Strategic Plan

 

PARC Strategic Plan Flyer
Strategic Plan Flyer

Download a flyer of the PARC Strategic Plan

The mission of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) is to forge proactive partnerships to conserve amphibians, reptiles and the places they live. Our ultimate vision is of a society where amphibians and reptiles are valued for their importance in our natural and cultural heritage and are considered in all conservation and land management decisions.

PARC membership is open to anyone who cares about the conservation of amphibians and reptiles (herpetofauna). Since its establishment in 1999, the PARC network has continued to grow and diversify its membership including representatives from state and federal agencies, conservation organizations, industries, zoos, universities, museums, and more.

The work of PARC is centered on five Core Values:

  1. Our inclusive and collaborative network provides a community of practice wherein cooperation helps drive us toward mutual or complementary goals.
  2. We take proactive, responsive, and adaptive approaches to address existing needs and to anticipate newly emerging threats.
  3. We uphold scientific integrity through delivery of materials and services based on the best available science and expertise.
  4. We value all levels of biodiversity. While our focal species are amphibians and reptiles, we consider our work in the context of maintaining, conserving, or enhancing all levels of biodiversity.
  5. We maintain optimism by communicating challenges and needs for herpetofauna in a positive manner, highlighting successes, and looking for opportunities where we can make a difference.

To achieve our vision for herpetofaunal conservation, PARC’s Strategic Plan focuses on goals within three central themes:

Area 1 – Network Growth

We strategically grow and enhance the PARC Network with partnerships by:

  • Identifying and strengthening connections among partners.
  • Facilitating communication within and among the herpetofaunal and broader conservation communities.
  • Enhancing inclusion and equity within the herpetofaunal conservation community.

Area 2 – Habitat Conservation

We identify, restore, and create important amphibian and reptile habitats and connectivity by:

  • Developing, and promoting Priority Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Areas (PARCAs) across North America.
  • Providing resources for habitat management and conservation.

Area 3 – Species Conservation

We support complementary and collaborative actions for species conservation by:

  • Identifying priority conservation research needs and opportunities.
  • Implementing conservation plans and management actions at the agency and institutional levels.
  • Promoting the development and use of species Conservation Action Plans (CAPs).

What is a PARCA?

With habitat loss and fragmentation posing major threats to herpetofauna, PARC developed the Priority Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Area (PARCA) project to increase public awareness and encourage landowners and conservation partners to take voluntary actions for the benefit of amphibians and reptiles. The process for identifying PARCAs is based on scientific criteria and expert review. For more details visit: parcplace.org/ habitat/parcas

What is a CAP?

A species Conservation Action Plan, or CAP, is a resource that profiles an at-risk species and provides conservation-relevant information, such as its current conservation status, threats affecting it, and recommendations for implementing proactive conservation strategies and best management practices. The goal of the CAP program is to help land managers plan, prioritize, and implement conservation and management actions to prevent the need for state or federal listing, to plan for long-term conservation of a species, or to keep common species common.