FIRST NATIONAL FROG PATROL SUMMIT

The Coordination Centre for Amphibians (CCA) in Slovenia (Centre for Fauna and Flora Cartography) organised the FIRST NATIONAL FROG PATROLS SUMMIT. The event was primarily intended for meeting and connecting coordinators and participants of actions that take place every year in the springtime at various locations in Slovenia.

On Saturday, 14 October 2023, 28 participants gathered in the pleasant environment of the organic farm Pri starem mlinu in Štore. The LIFE AMPHICON project manager Suzana Levstek (Municipality of Grosuplje) and the amphibian expert coordinator Katja Poboljšaj (CKFF) presented the project activities and the problems of amphibian and road protection in the last twenty years in Slovenia.

The presentation showcased 9 amphibian Frog patrols, each with a unique history. Some have persevered for over two decades, while others commenced their journey in 2023. Despite their diverse backgrounds, these patrols collectively share invaluable on-the-ground experiences. Their common thread is the vital role of local community support. Equally important is their shared commitment to raising awareness among the broader public, particularly children, regarding the significance of amphibian and wetland conservation and protection. What unites all these volunteer initiatives is a remarkable degree of resourcefulness, unwavering enthusiasm, and, above all, an abundance of volunteer hours dedicated to fieldwork.

Throughout the event, a lively discussion took place, where opinions, ideas, good practices, knowledge and experience on amphibian conservation in Slovenia were exchanged.

We would like to thank everyone once again for your participation and for all the effort and work you have been doing for many years to make an important contribution to the conservation of amphibian populations in your local area.

You can find a presentation of the campaigns on the website of the Slovenian Amphibian Information Centre.

Photo: A. Bolčina, N. Erbida, S. Levstek, Ž. Vertič