Danube Dragon Action Plan. Action Plan for the Danube Crested Newt (Triturus dobrogicus)

This first Action Plan for the Danube crested newt (Triturus dobrogicus) summarises the main lines of knowledge and defines conservation priorities for this distinctive amphibian species. The Danube crested newt is distributed across 12 European countries, in the lowlands of the Danube floodplains and Dnipro Delta. Its habitats have been under threat for a long time due to major alterations of the hydrographic landscape and, more recently, from a range of additional threats, including the introduction of alien species, climate change, and war. Despite national and international protection (e.g. listing in Annex II of the Habitats Directive), the species is declining throughout most of its range and is classified there from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered according to national IUCN Red List criteria. In comparison to other crested newt species, there is still an important lack of knowledge and a shortage of large-scale conservation actions. It is therefore urgent to recognize the Danube crested newt as a priority and flagship species, to fill gaps in our understanding of its biology and its responses to anthropogenic pressures, and to implement effective, targeted managements and other conservation measures a both local and international scales, including transnational projects. In this context, conservation networks such as Danubeparks represent a valuable platform for coordinated action.