About Our Organization

What is CARCNET? | Mission Statement | Purposes | Our History  

What is CARCNET?
No one wants a silent spring, the calls of frogs 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 about the areas that are special for these animals.

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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:

1. To undertake scientific investigations relevant to the conservation of amphibian and reptile populations in Canada and to disseminate the results

2. To undertake public education programs and community projects that further public awareness and advance our knowledge of the conservation biology of amphibian and reptile populations in Canada

3. To undertake the compilation and analysis of the historical database on amphibian and reptile distributions and population trends in Canada

4. To undertake projects that support the conservation or restoration of amphibian and reptile populations, their habitats and ecological functions

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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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