Last updated: October 2021
Sweden's second largest population of the acutely threatened Green Spotted Toad ("Bufotes viridis") populates in the Northern harbour (Norra hamnen) in Malmö. In 2014 when inventories were carried out, it was shown that four water areas were used for reproduction. Despite a major exploitation interest, city administrations and landowners, together with the County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen Skåne), agreed to protect the population and to take measures to maintain its status (ref. 1, 2). A 15.5 hectare area had been protected until further notice from continued land changes and other disturbing activities, and the area had been fenced (ref. 1).
European Green Toad (Bufotes variabilis)
Photographer: Mats Wirén, retrieved 09/20/2018
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Coastlines
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of natural heritage
Focus
Coastal landscape management or protection, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity
Project objectives
The (nationally red-listed) acutely endangered green spotted toad had been found in Norra hamnen (Northern harbour) in Malmö. The city of Malmö wanted to clarify, with help of inventories, why this site has been able to give rise to one of the country's largest populations of the Green Spotted Toad (Bufotes Viridis). The city of Malmö also aimed to understand the conditions for protecting the species. Furthermore, Malmö City wanted to acquire knowledge of how to develop a good biotope for the species (with regards to the conditions found in Norra hamnen, and therefore laying the foundation for how and where to carry out biotope enhancing measures, and when it is most appropriate to carry out these measures) (ref. 2).
Implementation activities
A 15.5 hectare area had been protected until further notice from continued land changes and other disturbing activities, and the area had been fenced. Contaminated rainwater was deliberately released into the so called Zink pond (Zinkdammen) (but the permit for this expired at the end of 2014) (ref. 1).
In order to increase knowledge about the species and to avoid mistakes, training was arranged for, for example, municipal planners, politicians, landowners, managers and landowners. The education took place in the form of small courses, seminars, study visits and via sending out information material (ref. 3).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect endangered species
- Means for conservation governance
- Raise public awareness
- Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore endangered species
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Taskforce groups
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
City administrations involved wrer the Environmental management administration, the Street Office, Real Estate office, Urban planning office (Stadsbyggnadskontoret). Also involved was Copenhagen Malmö Port AB (company that operates the ports in Copenhagen and Malmö) (ref. 1).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(The species is endangered and red-listed (nationally classified as acutely threatened) and is covered by a so-called Action Programme for Endangered Species (sv. Åtgärdsprogram för hotade arter), and there is an Action programme for the conservation of the green spotted toad, 2011-2016 (the Swedish Nature Conservation Agency, Naturvårdsverket). (Ref. 1, 3)
Furthermore, the project contributes to reaching the national environmental quality goals of "A rich plant and wildlife". (Ref. 2) )
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€10,000 - €50,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
- Public regional budget
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased number of protection areas
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increased protection of threatened species
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Malmö Stad. (2014). Stor population av grönfläckig padda (Bufotes viridis) i Norra hamnen i Malmö: Inventeringar, skydd och åtgärdsförslag. Rapport. Gatukontoret. Available at: Source link (Accessed 7 August 2020)
2. Länsstyrelsen Skåne. (2014). Statligt bidrag till det lokala naturvårdsprojektet "Skydd och utveckling av biotop för grönfläckig padda i Norra hamnen i Malmö" i Malmö stad. Beslut. Available at: Source link (Accessed 7 August 2020)
3. Naturvårdsverket. (2010). Åtgärdsprogram för bevarande av grönfläckig padda 2011-2016 (Bufo viridis). Rapport. Available at: Source link (Accessed 7 August 2020)
4. Malmö Stad. (2011). Naturvårdsprogram för Malmö stad. Programdel. Stadsbyggnadskontoret. Available at: Source link (Accessed 7 August 2020)
5. Länsstyrelsen Skåne. (n.d.) SemiAquaticLife - Re-creating habitat complexity for semi-aquatic fauna. Available at: Source link (Accessed 7 August 2020)
6. Malmö Stad. (2009). Käglinge - grodans marker. NATURKnutar. Malmö. Available at: Source link (Accessed 7 August 2020)
2. Länsstyrelsen Skåne. (2014). Statligt bidrag till det lokala naturvårdsprojektet "Skydd och utveckling av biotop för grönfläckig padda i Norra hamnen i Malmö" i Malmö stad. Beslut. Available at: Source link (Accessed 7 August 2020)
3. Naturvårdsverket. (2010). Åtgärdsprogram för bevarande av grönfläckig padda 2011-2016 (Bufo viridis). Rapport. Available at: Source link (Accessed 7 August 2020)
4. Malmö Stad. (2011). Naturvårdsprogram för Malmö stad. Programdel. Stadsbyggnadskontoret. Available at: Source link (Accessed 7 August 2020)
5. Länsstyrelsen Skåne. (n.d.) SemiAquaticLife - Re-creating habitat complexity for semi-aquatic fauna. Available at: Source link (Accessed 7 August 2020)
6. Malmö Stad. (2009). Käglinge - grodans marker. NATURKnutar. Malmö. Available at: Source link (Accessed 7 August 2020)
Toad Habitat
Photographer: Mats Wirén, retrieved 09/20/2018