Saturday, January 5, 2013

New Years Resolution for 2013–green for frogs!

We’ve talked about frogs in previous posts, and frogs are once again our endangered species of the week.   Many frog species are critically endangered throughout the world (up to 40% of species).  Since frogs are keystone species in many of their ecosystems this fact is newsworthy – atwo frogs 2 keystone species is a species that has a disproportionate impact on its ecosystem, relative to its biomass; like a keystone in an archway, if the keystone species is removed, the arch, or ecosystem, could collapse.  A recent front-page Washington Post article provides a valuable update on frog conservation.   

So what’s a greenmomster to do? 

Conservation efforts of this size cost money, but this is a problem we can help address.  Did you know that, according to the National Retail Federation, the average American spent $80 on Halloween, totaling nearly $8 billion in 2012?  And that in 2010 American consumers were estimated to have spent over $20 billion on video games?  Why not resolve to spend a little less on entertainment, and a little more on our kids’ future environment in 2013?

Here’s a great interview with a Smithsonian scientist who’s on the front lines of frog conservation:

 

Sources:

Investopedia.  2012.  “How Much Americans Spend on Halloween.”  October 24, 2012.  Accessed online 12/31/12.  http://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/1012/how-much-americans-spend-on-halloween.aspx#axzz2GfYCB8KX

Venturebeat. 2010.  “Americans spend $25.3B each year on video games.”  May 9, 2010.  Accessed online 12/31/12.  http://venturebeat.com/2010/05/09/americans-spend-25-3b-each-year-on-video-games/#PF6qGkDgzSptJQ0r.99

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