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Education / Outreach
The state of Alabama benefits from having some of
the nation’s highest diversity of reptiles and amphibians. These
species are a special part of our natural heritage and play vital
roles in the functioning of our state’s ecosystems. Unfortunately,
however, Alabama also has the dubious distinction of being a state
in which several species are thought to have been extirpated and
in which many species are considered “at risk” for species
declines and, in some cases, extinction. Education and outreach
are essential tools in combating such declines, especially since
many of the threats facing Alabama’s herpetofauna have their roots
in a lack of public awareness and education.
In line with the nationwide PARC model, education
and outreach in ALAPARC places a strong emphasis on the role of
partnerships with existing conservation organizations as a way to
effectively reach a diverse audience across Alabama. In addition
to providing basic knowledge of Alabama’s herpetofauna to the
public, ALAPARC is committed to fostering collaboration with
existing organizations in the state to provide accessibility to
curriculum and experts in the field, as well as increasing
opportunities for hands-on experience and participation in citizen
science projects for all demographic groups. Below are several of
the chapter’s ongoing and proposed education/outreach initiatives:
The current initiatives include:
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