In this way, Gehring thought, two display areas could be set up in the corridors of the school’s basement, which are also integrated into the outer wall, and the walls in between could be used to draw attention to the threat to native amphibians and efforts to protect them. Not only was the school management quickly convinced, but Frogs & Friends also thought the idea was great and applied for funding from the HIT Environmental Foundation. Approval came promptly, but due to unexpected construction work, it took another year before the displays could be completed.

This marks the completion of the second school project realised by the HIT Foundation in collaboration with Frogs & Friends under the umbrella term ‘Grassroots Arks’. Previously, support had already been provided for the construction of an outdoor facility at the Wilhelm von Oranien School in Dillenburg. As part of a cooperation with the University of Giessen, this school in Hesse has been monitoring and supporting the breeding of larvae in its local fire salamander population for many years

We hope that projects such as those in Bielefeld and Dillenburg will literally set a precedent. To this end, it is also important that the people and institutions committed to protecting this species network more closely. This is the most important goal of Feuersalamander.Net. We are grateful to be able to achieve this with such generous partners as the HIT Environmental Foundation and many others.