Bolivia holds more than 270 species of amphibians >50 endemic and c. 40 threatened. Additionally 30 species are data deficient. Limited recent work has highlighted areas, such as the Andean slopes, as a priority for amphibian conservation and also high Andean species that needs urgent conservation actions before they disappear. Gap analysis has shown that there are a number of areas with tremendous richness and endemism and whose habitats are severely threatened but which are very poorly known regarding amphibians. Also, more worryingly there are a number of sites which require immediate conservation action due to habitat destruction and recently because the presence of the Chytridium fungus that is killing entire populations across the world. Therefore the work outlined in this proposal agrees with the current priorities of the Bolivian conservation and scientific community for amphibians; namely increased knowledge for certain areas, sites and species in tandem with community activities to reduce habitat loss at high priority sites.

The amphibian decline has been acknowledged as a global conservation priority. Several countries have implemented amphibian conservation schemes but Bolivia has no such strategy. This project will work with:

1. Amphibian surveys: At 15 sites (some of them will be monitored) will provide information on range, ecological requirements and abundance for a number of data deficient, restricted range and threatened species. This data is absolutely crucial to allow the Bolivian conservation community to assess the current threatened status, develop and initiate realistic conservation strategies.

2. Capacity building: It is one of our main activities where we train Park-guards, members of local communities and students in amphibian survey techniques, education and conservation. This will increase the data collected during surveys and provide interested and receptive individuals from communities that will support the development of future monitoring, conservation education initiatives.

3. Conservation education: We develop education workshops aimed to raise awareness about amphibian crisis. These activities developed at local communities where severe habitat loss/degradation is occurring and which contain important populations of threatened amphibians of conservation concern. We also develop general educational activities to general public using different media.

4. We are working with the aquatic frogs of the genus Telmatobius, learning how to keep and to breed them in captivity, until now we were able to breed more than 3 species. With this component we have the goal to provide a population to be used in future reintroduction programs.