About Our Organization
What is CARCNET? | Mission Statement |
Purposes | Our History
What is CARCNET?
No one wants a silent spring, the calls offrogs and toads which harbinger
another spring in Canada are being lost as wetlands are filled in and pollution
degrades habitats that still exist and populations of these animals disappear.
Turtles, snakes and lizards are some of the most important animals within food webs
in forests and swamps yet these animals are often persecuted, or their homes are
paved over.
The Canadian Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Network (CARCNET) is working to
reverse the trends in habitat loss and to better understand these cryptic creatures
commonly known as frogs, toads, salamanders, turtles, snakes and lizards. Our
organization represents the Canadian biologists who study, protect and educate people
about amphibians and reptiles. At our recent annual meeting 60 presentations were made
on the biology, and efforts to conserve reptiles and amphibians. We help to coordinate
public involvement in frog and toad monitoring programs across Canada. Other
organizations such as Environment Canada and the World Wildlife Fund seek our advice
on how to preserve Canadian ecosystems for frogs, toads, salamanders, turtles,
snakes and lizards. We are currently developing a system to designate Important
Reptile Areas and Important Amphibian Areas in Canada to raise awareness about the
areas that are special for these animals.
Mission Statement:
In recognition of the inherent value of all native amphibians and reptiles, the Canadian
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Network is devoted to conserving Canada's native
species of amphibians and reptiles, and their ecological and evolutionary functions
in perpetuity.
Purposes:
- To undertake scientific investigations relevant to the conservation of
amphibian and reptile populations in Canada and to disseminate the results
- To undertake public education programs and community projects that further
public awareness and advance our knowledge of theconservation biology of amphibian
and reptile populations in Canada
- To undertake the compilation and analysis of the historical database on
amphibian and reptile distributions and population trends in Canada
- To undertake projects that support the conservation or restoration of amphibian
and reptile populations, their habitats and ecological functions
Our History
The Canadian Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Network grew from the Declining
Amphibians Populations Task Force in Canada (DAPCAN) which began in 1991. The same
people involved in DAPCAN decided that they wanted to focus on amphibians AND reptile
conservation rather than simply document whether amphibian population sizes and
population occurrences were declining in Canada. Therefore, the Canadian Amphibian
and Reptile Conservation Network is a much more proactive group. We have been in
existence as registered charity (Charitable Reg. No. 88078-1562-RR0001) since 1997.
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