Forest and water are the cradles of life. Everyone can see it once again by visiting Synevyr Lake at this time – a body of water surrounded by centuries-old spruces, firs, beeches, and maples. Right now, in early May, there is a mating season for amphibians, in particular, the common toad. There are a lot of these living beings here at almost every step. Whereas Lake Synevyr is a place of pilgrimage for tourists, locals, and internally displaced persons (people are seeking peace and comfort in nature fleeing war), amphibians can be harmed by dying at the feet of passers-by. This can happen suddenly, because people, admiring the beauty of nature around them, may not even notice how they crushed the toad.
Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies held an environmental campaign near Lake Synevyr in order to protect and preserve amphibians during their active period for them. Visitors who joined the event learned a lot of interesting information about the life of the common toad, its significance for nature, as well as about the conservation measures carried out in the Synevyr National Nature Park. The range of this species covers almost all of Europe and even North Africa. The toad is most common in the western part of Ukraine. This species is not uncommon in our country, but its importance is significant. These amphibians eat large numbers of insects, including pests, and are themselves food for a number of species, thus maintaining their existence.
The mating season for Synevyr toads lasts quite late, in contrast to their species from some warmer regions. The lake is located at an altitude of 989 meters above sea level, and therefore it is colder than, for example, in the south of Transcarpathia. During the environmental campaign, the organizers urged visitors to Lake Synevyr to be careful and attentive to amphibians that may be on the way. The mating season is about to end and the trails will be free of frogs. Let’s take care of nature now, closely following the path we are going on.
The event was held in cooperation with the Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies – IERS (headed by Alexander Bokotey) and the German Nature Conservation Union (#NABU), project coordinator Ivan Tymofeiev.
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Informational Service of IERS