Ms Helen Meredith
Nationality: United Kingdom
Year: 2007
Subject Area: Science and Engineering
Website: Visit (opens in a new window)The EDGE of Existence programme was launched by the Zoological Society of London in 2007 to promote the conservation of species that are both Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered. So-called EDGE species have been evolving independently for millions of years, have very few close relatives, are threatened with extinction, and are neglected by current conservation measures. The EDGE mammals were the first group of organisms to be added to this programme (and its interactive website) and I have been using my Wingate Scholarship to launch the EDGE Amphibians project. Amphibians are currently the most threatened vertebrate group, with nearly half of all species in decline and a third in an IUCN threat category (Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable). After an international press launch, I am now working to increase awareness of some of the world’s most unusual amphibian species and am organising conservation projects for ten focal species/species groups. These include the Chinese giant salamander (at maximum length of 1.8 metres in length, the world’s largest amphibian), the Malagasy rainbow frog (a colourful species that can climb vertical rock surfaces), the Seychelles frogs (tiny amphibians, including the world’s smallest frog), and the olm (a cave salamander that can survive for 10 years without food). An alarming 85% of the top 100 EDGE amphibians are receiving little or no conservation attention. Through working with local organisations and conservationists in the host countries of focal EDGE species, we are addressing this lack of attention and building conservation capacity in some of the world’s poorest countries.
Please find attached a picture of me doing fieldwork in Dominica (holding a Dominican mountain chicken frog, Leptodactylus fallax).