ASG Task Force: Durrell on the front line for amphibian planning
19 March 2026
By Bela Barata, Field Programme Officer at Durrell
The Saving Amphibians From Extinction (SAFE) Programme is one of Durrell’s global projects aimed at securing the survival of amphibians across the world's priority regions where there is a high risk of species extinction. This includes projects in Brazil, Bolivia and Madagascar.
As SAFE Programme coordinator, I also act as the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG) networking officer for the Americas, where I work to strengthen the ASG as a network, facilitate collaborations and encourage engagement and interaction with a special focus in South America.
The Andean water frogs (genus Telmatobius) are 60 species that live in the high Andes of Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. This group is among the most endangered amphibian species worldwide (85% of species are threatened), which places them at the forefront of the biodiversity extinction crisis. The SAFE Programme is a long-term partner and supporter of the Bolivian Amphibian Initiative (BAI), a non-profit organisation that has a community-based conservation approach to save and protect the iconic Titicaca water frog (Telmatobius culeus).
Following our long-term partnership with the BAI, we recently helped create the Telmatobius Task Force under the umbrella of the IUCN SSC ASG, with the aim of promoting urgent conservation initiatives. One of the first objectives of the Telmatobius Task Force is to develop an international, participatory and multi-stakeholder Action Plan, guaranteeing the persistence of Andean wildlife in Telmatobius across a wide range and promoting the sustainable development of local communities in the highlands of South America.
Photo: Nicolas Revolledo
In October 2025, I was invited to participate in the Telmatobius Planning Workshop held in Santiago del Chile, at Universidad Andrés Bello, which aimed to develop the international Action Plan.
The workshop was organised by the Telmatobius Task Force and the Chilean university, and facilitated by the IUCN Species Planning Specialist Group.
During the workshop I got to meet people representing all countries within the species range, including Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, and Ecuador. This was a great opportunity for networking, collaborating on the plan and identifying potential actions and partners for the future SAFE Programme strategy.