Number: 1999-15
WHEREAS, scientists have documented significant declines in amphibian populations worldwide over the past 15 years; and
WHEREAS, in the United States, reported amphibian declines have been greatest in the southern states and California; and
WHEREAS, schoolchildren from the New Country School in Minnesota found a significant number of malformed frogs on a field trip in 1995, and thus helped to spur a growing public recognition of amphibian malformations and declines, active monitoring efforts to help determine the extent of the problems, and active research efforts to determine the likely causes of the malformations and declines; and
WHEREAS, amphibian malformations have been observed at other sites in the United States, including large numbers of sites in New England, Wisconsin, and the Pacific Northwest; and
WHEREAS, the causes of amphibian declines are still being investigated, and the list of scientifically suspected causes includes habitat degradation and fragmentation, increased ultraviolet radiation, acid rain, chemical pollution, and some infections, such as the chytrid fungus; and
WHEREAS, increased ultraviolet radiation and chemical pollution may be responsible for the frog malformations observed in the wild; and
WHEREAS, a recent Canadian study documented larger numbers of frog malformations in agricultural areas as opposed to control areas in the St. Lawrence River Valley; and
WHEREAS, continued use of chlorofluorocarbons and other ozone-depleting substances will lead to continued annual ozone thinning, and greater ultraviolet radiation damage to terrestrial and aquatic organisms for years to come; and
WHEREAS, the agricultural fumigant methyl bromide, which in addition to being potentially harmful to agricultural workers, is also a strong ozone-depleting substance which is due to be phased out completely in industrial countries by the year 2005; and
WHEREAS, amphibians can serve as sentinel species, so that problems identified in their populations can indicate threats to the broader ecosystem, including to humans; and
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife Federation on September 22, 1998, launched, with the U.S. Department of Interior and Martin Kratt and Chris Kratt, the nationwide Frog Force to enable citizens and amateur naturalists to assist the scientific community in better understanding the problem, as well as to assist in seeking solutions;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in its Annual Meeting assembled March 18-21, 1999, in Houston, Texas, supports accelerated research into the extent and causes of amphibian malformations and declines, as well as increased federal and state government and private support for coordinated efforts to document and work towards solutions to this widespread problem; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation supports the phase-out and elimination of use of any pesticides or other chemicals which scientific evidence supports as causing amphibian malformations and/or declines; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation supports the renewal of Congressional efforts for phasing out the fumigant methyl bromide sooner than the 2005 deadline; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation supports a more concerted effort by the U.S. Government and other countries to control the black market in chlorofluorocarbons, substances which contribute to the thinning of the ozone layer, and thus whose continued use may contribute to greater damage to amphibians and other organisms from ultraviolet radiation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation supports using the full force and effects of vigorously enforcing the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act to reverse the decline of amphibian populations and to address the problems of amphibian malformation and population decline.