Darwin's frogs, two small amphibians endemic to the temperate forests of southern Chile and Argentina, are at the center of one of the country's most important conservation stories. in recent times. These animals, recognized for their unusual breeding strategy in which males incubate their tadpoles in the vocal sac, have aroused the interest of science and the concern of environmental authorities.
The Council of Ministers for Sustainability and Climate Change has taken a key decision by approving the Recovery, Conservation and Management Plan (RECOGE) for the two species of Darwin's frog: Rhinoderma darwinii (Southern Darwin's frog), considered "Endangered", and Rhinoderma rufum (Northern Darwin's frog), listed as "Critically Endangered." This measure aims to halt the worrying population decline and ensure the long-term survival of both species.
The threats facing these species are multiple and complex.Among the most significant is chytridiomycosis, an infectious disease caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which damages the skin of amphibians and can be lethal by impairing essential functions such as breathing. In addition, habitat loss and fragmentation due to deforestation, forest fires and the introduction of invasive species have drastically reduced the areas where these little frogs can thrive.
The RECOGE initiative, unanimously supported by the Council of Ministers, poses 11 priority lines of action to reverse the negative trend. These include the protection of reproductive sites, the ecological restoration of key habitats, community-focused environmental education, the monitoring and control of diseases such as chytridiomycosis, and the strengthening of institutional coordination to ensure effective conservation.
The central objective is twofold: recover a viable population of Rhinoderma rufum, whose presence in natural environments has not been confirmed in decades, and expand the area occupied by Rhinoderma darwinii to improve its state of conservation. This process will be carried out through a Monitoring Group made up of representatives from the Ministry of the Environment, the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Service, the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG), the National Zoo and the Darwin's Frog Association, among other institutions.
Inter-institutional collaboration is essential for the success of the plan, as well as the active participation of the public and the scientific community. Awareness and education campaigns, as well as ecological restoration and population monitoring projects, have been proposed to promote social commitment to the protection of these emblematic amphibians.
The RECOGE plan is part of Chile's National Biodiversity Strategy. and strengthens the country's commitment to the conservation of endangered species. With the approval of this program, Chile now has fourteen official RECOGE plans, demonstrating a firm commitment to maintaining and protecting its natural heritage.
This joint effort seeks to ensure a future for these unique amphibians., whose existence now depends on the coordinated action of authorities, the scientific community and society in general.
