Wetlands Registry Amphibian Conservation at Home: the Importance of Habitat Western Canada's amphibians Of the 45 amphibian species found in Canada, Alberta is home to 11, BC to 22, Saskatchewan to 7 and Manitoba to 15. See full species list here. Western Canada's amphibian communities are distinct from those in eastern Canada; only the wood frog and leopard frog occur both east of Manitoba and west of Saskatchewan. Unfortunately, many of our western amphibian species have undergone significant, sometimes dramatic declines in the last 50 years. The causes of the declines vary, but one of the main reasons is the loss, fragmentation and degradation of habitat.

Plains spadefoot © Adam Messer

Loss of wetland habitat

Canada contains 25% of the world's wetlands.

Habitat loss is the greatest global threat to amphibian species, and in western Canada wetlands are by far the most threatened piece of their habitat mosaic.

Since the 1800's, more than two thirds of Alberta's wetlands have been drained or infilled, primarily for agriculture but increasingly for human settlement. By 1966, roughly 75% of wetlands around Calgary and Edmonton had been lost, and the City of Calgary now estimates that has risen to 90%.

Wetland loss is also accelerating in British Columbia. BC Ministry of Environment estimates that 50% to 70% of the original wetland habitat has disappeared from the Fraser Lowland and parts of Vancouver Island, and 85% have been lost in the South Okanagan.

Adopt a Pond

To protect amphibians we must protect their habitat.

To facilitate local wetland conservation, the Calgary Zoo is joining forces with the Toronto Zoo to promote the national Wetland Guardians Registry (also known as Adopt a Pond) in western provinces.