Distributed in 11 countries in Central and South America, from tropical and montane forests to paramos, harlequin toads Atelopus spp. are highly threatened. According to the IUCN Red List, 83% of Atelopus species are threatened with extinction, with 40% possibly extinct in the wild and four species already extinct. Most Atelopus species have very small populations within severely reduced ranges, often in montane ecosystems, which makes them particularly susceptible to a myriad of threats, including infectious diseases, habitat loss and degradation, invasive species, illegal collection and climate change.
Individuals and organizations from several countries have recently joined forces to establish the Atelopus Survival Initiative, a collaborative and coordinated effort that unites and mobilizes a wide range of national and international stakeholders to implement substantial, long-term and comprehensive conservation measures to prevent the extinction of Atelopus.
In November 2019, 38 specialists from 11 countries, including seven where Atelopus species occur, convened in Medellin, Colombia, to identify and prioritize key strategic actions to ensure the survival of harlequin toads. As a result of this meeting and following 2 years of work, the Initiative was launched on 25 August 2021, together with the publication of the Harlequin Toad (Atelopus) Conservation Action Plan. Guided by the scientific expertise of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (Amphibian and Conservation Planning Specialist Groups, and Atelopus Task Force) and following the IUCN One Plan Approach, the Action Plan is envisioned as a cost-effective, simple, and dynamic plan to be implemented locally, taking into account the social, political and cultural realities of each country.
The Action Plan proposes the joint development of management and conservation actions agreed, conducted and implemented by all responsible parties, within or beyond the natural range of Atelopus. It outlines regional conservation priorities and identifies needs at local, national, regional and international levels that must be implemented over the next 20 years to achieve a shared vision by 2041, the 200th anniversary of the description of the genus.
The Action Plan promotes strategies to synchronize efforts and exchange resources, knowledge, and capacities among stakeholders through regional coordination and inter- and multidisciplinary approaches to: (1) produce baseline knowledge, (2) ensure viable populations in natural habitats, (3) maintain and manage captive populations for future reintroduction, (4) increase awareness of Atelopus, and (5) foster multi-stakeholder collaboration and participation. By incorporating a monitoring and evaluation framework, the Harlequin Toad (Atelopus) Conservation Action Plan will advance priorities and strategies for Atelopus conservation, updating objectives and actions as threats and conservation successes evolve.
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