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Helping the Planet
For the Love of Frogs By Sharon Black | Photos by ForTheLoveOfFrogs.com
If wetlands are built, will the frogs come? Justin Sather hopes so, and he works diligently every day to save frogs. When he visits his neighbors to ask for help, the conversation goes like this: “My name is Justin, I live a few blocks away, and I’m saving the frogs.” Neighbors usually giggle. “Saving the frogs?” “Yes!” Justin responds. “Did you know frogs around the world are getting sick and scientists are shocked that so many frogs are dying? One reason is because people are destroying their homes. The scientists are also worried that pollution, pesticides and disease are killing them off.”
What makes frogs so different? “Frogs are indicator species,” Justin says. “When frogs get sick it indicates their ecosystem is off balance. The frogs are telling us the planet needs our help. Humans breathe the same air and are in contact with the same water as the frogs, so we need to pay close attention. If we can save the frogs, then we can save the planet and my generation of kids from the harmful pollutants and chemicals that may be causing the frogs to get sick.”
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Justin plans to save the frogs.
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“First, I want to spread the news about the frogs. I met Dr. Kerry Kriger, the founder of Save The Frogs! nonprofit and I raised money for his Re-Frog America Campaign. The Save The Frogs! team travels around the world educating people about the frog crisis and then builds and restores wetlands. I donated money to help them build wetlands in the La Plumas National Forest to help save the California red-legged frogs. I also helped them build an outdoor wetlands habitat at Garvey Middle School in Los Angeles.” Years ago, near Justin’s home, the Ballona Wetlands spanned miles and miles and were probably 10 times bigger than they are today.
Justin recently celebrated his 8th birthday party at the Ballona Wetlands. “My friends and I picked out the invasive weeds and plants and are helping restore and protect what is left of our local wetlands.”
Justin wears custom-made frog shoes. “PLAE Shoes let me design my own frog-themed shoes to spread my message. Their PLAE-It-Forward program gives my organization 10% of all shoe sales when people use my code, GIVE632.”
Justin does more for frogs! “I read books about frogs and the environment. I attend conferences and meet world leaders like Dr. Jane Goodall.