Amphibian populations are disappearing from habitats all around the world. The crisis caught us by surprise - and only now are we able to fully grasp the scope of the situation. Around a third of amphibian species are threatened with extinction - mass extinctions of this magnitude have not been seen since the time of the dinosaurs. The crisis shows us that the world has changed. Traditional threats to species and ecosystems - such as habitat loss and pollution - are being compounded by new threats such as climate change and emerging disease. This is not simply an amphibian problem, but a human welfare issue. We need to act quickly to save the amphibians and the ecosystems that support them and provide us with clean drinking water, clean air, and support the quality of life that many take for granted.

A unified global response is required to tackle a crisis of this magnitude. This called for the formation of a global body that could harness the intellectual and institutional capacity of a conservation and research network at country, regional and global levels: the Amphibian Specialist Group.