Boomkikkers heroveren West-Zeeuws-Vlaanderen

Het gaat goed met de boomkikker in West-Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, na jarenlang een zorgenkindje geweest te zijn. Het dieptepunt lag in de jaren negentig van de vorige eeuw toen er, in drie van elkaar geïsoleerd liggende gebieden, nog maar een paar honderd van deze gifgroene kikkertjes voorkwamen. De oorzaak van de afname was het verlies aan geschikte leefomgeving, door het veranderende gebruik van het buitengebied. Aandacht voor verbindingen én een goed beheer, blijken mooie vruchten af te werpen Common tree frogs regaining western Zeeuws-Vlaanderen Before 1970, the Common tree frog (Hyla arborea) was spread throughout Zeeuws-Vlaanderen (southernmost part of the province Zeeland). A downward trend started in the 1960s accelerated in the 1970s and 1980s. In eastern Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, the Common tree frog disappeared completely. It only survived in the western part. The reason for the decline was habitat loss, due to the changed use of the rural area. In the early 1990s there were only 150 calling males left, spread over three isolated areas. In Western Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, the past 25 years saw intensive efforts to realize nature development projects as part of Nature Network Netherlands. The ultimate goal: connecting the tree frog’s isolated habitats and making the population less vulnerable. New pools were dug and old ones were restored and cleared of fish. Now, the tree frog has permanently established itself in this new ecological connection zone. The species has more than 2,000 calling males and is an integral part of the region. The expansion of tree frogs eastward is in full progress. From the reserve areas of the nature management organisations, they gradually populate the landscape outside the Nature Network. Optimal management consists of cattle grazing to prevent dense vegetation of the pond banks. This is combined with a phased periodic cleaning of the ponds in September-October. The population has been monitored by volunteers for years. The calling males are counted in spring. Counting juveniles in late summer provides additional information about reproductive success.