Information panels and a protective fence are intended to safeguard the natural area
As the city of Darmstadt, a center of science, announces, new information panels will be installed and a temporary protective fence erected at the Goethe Pond in the city forest in March 2026. The aim is to better protect the sensitive habitat of amphibians and at the same time raise awareness of the importance of respecting nature.
Conservation measures in the natural monument
The Goethe Pond is part of the Herrgottsberg and Goethe Rock natural monument and is used by many people as a recreational area. To minimize conflicts between nature conservation and recreational use, the city will soon install two information panels about the amphibian species living there, their way of life, and the importance of the pond as a spawning ground.
Additionally, a temporary protective fence will be erected on the southeastern shore during the spawning and rearing season. This is intended to prevent access to sensitive shoreline and shallow water areas and to prevent disturbing the animals.
Importance for biodiversity
Several native amphibian species live at the Goethe Pond, including the common toad, grass frog, green frog, smooth newt, and alpine newt. The fire salamander can also be found there. The pond is a particularly important year-round habitat for the green frog.
Environmental officer Michael Kolmer emphasizes that protecting biodiversity can only succeed through collective effort. This includes, among other things, not letting dogs swim in the pond, not throwing objects into the water, and not abandoning animals.
Support from the EAD
In addition to the current measures, the municipal enterprise for tasks and services (EAD) supports the protection of the biotope through maintenance and conservation measures. Most recently, in autumn 2025, this included lowering the water level to remove and relocate fish.
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/dk)
