Amphibian Conservation in Fishing Waters - Join in!

Anglers Help Amphibians

Common Toad

The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity, and people and various institutions all over the world are working to protect valuable wildlife and habitat. The Stiftung Artenschutz also takes action: It supports the project "Amphibian Conservation in Fishing Waters". In 2008, the Year of the Frog, the initiative "Frogs matter - Jump in!" already called for action in the field of amphibian conservation. And now the new project aims at wining the support of a new target group for amphibian conservation in our own "backyards": anglers.

Most of the waters in North Rhine-Westphalia are either leased or owned by fishing clubs, most of which attach importance to nature conservation. The project "Amphibian Conservation in Fishing Waters" thus offers a great chance of cooperation for conserving toads, frogs andoher amphibians.
Common Spadefoot

Amphibians actually are in dire need of help: of roughly 6.800 species known worldwide, one in three is threatened by extinction, ranking amphibians amongst the most endangered animals in the world. And also in Germany most of the 21 native amphibian species are threatened. Even not yet endangered species have suffered significant population decline in the last 25 years.

Various factors are responsible for the loss of amphibians, but the most immediate threat to this animal group is degradation to or loss of habitat. Land consolidation has caused smaller ponds and wetlands to disappear, roadside ditches were drained and habitat fragmentation caused by road construction threatened whole populations. Additionally, the use of liquid manure, chemical fertilizers and biocides at agricultural sites make the survival of frog & Co. even more difficult.

It is high time to act!

Photo: The common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus) is one of the most endangered amphibians in Germany..
 
The project focuses mainly on the structural improvement of fishing waters. Almost all stagnant waters in North Rhine-Westphalia are not of natural origin. They emerged either by damming up natural water flows or by the excavation of sand and gravel. Flooded gravel pits have extremely narrow riverside banks or do not have any at all. However, riverside banks are of extreme ecological importance for amphibians or young fish.

Photo: The presence of woody debris and dense vegetation increases the structural diversity of the littoral zone.

Littoral zone
 
Given the support of the Federal State Fisheries Association of Westphalia and Lippe, the project "Amphibian Conservation in Fishing Waters" offers educational workshops and professional advice on the planning and implementation of amphibian conservation measures. And it is often the small measures that make all the difference: Sometimes an exclusive spawning ground is needed, some other times new shallow water areas are created, rich in vegetation. Amphibian conservation measures are habitat protection measures that many other species benefit from.

Anglers help amphibians

Find further information at www.fisch-und-frosch.de

This project is supported by Stiftung Umwelt und Entwicklung (North Rhine-Westphalian Foundation for the Environment and Development) and Stiftung Artenschutz.

This project is implemented by: Arbeitsgemeinschaft Regenwald und Artenschutz (ARA) e. V.
August Bebel Str. 16-18
33602 Bielefeld
Tel: 0521 - 65943
Mail: frosch@araonline.de
Web: www.fisch-und-frosch.de
Project Manager: Jürgen Birtsch

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