Ecological Civilisation and Amphibian Sustainability through Reproduction Biotechnologies, Biobanking, and Conservation Breeding Programs (RBCs)
Robert K. Browne,
Qinghua Luo,
Pei Wang,
Nabil Mansour,
Svetlana A. Kaurova,
Edith N. Gakhova,
Natalia V. Shishova,
Victor K. Uteshev,
Ludmila I. Kramarova,
Govindappa Venu,
Somaye Vaissi,
Zeynab Taheri-Khas,
Pouria Heshmatzad,
Mikhail F. Bagaturov,
Peter Janzen,
Renato E. Naranjo,
Aleona Swegen,
Julie Strand,
Dale McGinnity,
Ilze Dunce
Affiliations
Robert K. Browne
Sustainability America, Sarteneja, Belize
Qinghua Luo
School of Biological Resources and Environmental Sciences, Jishou University, Jishou 416000, China
Pei Wang
School of Biological Resources and Environmental Sciences, Jishou University, Jishou 416000, China
Nabil Mansour
Fujairah Research Centre (FRC), Al-Hilal Tower 3003, Fujairah P.O. Box 666, United Arab Emirates
Svetlana A. Kaurova
Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia
Edith N. Gakhova
Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia
Natalia V. Shishova
Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia
Victor K. Uteshev
Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia
Ludmila I. Kramarova
Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Russia
Govindappa Venu
Centre for Applied Genetics, Department of Zoology, Jnana Bharathi Campus, Bangalore University, Bengaluru 560056, India
Somaye Vaissi
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Kermanshah 57146, Iran
Zeynab Taheri-Khas
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Kermanshah 57146, Iran
Pouria Heshmatzad
Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan 49138, Iran
Mikhail F. Bagaturov
IUCN/SSC/Athens Institute for Education and Research/Zoological Institute RAS, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
Peter Janzen
Verband Deutscher Zoodirectoren/Justus-von-Liebig-Schule, 47166 Duisburg, Germany
Renato E. Naranjo
Centro Jambatu de Investigación y Conservación de Anfibios, Fundación Jambatu, Giovanni, Farina 566 y Baltra, San Rafael, Quito 171102, Ecuador
Aleona Swegen
School of Environmental and Life Sciences, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan 2308, Australia
Julie Strand
Department of Animal and Veterinary Science, Aarhus University, Blichers Alle 20, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
Dale McGinnity
Ectotherm Department, Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, Nashville, TN 37211, USA
Intergenerational justice entitles the maximum retention of Earth’s biodiversity. The 2022 United Nations COP 15, “Ecological Civilisation: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth”, is committed to protecting 30% of Earth’s terrestrial environments and, through COP 28, to mitigate the effects of the climate catastrophe on the biosphere. We focused this review on three core themes: the need and potential of reproduction biotechnologies, biobanks, and conservation breeding programs (RBCs) to satisfy sustainability goals; the technical state and current application of RBCs; and how to achieve the future potentials of RBCs in a rapidly evolving environmental and cultural landscape. RBCs include the hormonal stimulation of reproduction, the collection and storage of sperm and oocytes, and artificial fertilisation. Emerging technologies promise the perpetuation of species solely from biobanked biomaterials stored for perpetuity. Despite significant global declines and extinctions of amphibians, and predictions of a disastrous future for most biodiversity, practical support for amphibian RBCs remains limited mainly to a few limited projects in wealthy Western countries. We discuss the potential of amphibian RBCs to perpetuate amphibian diversity and prevent extinctions within multipolar geopolitical, cultural, and economic frameworks. We argue that a democratic, globally inclusive organisation is needed to focus RBCs on regions with the highest amphibian diversity. Prioritisation should include regional and international collaborations, community engagement, and support for RBC facilities ranging from zoos and other institutions to those of private carers. We tabulate a standard terminology for field programs associated with RBCs for publication and media consistency.