War and Climate Are Destroying 6 UNESCO Sites in Africa — And a Tiny Toad’s Only Home
War, conflict, and climate change are pushing six UNESCO World Heritage sites in Africa toward permanent loss, while a tiny Brazilian toad that once stopped a dam now faces extinction from extreme floods.
Armed conflict, insecurity, and environmental pressures are endangering six UNESCO World Heritage sites across Africa, including ancient cities, historic castles, and one of the world’s largest wildlife migrations [205559]. Ongoing violence and instability in several regions prevent conservation workers from protecting the sites, while drought and poaching worsen the damage [205559]. Among the most vulnerable is a major wildlife migration route essential for the survival of thousands of animals, as well as historic castles and ancient urban centers facing structural decay due to conflict-related neglect [205559]. UN officials warn that without immediate security improvements, these irreplaceable cultural and natural landmarks could suffer permanent loss [205559].
Meanwhile, in Brazil, a toad the size of a thumb that once stopped a major hydroelectric dam now faces a new threat: climate change [204832]. The tiny toad, *Melanophryniscus admirabilis*, lives only along a small stretch of the Forqueta River in southern Brazil [204832]. In 2014, scientific data helped halt construction of a dam less than 300 meters from its habitat [204832]. But in 2024, the worst climate disaster in Rio Grande do Sul state history hit the region, with floodwaters rising at least 20 meters, reshaping the riverbank and destroying the toad’s breeding grounds [204832].
In October 2025, a team of biologists returned to check if the species survived. Over two days, they found 111 adults, juveniles, tadpoles, and mating pairs — a hopeful sign that the toads were still reproducing [204832]. “The vegetation is recovering the microhabitat,” said Michelle Abadie, a biologist leading the research [204832]. The team uses a special method to track the toads, dividing the riverbank into 31 squares and photographing each toad’s belly, whose green spots form unique patterns like fingerprints [204832].
The toad’s entire known population lives in a tiny area of the river, needing exposed rocks and a forested valley to maintain humidity for temporary pools [204832]. No other spot along the 150-kilometer river meets these conditions [204832]. Climate projections make the future uncertain: a study by Brazil’s National Water Agency estimates that southern Brazil could see maximum river flows 20% higher and extreme floods up to five times more frequent [204832]. The 2024 floods affected about 2.4 million people across 478 cities [204832].
The area was recognized in 2018 as a site of international biodiversity importance and a Zero Extinction Alliance site, but it has no official protection [204832]. A state bill aims to recognize the toad as a genetic heritage of Rio Grande do Sul, which would give political support to conservation efforts that currently rely on a private farm [204832]. The area is also threatened by tobacco, soy, and eucalyptus plantations [204832]. The toad that stopped a dam now faces a new and bigger enemy: climate change [204832].