SAVE THE FROGS! Ghana, together with foresters from the Forestry Commission of Ghana (FC) and 100 other volunteers, has cleared a portion of the habitat of the Giant Squeaker Frog (Arthroleptis kroskosua) of the non-native invasive weed (Chromolaena odorata). To suppress the regrowth of the weed we immediately planted 2,000 native tree seedlings in areas where it was removed and in other degraded places.
We also trained local school children and villagers on best practices of invasive weed control and tree planting. The invasive weed C. odorata depletes the density of leaf-litter that the Giant Squeaker Frog utilises for predator escape, breeding activities and protection from desiccation. Thus, clearing and controlling the infestation of the weed will improve the Frog’s habitat conditions, which subsequently will lead to its recovery from the brink of extinction.
We educated the local people on the amphibian extinction crisis and the importance of protecting frogs and their habitats. Local people pledged their support for the project and expressed interest in establishing community tree nurseries to continue with the restoration project. They will also help to report any ongoing illegal activities within the reserve to authorities to prevent the continual
With the success of future funding, SAVE THE FROGS! Ghana and local people will establish community tree nurseries to raise native seedlings. With the seedlings, they will replant in the Giant Squeaker Frog’s remaining habitat ranges to quicken the process of its recovery from the brink of extinction. Please read more about our future habitat restoration plans for the Giant Squeaker Frog at (http://savethefrogs.com/amphibians/arthroleptis-krokusua.html) and also donate here.
We thank The Rufford Foundation, Stiftung Artenshutz/Verband Deutscher Zoodirektoren and SAVE THE FROGS! for funding the first phase of this project.
