The Chaco side-necked turtle (Acanthochelys pallidipectoris Freiberg, 1945) is a freshwater chelonian species endemic to the South American Chaco Boreal. In Bolivia, its distribution is highly restricted to the Chaco of Tarija in southern Bolivia. Habitat loss and fragmentation, reduced population size, and the limited knowledge of its ecology and population dynamics have led to its classification as Endangered (EN) at both national and international levels (IUCN). Its high ecological specialization and endemism make it a key indicator species for the assessment and conservation of Chaco ecosystems. In this context, the project proposes the establishment of a participatory community-based monitoring program that integrates scientific knowledge with ethnoecological knowledge from the Indigenous Weenhayek and Tapiete communities. The overall objective is to strengthen the conservation of the species through the generation of biological and ecological information applicable to its management and protection.

The specific objectives are: (1) to determine the species’ distribution and habitat requirements using participatory methods; (2) to characterize population structure (abundance, age classes, size, weight, and sexual dimorphism); (3) to identify potential nesting areas based on local knowledge; (4) to generate inputs for management plans and the designation of priority conservation areas; and (5) to promote environmental education and community capacity-building processes aimed at the conservation of freshwater turtles in the Chaco.