Hope for an Urban Gecko

Following a CPSG facilitated workshop in Lima, Peru, a comprehensive conservation action plan was developed to protect the Critically Endangered Lima leaf-toed gecko.

Photos © Roberto Elias

About the species:

The Lima leaf-toed gecko is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The gecko is found across several archeological sites, call huacas, in Lima, Peru which preserve the natural coastal desert habitat the species requires. Due to the gecko's fragmented distribution, small size and secretive nature, estimating their population is difficult, however, it is thought that each huaca is home to between 20-600 individuals. 

The situation:

The highly urbanized area of Lima has exposed the Lima leaf-toed gecko to threats from predation, habitat encroachment, and competition from other gecko species. Additionally, maintenance activities performed at the huacas can also be harmful to the gecko. To address these threats, CPSG collaborated with species specialists from the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia to facilitate a Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) workshop for the gecko. The workshop was held in 2017.

The results:

The results of the workshop highlighted the need to work with the state institutions that preserve and maintain archaeological sites to minimize negative impacts from maintenance activities and to increase the size and quality of the species' habitat. The results also indicated a need for further research on the effects of predation on the population, as well as into the maximum life-span and breeding age for the Lima leaf-toed gecko. 

In response to the results of the workshop, the Ministry of Culture is looking to collaborate with species experts and other governmental authorities to improve maintenance and debris removal methods from the huacas sites. In addition, CPSG's workshop methodology has inspired the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation to apply similar methods to future species conservation workshops in Peru. 

The National Conservation Plan for the Lima leaf-toed gecko is now available. 

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