Description
LIFE+ TEN project: species protection demonstration action - safeguarding yellow-bellied toad populations
The species
The yellow-bellied toad(Bombina variegata) is an Amphibian of Community interest that prefers very special wetlands as they are temporary and of limited extent and depth, such as wet depressions along the banks of watercourses, mountain pasture ponds, puddles in dirt roads and quarry areas and small water catchments for agricultural use.
The problem
In Trentino the yellow-bellied toad is strongly threatened with extinction mainly due to the disappearance of the particular micro-environments in which it settles.
Objective of the action
In two areas in the stretch of the Adige Valley between Lavis and Mezzolombardo, environmental upgrading actions will be implemented:
- in the first area small wet depressions will be created in former quarries;
- in the second area, small concrete basins will be set up along the ditches to counteract their drying out in dry periods, which endangers the survival of the yellow-bellied toad population.
Expected results:
- Increasing and "securing" two of the main populations of the yellow-bellied toad present in Trentino, which are currently in a poor state of conservation due to alterations in their habitat.
Documentation