically-scoped groups of the ASG. There are currently 43 different regional groups which have been historically defined based on a combination of amphibian biodiversity and capacity in-region. Regional groups are very diverse and have different strengths and challenges. Each regional group is led by 1-2 chairs, who lead on the identification of priorities and organize their respective groups.
  • ACAP Thematic Working Groups: Thematic Working Groups oversee the development and update of the Amphibian Conservation Action Plan (ACAP) and provide technical advice in their respective subject areas, which include aspects that range from threats to approaches to amphibian conservation. Led by 1-3 chairs, Thematic Working Groups act as ASG’s authorities in their specific thematic remit.
  • Task Forces: These are groups of ASG members that have a specific taxonomic or thematic focus (different from ACAP-focused Working Groups) that aim to consolidate efforts and build knowledge to advance their respective study groups or themes. They are led by 1-2 coordinators. 
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MISSION
ASG provides the scientific foundation to inform amphibian conservation action around the world. More specifically, the ASG stimulates, develops and conducts scientific research to inform the conservation of amphibians and their habitats around the world, supports the assessment of the conservation status of amphibian biodiversity and informs the general public of amphibian conservation-related issues and priorities.

Specialist Group work

Given the very broad taxonomic and geographic (global) scope of the ASG, our priorities are regionally (Regional Groups), thematically (ACAP Thematic Working Groups), and extinction risk-informed (Amphibian Red List Authority).

Our Strategic Plan

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We support and mobilize a global network to achieve shared, strategic amphibian conservation goals.

Annual Report

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Projects of the Specialist Group

The ASG has several strategic components that allow it to take a multi-pronged approach to global amphibian research and conservation. Below you’ll find links to some of ASG’s key components. 

  1. ACAP and Thematic Working Groups
  2. Regional Groups
  3. Task Forces
  4. Amphibian Red List Authority

Photo: Amael Borzee

Photo: Debbie Bishop

Photo: IUCN SSC ASG

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