The Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) is protected under the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981) and the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc.) Regulations 1994. A National and Local Species Biodiversity Action Plan has been written for this species with monitoring as an important target. The Herts County Council pond survey (Hertfordshire Pond Report 1987) forms an important baseline for monitoring of this species.
In 1998 the Hertfordshire and Amphibian Reptile Group carried out a re-survey of all known historical Great Crested Newt breeding sites. (Hertfordshire Great Crested Newt Breeding Site Resurvey Report 1998). 67 known populations were resurveyed resulting in a total of 46 populations being confirmed as still present in the county, 17 populations as probably extinct and the remainder as unconfirmed. The results showed a minimum level of site extinction of approximately 25% over the past twenty years. This is an approximate extinction rate of 2.2% per annum.
The probable causes of population losses are largely lack of (or poor) management, site loss and/or presence of fish. It is clear from these results that many water bodies only have low populations. Unless positive management for crested newts is undertaken immediately, further extinctions may result. On a more positive note six previously unrecorded populations were also discovered during the survey.
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