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Hoses for rescue: Odenwald helps the yellow-bellied toad!
The Odenwaldkreis saves yellow-bellied toads: the fire department donates hoses to irrigate spawning areas and support species protection.
Hoses for rescue: Odenwald helps the yellow-bellied toad!
In the picturesque Odenwald district, a remarkable project has been set in motion that is dedicated to protecting the yellow-bellied toad. How Rheinmainverlag According to reports, 16 discarded hoses from the Michelstadt volunteer fire department, which were once used for fire protection, are being used for this purpose. These hoses now have an important second chance: They are used to irrigate the yellow-bellied toad's spawning areas in order to preserve their habitat in the face of increasing drought.
The employees of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Landscape Management Department of the Odenwaldkreis are regularly deployed to irrigate this special habitat. They receive support from dedicated NABU volunteers who are committed to preserving this endangered species. City fire inspector Sascha Hammann was enthusiastic about the sensible reuse of the hoses and helped load the materials into district employee Jessica Lettmann's car.
Unique habitat and its threats
In the entire Odenwald district there is only one known occurrence of the yellow-bellied toad, which is under special protection. The species prefers to live in pioneer waters that are created by natural floods or temporary ponds. Unfortunately, extreme droughts in recent years have significantly threatened this habitat, requiring urgent action.
The current inventory shows that around 15 yellow-bellied toads live in the region. The objective is clear: the population should be increased to over 100 animals. To do this, not only do small bodies of water have to be created in the project region, which is located in a former quarry, but it is also necessary to regularly remove trees that can hinder the growth of the pioneer bodies of water. Yellow-bellied Toad Project reports that all of this is happening as part of activities that are not only aimed at protecting the yellow-bellied toad, but are also intended to enable land users and nature conservation to work together well.
Networking for long-term success
In order to sustainably improve the hiding places for the yellow-bellied toad, the project also pursues the long-term goal of connecting the occurrences in the Odenwald with other populations, especially in the Gersprenz Aue and Mümmlingaue. This measure is wise in terms of water management and ensures a stable exchange of the affected species, which can be crucial for the conservation of the species.
In Germany, the yellow-bellied toad is subject to special protection and is classified as “endangered” on the Red List. The project from which too Federal Agency for Nature Conservation and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, has set itself the task of strengthening and networking yellow-bellied toad populations in Germany. This challenge is being worked on in five federal states with a financial volume of 3.4 million euros.
The initiative in the Odenwald district shows that good commitment to nature can make a big difference, even on a small scale. With every irrigated spawning area, the yellow-bellied toads move a little closer to a secure future and those involved can be proud of their achievement.