FAQs

What is the ASG?

The Amphibian Specialist Group is a global network of dedicated experts who donate their time and expertise to create a community from where practical amphibian conservation can be advanced based on a solid foundation of science.  This global network consists of over 300 members in over 40 Regions/Countries enabling the ASG to act on a global scale. The mission of the ASG is to strive to conserve biological diversity by stimulating, developing, and executing practical programs to conserve amphibians and their habitats around the world. This is achieved by supporting a global web of partners to develop funding, capacity and technology transfer to achieve shared, strategic amphibian conservation goals.

Who are the ASG Chairs and what is their role?

The ASG is Co-Chaired by Dr. Phil Bishop and Dr. Claude Gascon. The Co-Chairs provide leadership and strategic direction of the ASG, maintaining overall responsibility for the governance, conduct and administration. The Co-Chairs are actively involved in pursuing the advancement of the ASG through collaborative relationships among diverse organizations.

Who are the Program Officer and Coordinator and what are their roles?

Frequently the first point of contact with the ASG will be with the Program Officers Robin D. Moore, Candace M. Hansen and James P. Lewis. The Program Officer oversees ASG programs such as implementation of conservation activities including protecting and restoring critical habitats for amphibians worldwide and campaigns such as the Search for Lost Frogs. The Program Officers works with partners around the world to develop and implement these programs, and is the best  person to contact when developing amphibian conservation initiatives that fall within the mission of the ASG. The Program Officers play an important role in facilitating communication within the ASG network and help promote public awareness of the importance of amphibian conservation. In addition to communication responsibilities the Program Officers are also directly involved in grant management and a number of administrative processes relating to the efficient management of the ASG.

How do I join the ASG and what would my role be?

The appointing of members to Regional or Country ASG is undertaken through nomination by the Chair of that area. An individual’s nomination to the ASG will then be based on his/her interest in being part of the ASG, their willingness to contribute to the group and the ASG mission, and their expertise within the amphibian community. As within any such organization, diversity of expertise is a benefit and for that reason the nomination of seasoned herpetologists through to early stage students are actively encouraged. The ASG is not an exclusive group, however a certain level of expertise is required in order to ensure that the group maintains its role as an advisory authority in the field of amphibian conservation.

Who is my regional chair and what is their role?

To see who your regional chair is check the members page. ASG Regional/Country Chairs are influential representatives of the highest level of scientific rigor and credibility with regard to the conservation of amphibians within their remit. This places a very high degree of responsibility and accountability on all those agreeing to take on the role of a Regional/Country Chair. This role has to date been the focal point for any enquires relating to amphibian conservation in their area and maintains responsibility for the overall strategy of their group.

Do you provide funding for Amphibian Conservation?

The ASG occasionally has grants available, including Funds for Habitat Conservation, ARMI Seed Grants (see page 42 for further details), and the ASG Seed Grants. The Funds for Habitat Conservation support organizations working to protect critical amphibian habitat worldwide. This fund is specifically for direct conservation action, not research (although some funds can be earmarked for survey work if this is an integral component of the overall project). More information can be found on our conservation funding page. ASG Seed Grants are one-time awards of between $500 and $3000 for research that furthers the Amphibian Specialists Group’s mission. Further information about our Seed Grants can be found here.

Can you help publicize the work of my amphibian project/conservation efforts?

Yes and it would be our pleasure. There are three main tools the ASG can use to help publicize your work; 1) ASG Website, 2) FrogLog and 3) Facebook. Each resource has its own value and audience so please contact us to discuss options.

Why do you have a Facebook page/why should I join?

Social media is an important tool in raising public awareness and communicating to a global audience in addition to facilitating the exchange of ideas and information among a community of like-minded individuals. The ASG Facebook page is growing on a daily basis and has proven to be a great resource for many herpetologists. You do not have to be a Facebook user to view our page so why not take a look to see what’s happening. We have had species identified, grants advertised and information requests answered, all on the Facebook page. The effectiveness of our Facebook page is dependent on our members, so please join, get your friends to join as well, and help publicize the work of the ASG, our members and all those working to conserve amphibians.

I want to join the ASG mailing list but don’t want to be receiving endless emails from you.

Email jplewis@amphibians.org with the subject heading “add me to mailing list” and don’t worry, we only send out one email every few weeks on this mailing list. Alternatively you can also subscribe to our newsletter below.

Tell me more about FrogLog.

FrogLog is the quarterly ASG newsletter which aims to:

  • Provide an update on global and regional ASG activities
  • Present synopses of recent amphibian-related studies
  • Provide a summary of recent amphibian related publications
  • Inform readers of upcoming events, funding opportunities etc.

FrogLog is not a scientific peer reviewed journal but rather a resource, for ASG members and amphibian conservationists in the wider community, to use in order to keep abreast of current research and activities within the community. More information on FrogLog can be found here and the archive here. All inquiries regarding FrogLog should be directed towards froglog@amphibians.org.

Are you responsible for the Red Listing process?

The ASG is involved in the conservation assessment process through its Amphibian Red List Authority (RLA), and all enquiries relating to this process should be directed towards Ariadne Angulo, IUCN SSC Amphibian Red List Authority Coordinator. The ASG supports the Amphibian RLA’s activities, and we are currently developing an online amphibian assessment forum which is hosted on this web site.

If you have a question that hasn’t been addressed here please free to contact us and we will do our best to get back to you as soon as possible.

© 2013 Amphibian Specialist Group. All Rights Reserved. Donations to the ASG are held by Global Wildlife Conservation. GWC acknowledges that it did not provide any goods or services in exchange for donations to the ASG. GWC is a U.S. non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, and all gifts are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.