The project aims to guarantee the long-term conservation of the amphibian populations existing in the area of action, especially those species that are scarcer. To this end, action will be taken on the main threat faced by these vertebrates: the loss or serious deterioration of aquatic habitats suitable for their reproduction.

The project aims to guarantee the long-term conservation of the amphibian populations existing in the area of action, especially those species that are scarcer. To this end, action will be taken on the main threat faced by these vertebrates: the loss or serious deterioration of aquatic habitats suitable for their reproduction.

Thus, the project foresees a series of measures aimed at the restoration and environmental recovery of disappeared or seriously deteriorated bodies of water, the adaptation of existing bodies of water – such as irrigation ponds – so that amphibians can use them as breeding points or the creation of new aquatic habitats, in places where none of the above actions can be used.

On the other hand, collaboration with owners or managers of bodies of water is contemplated so that they adopt good environmental practices that allow their use as a breeding area by amphibians, without risks to the survival of these animals. Through this initiative, the creation of a natural corridor of bodies of water for amphibians between the Sierras that surround the Northwest of the Region of Murcia will be promoted, in order to enhance the effective reproduction of the target species of the project.

The initiative also plans to activate a land stewardship program, through the signing of agreements with farmers, ranchers and forest owners for the conservation and maintenance of bodies of water that are created, recovered or adapted for amphibians, and for their management with good environmental practices. Along the same lines, a series of agreements are proposed with rural tourism entrepreneurs for the creation and conservation of aquatic habitats of interest to amphibians in their accommodations (rural houses, hostels, etc.).

All the work is completed with a series of investigations to monitor amphibian populations and learn about the impact of the actions carried out, as well as an ambitious environmental awareness program on the conservation of amphibians and the aquatic habitats they need. This programme is aimed especially at the rural population in the area of action.

The specific objectives are:

• Enable or increase connectivity between amphibian populations and improve their population status, by creating a network of aquatic habitats critical for the reproduction of target species.
• Implement a land stewardship program in irrigation ponds in the area of action, involving farmers and companies linked to rural tourism.
• To increase scientific knowledge about the target species and amphibian communities present in the study area.
• Develop an environmental awareness program aimed at the general population on amphibian conservation.
• Provide the necessary environmental training for volunteers and entities linked to the project to be involved in its development.

To this end, a series of activities will be developed:

1. Creation of new aquatic habitats.
2. Inventory and characterization of water bodies likely to host breeding populations of the target species; adaptation and rehabilitation of semi-natural bodies of water; adaptation and/or conditioning of artificial bodies of water.
3. Creation of the land stewardship network “Friends of the Amphibians”.
4. Application of a biological monitoring protocol through qualitative and quantitative sampling of amphibian larvae in newly created bodies of water and in those restored or conditioned.
5. Realization of a program of informative talks on amphibians.
6. Evaluation of the ecological status of the bodies of water included in the project.
7. Promotion of the practice of ecotourism.
8. Celebration of the course “Herpetology: amphibians of the Northwest of the Region of Murcia”.