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Berlin, 08 October 2026 – A recently published report by the Foundation for Nature Conservation Berlin (Stiftung Naturschutz Berlin) has highlighted a critical situation regarding the city’s amphibian populations. According to the findings, nearly all amphibian species in Berlin, ranging from the common toad to the rare natterjack toad, have experienced drastic population declines.
A Call for Immediate Political Action
NABU Berlin has described the report as a significant “wake-up call” for policymakers. The organization is now urging the incoming Senate to take immediate action by implementing comprehensive species conservation programs. According to NABU, the current situation threatens to cause irreparable damage to the city’s biological diversity and ecological balance.
Key Threats Identified
The report attributes the massive decline in both species and individual numbers to several compounding factors. The primary threats identified include:
- Climate Change: The drying up of spawning waters.
- Environmental Degradation: Deteriorating water quality.
- Invasive Species: The spread of predators such as raccoons.
- Habitat Loss: Increased land sealing due to urban development.
Critical Conservation Status
The findings indicate that not a single amphibian habitat in Berlin is currently in a favorable conservation state. More than three-quarters of the surveyed populations are classified as “unfavorable-bad.”
Even the natterjack toad population at the Pankower Tor site, which is considered one of the least critical due to its size of approximately 500 individuals, is under immediate threat from planned construction projects. NABU emphasizes that these remaining habitats must be protected to prevent local extinction.
Community Involvement and Future Outlook
While NABU stresses the need for state-funded conservation programs, it also highlights the role of Berlin residents. The organization encourages the creation of nature-friendly, fish-free ponds in private gardens, community spaces, and company grounds to provide essential habitats.
NABU concludes that protecting amphibians is a collective responsibility that requires cooperation between the government, administration, and the public to ensure that future generations can still encounter these species in Berlin’s natural environment.
Source: NABU Berlin
