Efforts by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to address harm to a nearly invisible species has resulted in government policies that protect habitat and guide land-use planning.<\/p>\r\n
Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n In the wetlands of South Africa\u2019s east coast, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, just a short distance from the warm Indian Ocean, lives an amphibian so small it could perch on your thumbnail.<\/p>\r\n Barely 2.9 centimeters (1 inch) in length, the Pickersgill\u2019s reed frog is one of the most endangered amphibians in the world. Despite its tiny size, this creature plays an important part in the rare coastal ecosystem it calls home.<\/p>\r\n If the Pickersgill\u2019s reed frog and other frogs in its community disappear, there would be ripple effects. Mosquito populations would explode; insects that damage crops would go unchecked; birds, reptiles, and fish that rely on frogs for food would suffer. And people of KwaZulu-Natal would lose one of the clearest signs that something is wrong in their water systems.<\/p>\r\n Thanks to science, dedicated conservationists, and geographic information system (GIS) technology, this little frog has a second chance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is the provincial conservation authority for KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Tasked with protecting biodiversity and managing 87 protected areas, Ezemvelo works with partners such as the Endangered Wildlife Trust and Johannesburg Zoo to preserve important habitats, support ecotourism, and enhance community uplift.<\/p>\r\n Before using GIS, Ezemvelo lacked a reliable way to track historical and current locations of the Pickersgill\u2019s reed frog. Lacking this knowledge, protecting the frog\u2019s habitat proved difficult.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"gallery","gallery_images":[755482,755492,755502]},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" That changed in 2020 when the Ezemvelo conservation team began using GIS to map frog populations, model potential habitats, and track hazards and vulnerability.<\/p>\r\n \u201cWithout GIS, we wouldn\u2019t be able to describe how land-use changes were affecting the frog's habitat, and the risk the frog population faced,\u201d said Bimall Naidoo, GIS technician at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.<\/p>\r\n Adrian Armstrong, an animal scientist at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife added, \u201cThis is the first time a frog species in KwaZulu-Natal has been included in land-use planning decisions in a range-wide formal systematic process. Using the analytical and cartographic tools available on the ArcGIS platform has facilitated data and map sharing which has positively influenced the land use planning in some municipalities.<\/span>\u201d<\/p>\r\n Naidoo and the team of amphibian specialists also use GIS to identify critical corridors that connect isolated habitats. These corridors allow for movement, breeding, and genetic diversity, which is essential for long-term survival.<\/p>\r\n The Pickersgill\u2019s reed frog is found only within 15 kilometers of South Africa\u2019s KwaZulu-Natal coastline. It thrives in warm, humid wetlands thick with coastal vegetation\u2014habitats that are shaded and filled with stagnant water ideal for breeding. But this narrow environmental range makes the species extremely vulnerable.<\/p>\r\n As nearby cities sprawl and agriculture expands, the KwaZulu-Natal wetlands have been drained, paved, burned, and polluted. Invasive plants outcompete native vegetation. Roads cut through once-connected breeding grounds. Fires, pesticides, chemicals, and sewage runoff threaten what little habitat remains.<\/p>\r\n But conservationists created GIS maps that identify fragments of suitable habitat with precision. By layering data\u2014including rainfall, vegetation types, frog sightings, and wetlands\u2014they created a comprehensive map of what the frog needs to thrive.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"gallery","gallery_images":[755472,766052,766062,755532]},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" Some well-intentioned conservation efforts over the years have had unintended consequences. In one instance, the frogs bred from a polluted wetland couldn\u2019t reproduce because of chemical exposure. In another, they were released near developed areas but the amount of water channeled off roads and buildings during severe storms was too great and flooded them out. Others stayed put because the surrounding landscape was too dry and built-up, exposing them to risk if they tried scouting for a new home. Busy roads are a death trap for these tiny creatures.<\/p>\r\n \u201cThe frogs won\u2019t travel through areas that don\u2019t have humid cover,\u201d Naidoo said. \u201cThis isolates the populations, hindering the dispersal of offspring and genetic exchange between populations.\u201d<\/p>\r\n As populations become more isolated, their numbers shrink. That leads to inbreeding and a higher risk from disease, which makes them even more vulnerable.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Frogs like the Pickersgill\u2019s reed frog are known as indicator species\u2014nature's alarm bell that signals when an ecosystem is in trouble. Because they take up water through their skin and depend on clean water, frogs are among the first to suffer from pollution or environmental change.<\/p>\r\n According to a United Nations report<\/a>, one million species are at risk of extinction. Amphibians face the most challenges. More than 40 percent of frogs and toads are threatened compared to 33 percent of reef-growing corals, which are the next most-vulnerable species on the list.<\/p>\r\n \u201cFrogs are sensitive to changes in their environment, such as pollution and habitat destruction,\u201d Armstrong and Naidoo said. \u201cTheir presence tells us how healthy the ecosystem is. So, if the calling stops, beware of your water.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n Maps and other information to protect the Pickersgill\u2019s reed frog are now included in local land-use planning. Several municipalities\u2014including King Cetshwayo District, Ilembe District, and Mandeni Municipality\u2014use these resources in their planning to guide development in a way that safeguards the frog's habitat.<\/p>\r\n \u201cWhen targeted conservation began in 2011, the Pickersgill\u2019s reed frog was only known to be in about nine square kilometers of habitat,\u201d Armstrong said. \u201cToday, they\u2019ve been found in over 30 square kilometers.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n \t
A Tiny Frog Facing a Big Threat<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
Nature\u2019s Warning Sign<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
A Thumbnail in a Haystack <\/strong><\/h3>\r\n