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Conservation and Declines of Amphibians in Croatia

Croatia, as a southeastern European country, is home to 20 amphibian species (13 anurans and 7 caudates), which is a relatively high diversity on the European scale and considering its relatively small area. However, the amphibian fauna of Croatia faces severe threats (as elsewhere on the global scale) and that has resulted in the legal protection of a majority of its taxa. Major causes of amphibian decline are technical interventions in natural freshwater habitats, agriculture and land management, and pollution. Fortunately, chytridiomycosis has not yet been observed in Croatia. Although there is no organized monitoring of amphibians on a national scale, national monitoring protocols have been prepared for three species (Rana latastei, Triturus carnifex, and T. dobrogicus) and the monitoring is planned to start in 2014. Action plans for amphibians in Croatia do not yet exist, but the first one is already in preparation (for Proteus anguinus). Generally, despite the fact that the situation for amphibians in Croatia is not perfect, Croatia is in the process of becoming a full member of the EU and is now responsible to the European Commission (EC), not only to Croatian citizenry. Hopefully, the situation will improve significantly in the future, as is already heralded by the implementation of EC Directives.

Amphibian Red list; amphibian species status; conservation measure

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