Successful protection measures for amphibians - learning from the canton of Aargau

Between 1999 and 2019, over 400 new amphibian spawning areas were created in the canton of Aargau. The positive developments for various species clearly show that the construction of ponds is an effective measure to promote and stabilise amphibian populations. Thanks to the new spawning areas, the number of populations of almost all pond-dwelling amphibian species has increased significantly. An article in N+L Inside sheds light on the key success factors in pond construction:

1. Large areas of water: The size of the water surface is decisive for the success of new spawning waters. The total water area should be at least 100 m² in size. Ideally, there should be several different bodies of water within a spawning area, including those with fluctuating water levels.
2. Networked spawning areas: Ideally, new ponds should be created within a radius of around 500 metres of existing bodies of water that are already colonised by amphibians. Interconnected pond landscapes promote the formation of stable populations in the long term, as amphibians can move to neighbouring bodies of water in unfavourable conditions such as drought.
   

However, there is no ideal pond that is equally suitable for all amphibian species. It is therefore important to create a variety of ponds with different characteristics. The example of pond construction in Aargau shows that long-term and consistent measures can sustainably promote amphibian conservation.

Link to the full article «What should an ecological infrastructure for amphibians look like? «Wie muss eine ökologische Infrastruktur für Amphibien aussehen?» ‘What should an ecological infrastructure for amphibians look like?’ in N+L inside (3/2024)