On our first RSG booster project, we recently discovered a new habitat harbouring 15 individuals of Ghana’s iconic and ‘critically endangered’ Giant Squeaker Frog (Arthroleptis krokosua) within the Sui River Forest Reserve (Sui Forest). With only a total of 32 individuals recorded to date, this latest rediscovery represents the species highest abundance. The new habitat is also the species first-ever and only known breeding site. Unfortunately, open mine pits are prevalent within these areas, abandoned following the evacuations of artisanal illegal miners (www.ghanamps.gov.gh/news-events/details.php?id=1524). These pits often get inundated thereby becoming potential death-traps for leaf-litter and terrestrial frogs including the Giant Squeaker Frog. With this second booster, we will involve local people, students and volunteers to identify all mined-out locations, close them up and revegetate with approximately 2,000 native trees. We will also continue our amphibian population monitoring and local capacity building programmes established since 2010. To ensure the permanent protection of all identified critical amphibian habitats, we will facilitate the signing of MoUs by relevant stakeholders who either directly use, manage or have an interest in the Sui Forest.

Saving the iconic Giant Squeaker Frog has also been an effective tool in the protection of other co-occurring endemic and globally endangered amphibian species including Ringed River Frog, Phrynobatrachus annulatus; Yapo River Frog, P. villiersi; Ivory Coast Frog, Hylarana occidentalis; and other non-amphibious vulnerable taxa including Western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus); three anthropoid monkey species e.g. Black-and-white Colobus; Bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus); duikers e.g. Royal Antelope Neo tragus pygmaeus. Reclaiming the abandoned mine pits and replanting with native trees will increase the species’ habitat size and establish vegetation corridors within their ranges. While the current level of habitat degradation has significantly may have already exposed the species to the full impacts of the region’s deteriorating climatic changes, in the long-term the replanted trees will contribute in helping them adapt.