The fire bellied toad is a typical lowland species located in eastern central Europe, with its northern most area bordering on the Baltic States. Like so many species they are especially endangered at the edges of their area of distribution and populations have been decreasing rapidly over the past years. The fire bellied toad can now be found on all Red Lists of endangered species in the partner countries of the LIFE-Bombina Project (LIFE04NAT/DE/000028).
The reasons for their endangerment are similar in all countries and the main aim of the project is is to make use of the experience gained in the partner countries. Denmark and Sweden already use various techniques in the habitat and population management and have already suceeded in maintaining and preserving bombina populations in the Natura-2000 areas. These techniques are going to be used in Schleswig-Holstein and Latvia. The Nature Conservancy Foundation Schleswig-Holstein contributes on its part with experiences made with the management of extensive pasturing with robust cattle and horses. This is, amongst others, an important key to the preservation of embankments used by the endangered toads for spawning.