EESC in the News: Amphibian Declines
Habitat loss and climate change make it tough to be an amphibian. Some humans are helping
By Maryel Pryce and Oliver Butler
Associated Press, May 21, 2025
Habitat loss from development has caused more than a third of amphibian extinctions and climate change is moving these creatures further north. In upstate New York, some locals are working to protect their habitats for future generations.
"Larger wetlands can enjoy federal protections, but not the vernal pools, which are too small and temporary.
'Unfortunately, with urban sprawl and development, a lot of the forests are being cleared for new housing developments as people move out of the cities and into the suburbs,' said Bateman, a professor of environmental conservation and horticulture at Finger Lakes Community College. 'When they clear these forest habitats, vernal pools are going to be buried and become new houses, condominiums, and neighborhoods.'
The U.S. Geological Survey calls amphibian declines “a global phenomenon” and one that’s been underway in the U.S. since at least the 1960s. The agency said populations are dropping almost 4% each year in the U.S..."