About

Reptile and Amphibian Conservation Europe (RACE) was brought together by European, non-Governmental amphibian and reptile conservation organisations (namely: Reptielen Amfibieën Vissen Onderzoek Nederland (RAVON, Netherlands), The Amphibian and reptile Conservation Trust (ARC, United Kingdom), Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU, Germany), Société Herpétologique de France (France), Info fauna – Centre Suisse de cartographie de la faune & Koordinationsstelle für Amphibien- und Reptilienschutz in der Schweiz (CSCF & KARCH; Switzerland) which set up a new foundation called “ Reptile Amphibian Conservation Europe (RACE)”.  This was officially established on 17th July 2017 in Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

RACE will allow us to promote and take forward initiatives to conserve reptiles and amphibians through coordinating partner organisation work and volunteers, developing surveys and research, raising awareness and advocacy. We will involve other national herpetofauna conservation organisations across Europe, to build up a network in a similar way to those associated with organisations like Butterfly Conservation Europe (BCE), BatLife Europe and BirdLife. RACE will provide a new organisation that can help us work effectively with other networks and conservation organisations and can also lead on projects on behalf of its members.

Although a new foundation, the current member organisations and other European herpetological organisations have known each other for many years and worked together well.  We are looking forward to more opportunities and even greater cooperation to help conserve our reptiles and amphibians.

Above: the establishment of RACE between the five conservation organisations on the 17th July 2017.