Lenther Chaussee

In 1986, a stretch of road on the western edge of Hanover, Germany, was renamed Lenther Chaussee. This seemingly simple act marked a turning point in a decades-long struggle between human progress and the natural world. The Lenther Chaussee, part of County Road K 49, cuts through the Badenstedt district. It borders the new residential area of Badenstedt-West and crosses the Benther Mountain Foothills/Fössetal protected landscape area. This road, busy even in the evenings, bisects a vital amphibian habitat. It became the unlikely stage for one of the oldest nature conservation projects of the BUND (Friends of the Earth Germany). For almost 25 years, starting in 1983, volunteers gathered along the Lenther Chaussee. They collected up to 2,000 toads annually, saving them from traffic. This ecologically vital work took place in one of the most species-rich and individually diverse habitats for amphibians in and around Hanover. The dedicated work of these volunteers, however, was a temporary fix. They knew a more sustainable solution was needed. In 2000, during the Expo, “double ponds” were created north of the Lenther Chaussee. Toads were carried there in the hopes they’d adopt the new ponds. Thousands of young toads were born in these ponds, but the adults stubbornly returned to their original breeding grounds south of the road, continuing to risk their lives crossing the Lenther Chaussee. The BUND, with funding from the Lower Saxony Environmental Foundation, commissioned a study in 2002. The study’s findings led to discussions between the BUND and various city and regional environmental authorities. They debated solutions, ultimately settling on the construction of a permanent amphibian barrier. This barrier included a toad tunnel under the Lenther Chaussee. Despite the cost exceeding 100,000 Euros, funding was secured. With help from the city and volunteer labor from the BUND, the project came to fruition. In 2007, the arduous task of collecting toads was finally over, thanks to the new tunnel at the Lenther Chaussee. Today, this unique underpass, coupled with a robust “amphibian guidance system,” allows the creatures safe passage to their breeding grounds. The Lenther Chaussee, once a symbol of human impact on nature, now stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and conservation.