Saving the last giant squeaker frogs by collaborating with logging companies and local communities
With a known population of less than 50 individuals worldwide, the Critically Endangered giant squeaker frog (Arthroleptis krokosua) will become extinct if logging and farming in Sui River Forest Reserve persists in the next five years. In addition, these activities have opened up the forest, permitting the invasion of the forest by the highly flammable non-native plant, devil weed (Chromolaena odorata), which reduces the amount of leaf-litter the species requires for breeding.
The project led by the NGO “Save Ghana Frogs” aims to scale up efforts to halt these threats to protect the giant squeaker frog. They will engage the management of the reserve, Forestry Commission of Ghana, logging companies and local people in their plan to delineate core and buffer areas of approximate 50km2. They will assist logging companies in integrating best practices in their operations to reduce further negative impacts on the forest. Also, the project will remove invasive weeds from an estimated 10ha of the frog’s core habitat and replant with an estimated 10,000 native tree species (Terminalia superba and Khaya ivoriensis) from their existing community tree nurseries. Up to 50 local people who will be affected by new management decisions will be rolled onto a successful beekeeping programme in order to create alternative income. In order to evaluate these activities, the project will monitor the species’ population while learning more about its ecology.
To save the giant squeaker frog with an integrative approach by