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Group photo in front of the main building of the “Onderzoekscentrum voor Aquatische Fauna” in Linkebeek, where the spadefoot toads for the Belgian (re-)introductions are reared and bred, from top to bottom: Loïc van Doorn (INBO), Bart Hoeymans (Agent

Group photo in front of the main building of the “Onderzoekscentrum voor Aquatische Fauna” in Linkebeek, where the spadefoot toads for the Belgian (re-)introductions are reared and bred, from top to bottom: Loïc van Doorn (INBO), Bart Hoeymans (Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos), Tom Andries (Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos), Jeroen Speybroeck (INBO), Johan Meijer (Natuurbalans), Peter Kroon (Natuurbalans), Sebastian Schmidt (Bezirksregierung Münster), Lily Gora (Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos), Jeroen van Leeuwen (Natuurbalans), Christian Göcking (NABU-Naturschutzstation Münsterland), Joseph van der Stegen (CINEA – European Commission), Johan Auwerx (INBO), Martina Raffel (Bezirksregierung Münster). © Bezirksregierung Münster


09.10.2024
International cooperation for the conservation of the common spadefoot

At a networking event on 11 and 12 September 2024, Belgian, Dutch and German conservationists met at the ‘Onderzoekscentrum voor Aquatische Fauna’ in Linkebeek in the south of Brussels to exchange experiences on the breeding and (re)introduction of the common spadefoot toad. While the projects presented their approaches and activities on the first day, discussing best practices and problems, the second day was spent visiting different areas in Flanders: The area from which the source population had been taken for the Belgian breeding programme was visited as well as nature reserves where optimization measures have already been carried out or are still planned, and where releases have taken place or are planned for the future.

In the Netherlands, Belgium (Flanders) and North Rhine-Westphalia, the common spadefoot reaches the western limits of its range. Here, the species is in an unfavourable conservation status. Habitat loss, fragmentation of the landscape and genetic impoverishment due to isolation are the main reasons for this.

Since 2011, measures have been taken in both the Netherlands and North Rhine-Westphalia to optimise the remaining habitats and meet the spadefoot toad's habitat requirements. In addition, a breeding and reintroduction programme was initiated in both countries to strengthen existing populations and (re)establish the common spadefoot in former and new suitable habitats. In North Rhine-Westphalia, this was essentially carried out within two LIFE projects: the Life+ project ‘Protection of the common spadefoot toad in parts of the Münsterland’ and the integrated LIFE project ‘Atlantic Region DE’. To date, more than 100,000 common spadefoot toads have been released in 40 areas, mainly as larvae, but also as metamorphs or adults. As a result, the common spadefoot toad is currently found at 59 sites, which is twice as many as before the measures began. The conservation status of the species in North Rhine-Westphalia has improved accordingly from U2 (poor) to U1 (inadequate).

In the Netherlands, a project group was set up in 2011 to develop a 'Common Spadefoot Toad Rescue Plan'. Since then 173.000 common spadefoot toads were released by Natuurbalans in 30 different areas. In some areas the population increased, in others the population remained stable and in others the population did not recover. Overall, a positive trend in numbers has been observed since the release of common spadefoot toads in the Netherlands.

In Flanders, the common spadefoot toad has only been bred since 2020 and released as part of two LIFE projects, initially in the ‘Belgian Nature Integrated Project’ (LIFE BNIP, until 2023) and currently as part of ‘Biodiversity for Belgium’ (LIFE B4B). To date, around 40,000 larvae and juveniles have been released in two existing sites and three additional areas with varying results.

The network meeting was the ideal opportunity to exchange experiences and results and to gain an even better understanding of the habitat requirements of the common spadefoot toad. The results so far are encouraging. Monitoring will continue to be important in order to follow the development of the population and to adjust management measures. Co-operation between these partners will continue. The aim is to achieve a favourable conservation status over time.

The participants of the excursion to the various action sites in the Flemish province of Limburg, from left to right: Jeroen Speybroeck (INBO), Loïc van Doorn (INBO), Christian Göcking (NABU-Naturschutzstation Münsterland), Johan Meijer (Natuurbalans

The participants of the excursion to the various action sites in the Flemish province of Limburg, from left to right: Jeroen Speybroeck (INBO), Loïc van Doorn (INBO), Christian Göcking (NABU-Naturschutzstation Münsterland), Johan Meijer (Natuurbalans), Peter Engelen (Natuurpunt), Peter Kroon (Natuurbalans), Lily Gora (Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos), Sebastian Schmidt (Bezirksregierung Münster), Ian Stevens (Natuurpunt), Bart Hoeymans (Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos), Daan Van Eenaeme (INBO), Jeroen van Leeuwen (Natuurbalans), Martina Raffel (Bezirksregierung Münster). © Bezirksregierung Münster

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