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Congratulations to SAVE THE FROGS! Ghana Associate Executive Director, Sandra Owusu-Gyamfi for winning a $250 award from The Pollination Project. The award will enable Sandra and the SAVE THE FROGS! UCAES Chapter to organize the 8th Annual Save The Frogs Day in the Atewa District in Ghana, home of the critically endangered Togo Slippery Frog (Conraua derooi). This year’s celebration will be, Saving The Iconic Togo Slippery Frog To Save Livelihoods. Events will include a 30-minute radio program where we talk about the current state of frogs in the Atewa Hills Forest Reserve and the implications that threats to their survival will have on livelihoods of the residents. There will be an accompanying street parade with drumming and dancing for frogs. During the parade, we will display signs to exhibit the effects of habitat destruction on frogs and the implications this has for local livelihoods. Signs will read, “Watch Atewa’s frogs die and witness a surge in crop pests,” “Atewa’s frogs are vulnerable, and so are you,” and more. We will wrap-up the day with a soccer match between two local communities and a key note address delivered by Ms. Owusu-Gyamfi. This event is expected to bring together over 300 participants and more through social media campaigns.
The Atewa Hills Forest Reserve is Ghana’s most biodiverse yet seriously threatened wilderness area. It is home to the critically endangered Togo Slippery Frog, a close relative of the world’s largest frog, the Goliath Frog (Conraua goliath). Within this area, there are widespread illegal mining and logging activities funded by both local and foreign individuals and organizations. These activities are destroying critical habitats of the frog and other natural resources including water bodies that irrigate farmlands and supply over five million Ghanaians with drinking water. In recent years SAVE THE FROGS! Ghana, together with other local non-profit conservation organizations, has been spearheading campaigns to get the government of Ghana to upgrade the status of the Atewa Hills Forest Reserve from a reserve to a national park for the permanent protection of frogs and other co-occurring biodiversity. This year’s Save The Frogs Day, will actively involve local people in the fight against the destruction of this unique forest to save local livelihoods. Thanks to The Pollination Project for supporting this campaign!
