CHURA Project - Save Frogs & Forest
Donation protected
Why am I crowdfunding?
I am crowdfunding to fill a crucial knowledge gap on amphibian species distributions and ecological requirements in one of the hottest hotspots of biodiversity in Africa, the Uzungwa Scarp Forest Nature Reserve. My final goal is to produce practical guidelines for the long-term conservation management of the site’s amphibian diversity.
The project in brief
CHURA means frog in Swahili (Tanzania’s official language), and is also the acronym chosen for our project 'Conserving Hyper-endemic Uzungwa Restricted Amphibians'.
The Uzungwa Scarp forest in Tanzania is exceptional for its amphibian diversity and number of threatened species, even within the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot. This forest is renowned for being home to four threatened species (Kihansi spray toad Nectophrynoides asperginis, Extinct in the Wild, Poynton’s forest toad N. poyntoni, Critically Endangered, Wendy forest toad N. wendyae, Critically Endangered, and Kihanga reed frog Hyperolius kihangensis, Endangered) found nowhere else in the world, along with other 33 amphibian species. The forest is under increasing human pressure (e.g. logging and agricultural encroachment) and unfortunately lacks strict protection, however I am collaborating with local authorities and other conservation groups in order to improve conservation management of the area.
The CHURA project aims to provide a complete check-list of all amphibian species occurring in the Udzungwa Scarp along with their distribution, habitat associations and potential threats to survival. I will also be testing the presence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a fungal pathogen which has been responsible for local amphibian extinctions worldwide. The final output of the project will be an action plan (i.e. practical guidelines) for the conservation management of the area and its amphibian fauna.
How will the money be spent?
I have already surveyed several sites at different elevations but a large central portion of the forest remains unexplored. I’ve so far come across at least two species still unknown to science…but there could be more!
With your help, I aim to fill the remaining knowledge gaps on amphibian species distributions and ecological requirements in the central portion of the Scarp. Data will be collected by means of pitfall traps with drift fences, night transects, day search with timed digging, opportunistic surveys, and audio recording. All habitats will be sampled and bio-security measures (e.g. disinfection of boots and equipment) will be applied to prevent the spread of potential amphibian pathogens between surveyed sites. Collected data will then be used to inform conservation management of the site’s amphibian diversity.
Please donate if you can and help me by spreading the word! THANK YOU for your support!
Keen to know more?
Check the project blog and facebook page or contact me for more information
I'm working on a little surprise...stay tuned! ;)
I am crowdfunding to fill a crucial knowledge gap on amphibian species distributions and ecological requirements in one of the hottest hotspots of biodiversity in Africa, the Uzungwa Scarp Forest Nature Reserve. My final goal is to produce practical guidelines for the long-term conservation management of the site’s amphibian diversity.
The project in brief
CHURA means frog in Swahili (Tanzania’s official language), and is also the acronym chosen for our project 'Conserving Hyper-endemic Uzungwa Restricted Amphibians'.
The Uzungwa Scarp forest in Tanzania is exceptional for its amphibian diversity and number of threatened species, even within the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot. This forest is renowned for being home to four threatened species (Kihansi spray toad Nectophrynoides asperginis, Extinct in the Wild, Poynton’s forest toad N. poyntoni, Critically Endangered, Wendy forest toad N. wendyae, Critically Endangered, and Kihanga reed frog Hyperolius kihangensis, Endangered) found nowhere else in the world, along with other 33 amphibian species. The forest is under increasing human pressure (e.g. logging and agricultural encroachment) and unfortunately lacks strict protection, however I am collaborating with local authorities and other conservation groups in order to improve conservation management of the area.
The CHURA project aims to provide a complete check-list of all amphibian species occurring in the Udzungwa Scarp along with their distribution, habitat associations and potential threats to survival. I will also be testing the presence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a fungal pathogen which has been responsible for local amphibian extinctions worldwide. The final output of the project will be an action plan (i.e. practical guidelines) for the conservation management of the area and its amphibian fauna.
How will the money be spent?
I have already surveyed several sites at different elevations but a large central portion of the forest remains unexplored. I’ve so far come across at least two species still unknown to science…but there could be more!
With your help, I aim to fill the remaining knowledge gaps on amphibian species distributions and ecological requirements in the central portion of the Scarp. Data will be collected by means of pitfall traps with drift fences, night transects, day search with timed digging, opportunistic surveys, and audio recording. All habitats will be sampled and bio-security measures (e.g. disinfection of boots and equipment) will be applied to prevent the spread of potential amphibian pathogens between surveyed sites. Collected data will then be used to inform conservation management of the site’s amphibian diversity.
Please donate if you can and help me by spreading the word! THANK YOU for your support!
Keen to know more?
Check the project blog and facebook page or contact me for more information
I'm working on a little surprise...stay tuned! ;)
Organizer
Elena Tonelli
Organizer
Trentino
