Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : Science and Education : Contribution to the Conservation of the Lizards at the Boundary Southwestern of the Western Chaco Ecoregion

Pays : Argentine
Zone d’intervention : Arid Chaco,

Date : 19 JAN 2021

Bénéficiaire : Fernández Reinoso Ruben Darío

Description
Our project combines research, extension, education, and conservation proposals. In this work, we aim to assess changes in the diversity, abundance and health status of lizard species in unsampled and highly threatened areas of the Western Chaco of San Juan. Some species of the ensemble such as S. doellojuradoi, categorized as Near Threatened, and L. paronae, categorized as Data Defficient by the IUCN, are affected by habitat modifications severely (Pelegrin and Bucher, 2012) and they have been listed as vulnerable according to the Argentine Herpetological Association (Abdala et al., 2012).

In addition, A. abalosi is a species of Chaco recently cited for San Juan that does not have any type of categorization in Argentina. This information will allow the identification of priority areas for conservation, identifying areas of endemicity and diversity as well as knowing the effects of degradation of the Chaco forest on lizard populations. Due to the lack of material in formal education in rural Chaco areas, we will also develop an outreach campaign with the intention of improving popular knowledge about lizards and demystifying false beliefs. Also, we will inform the inhabitants about species that make up the assemblies, their state of conservation, the modification and degradation of their habitats and the necessary actions for their conservation. This outreach campaign will focus on the residents of the community in general, schools in the area and other sectors of the region. He will also work with park rangers and protected area administrators. The information collected in this study will be used for future management plans for the area and for the conservation of reptiles in the southwest limit of the western Chaco ecoregion.

The Rufford Foundation