Limited comprehensive amphibian surveys have been done in Benin Republic. IUCN et al. (2004) list 22 species for the country. Fieldworks from four localities permitted to add up to 29 species to the country’s amphibian richness (Nago, 2011). Amphibian is then poorly known and its diversity is underestimated while several protected and community forests remain without amphibian inventory and documentation. Therefore, this project aims on gaining a clear a picture as possible of the situation in three new spots which are dense semi-deciduous remnant forests, home to 20% of the national flora, peculiar and complex amphibian species and about 64% of threatened plant species, in the southern part of the country while training some stakeholders on amphibian surveys techniques and conservation practices. In the field, visual and acoustic encounter survey (VES & AES, Heyer et al., 1994) as well as random searches (RS) will be used for adults whereas dip netting will be used to search for tadpoles. Field works will be done in the beginning, middle and at the end of rainy season. Transects in forests will be walked for an hour at least five times (day and night) to record amphibians. Amphibians will be searched on ground, floating vegetation, etc. Stones, dead woods, understory vegetation, leaf litter, etc will be investigated randomly as well. Beyond documentation of amphibian species, this project is expected to provide basic and important data to improve our understanding of the amphibians and ecological factors that could influence their conservation.

This project will result in the production of a first amphibian checklist for the three investigated forests including, status, habitat parameters, potential threats as well as screening for chytrid fungus. Such data are paramount to design sustainable conservation measures to these ecosystems and its biodiversity. The proposed work will then create awareness about the value of these relic forests and the need to conserve them and their wildlife. All the information provided by this study will be used as conservation policies baseline and conservation initiative for the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, the forestry and wildlife agencies, NGOs and researchers.