What is PARC and why should anyone care

What is PARC? …and why should anyone care?

the PARC Mission “To conserve amphibians, reptiles, and their habitats as integral parts of our ecosystem and culture through proactive and coordinated public/private partnerships. ”

Why is PARC needed? Six major threats to reptiles and amphibians: Sick Tortoise (URTD) Disease & Parasites Habitat Loss Environmental Pollution

Why is PARC needed? Invasive species Global Climate Change Unsustainable Use

Who is PARC? First PARC organizational meeting • 170 organizations and agencies Federal and state agencies Conservation organizations Museums, nature centers Universities, research laboratories Forest products industry Pet trade industry Environmental consultants and contractors • 200 individuals • more than 1500 members by August 2001

Represented Organizations (partial list)

What makes PARC different? Several amphibian groups (e. g. , DAPTF, TADD, NAAMP, ACA) have been formed in response to reported amphibian declines—is PARC any different? • PARC includes all reptiles and amphibians. • PARC is habitat focused. • PARC includes state agencies and the private sector, particularly the timber industry, as well as specialists and non-specialists with an interest in herpetology. • PARC will focus not only on endangered and threatened species but will also work toward the objective of "keeping common native species common. "

What can PARC do? Federal Industry agencies • Information NGO’s • Coordination State Universities agencies • Facilitation

Information PARC to develop new databases examples: Habitat Conservation Guidelines (HCG) for herps Herp studies on DOI lands State regulations for herps PARC to develop educational resources examples: PARC brochures and fliers PARC posters and slide presentation Wetlands information Habitat information

Information—the PARC web site PARC Web site www. parcplace. org "Snakes…we hate snakes. " This was the catchy quote used recently in a national advertising campaign. And snakes are not the only group of animals to suffer from such uninformed attitudes. Other reptiles (alligators, crocodiles, lizards, turtles, and the tuatara, in addition to snakes) and amphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians) have also suffered from a broad range of human activities, due in part to the perception that snakes and frogs and their kin are either dangerous or of little conservation value. Thanks to PARC website sponsors Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) hopes to change all this, by promoting sound conservation and management of our native U. S. herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians), and also through educational efforts to raise public awareness about the conservation needs of reptiles and amphibians (also called "herps"). The mission of PARC is simple: To conserve amphibians, Includes: General Herp info PARC Member info Databases Ongoing Research Monitoring Management Toxic pollutants Policy/Regulation Education SPARC Fact Sheet Downloads Message Board Meetings Jobs

Coordination • What is being done, and what needs to be done? • Avoiding duplication of some efforts • Replicating other efforts (e. g. , research)

Facilitation PARC will help bring people together Examples: • Access to professionals • Herpetologist List • Speaker List

PARC Priorities • Educate about herpetofauna and conservation • Establish habitat and ecology database • Standardize techniques • Create management database • Establish PARC fellowship program • Regional and Working Group priorities

PARC Structure Committees Executive Joint Steering Working Groups Regional Midwest Southeast Southwest Northeast Northwest International Technical Inventory and Monitoring Policy, Regulation and Trade Management Research Education and Outreach

PARC Structure Regional Working Groups Northwest Midwest Southeast Northeast

Working Group Objectives Management Working Group are: for example, the objectives of the • Prioritize herp checklist for conservation action • Compile literature file on herp management • Develop Habitat Conservation Guidelines (HCG) • Initiate through Regional Working Groups; synthesize as National PARC product • Make Web-searchable database accessible through PARC website

What is PARC doing now? • Database of herp studies on DOI lands • Educational materials • Compiling management literature • HCG development for amphibians and reptiles • Providing information exchange among researchers and managers • Website maintenance

What can YOU do? • Join PARC and share your concerns for herps • Help educate others and attend PARC meetings • Develop herp conservation plans and adopt good land management practices • Participate in monitoring programs and help collect and compile data • Contribute existing monitoring data • Identify a PARC priority project to carry out • Submit abstracts of current research projects

To learn more about PARC Visit: www. parcplace. org E-mail: mailbox@parcplace. org