In 2013, a CLP Future Conservationist Award supported emerging conservationist Arturo Muñoz Saravia to launch vital amphibian conservation research and community outreach in Bolivia that he continues today. In recognition of this long-term commitment, Arturo has been selected as this year’s winner of a special award for CLP alumni: the Kate Stokes Memorial Award. Here, Arturo shares his 12-year legacy of impact and his future hopes for the conservation of Bolivian amphibians.
“CLP has allowed me to build a strong collaborative network among researchers, conservationists, and organizations committed to amphibian conservation. The training and tools I received through CLP have also shaped the way I approach conservation work. On a personal level, CLP gave me the confidence to lead projects, train others, and support the next generation of conservationists.” – Arturo Muñoz Saravia
Arturo Muñoz Saravia in the High Andes of Bolivia © Arturo Muñoz Saravia
The Kate Stokes Memorial Award was established in memory of former CLP Programme Officer, Kate Stokes, who tragically died in 2006. Each year, the Kate Stokes Memorial Trust awards a US$5,000 grant to previous CLP award winners who, like Arturo, have led exceptional, long-term efforts to conserve threatened species through community outreach and engagement.
Arturo said he is “deeply happy” to have won this award. It not only recognises his commitment to conserving threatened amphibians, but also provides the support he needs to continue this critical work at a time when Amphibia is considered the world’s most threatened vertebrate class, with 40.7% of amphibians now globally threatened.
Microkayla (formerly Psychrophrynella) illimani is an Endangered amphibian endemic to Bolivia © Bert Willaert
A Bolivian frog on the brink
Arturo’s CLP journey started in 2013, when, still early in his career, his surveys in the high Andes of Bolivia led to the rediscovery of a rare endemic frog, Microkayla illimani – a species that had not been seen since its initial discovery in 2002.
Arturo and his team were surprised to find that this frog was relatively abundant and occurred in a wider area than previously thought. This data enabled them to revise the species’ conservation status to a lower threat level, formally reclassifying it as Endangered (instead of Critically Endangered) on the IUCN Red List in 2019.
The team’s research revealed other key information, including the frog’s morphology and reproductive biology, and recorded its social calls for the first time. They also confirmed the absence of Batrachochytrium dendrobaditis (Bd) – a fungus that can be deadly to amphibians – though the team identified other threats to the species including habitat destruction and degradation.
Arturo published these findings with his co-authors in the peer-reviewed journal, Salamandra – The German Journal of Herpetology.
The CLP team described the reproductive biology of Microkayla illimani, including males’ guarding of the eggs © Arturo Muñoz Saravia
Another key aspect of the project was to gain support among local communities and authorities. Initially, local people were unaware of the existence of this endemic species, but they became much better informed due to Arturo’s outreach, with some volunteering to assist with the project work. Arturo explains that this impact extended beyond the initial project: “Many of the volunteers from my first CLP project are now partners in ongoing initiatives, both within Bolivia and internationally.”
Volunteer Gabriela Agostini sampling Microkayla illimani for Bd in 2013. Gabriela is now the coordinator of an amphibian conservation project in Argentina © Bert Willaert
Long-term efforts for Bolivian amphibians
In the 12 years since first gaining CLP support, Arturo has continued expanding amphibian research and conservation efforts in Bolivia. “I applied similar approaches [as the CLP project] to other threatened Bolivian amphibians, generating updated data on several high-Andean species, which has helped guide conservation priorities for genera such as Telmatobius and Microkayla.”
At the same time, he has focused on organizing training workshops across different regions of Bolivia to strengthen local expertise in amphibian monitoring and conservation.
A high Andean amphibian training course led by Arturo to train 15 biology and environmental science students from Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Colombia © Bert Willaert
Arturo has also obtained a PhD on amphibians, and, together with the IUCN Amphibian Specialist Group, co-organized the national red-listing assessments of Bolivian amphibians in 2019 and in 2025.
Kate Stokes Memorial Award: Recognition of lasting impact
With the new support from his 2025 Kate Stokes Memorial Award, Arturo can focus on protecting another Critically Endangered endemic species, the Sucre water frog, (Telmatobius simonsi), which lives in streams around Bolivia’s capital city of Sucre. This species has declined dramatically due to habitat loss, with remaining populations being highly vulnerable and threatened by development and pollution.
The Critically Endangered Sucre water frog Telmatobius simonsi is endemic to Bolivia © Arturo Muñoz Saravia
The new work builds upon Arturo’s previous CLP project, as both combine data collection, community engagement, and training of young conservationists. “From our previous CLP project, we learned that awareness and education are key to achieving lasting impact so this [Kate Stokes Memorial Award] project focuses more deeply on these aspects to strengthen local ownership of amphibian conservation and ensure that long-term efforts are led by Bolivian conservationists.”
Arturo and the Bolivian Amphibian Initiative team conducting fieldwork in the Bolivian Andes © Arturo Muñoz Saravia
A long-term vision
Arturo’s long-term vision is to expand the number of Bolivians with the skills and motivation to work effectively in amphibian conservation. “Currently, only a small group of people in the country specialize in [amphibian conservation]. With the experience I’ve gained, I want to share knowledge and create opportunities for young Bolivian conservationists to learn from local and international experts.”
As part of this vision, Arturo co-founded and coordinates the Bolivian Amphibian Initiative (BAI), through which he aims to build a strong, countrywide network of professionals dedicated to amphibian research, monitoring, and conservation. “The Kate Stokes Memorial Award project is a crucial step toward this vision, as it focuses on training, mentorship, and education to ensure long-term, locally led amphibian conservation in Bolivia while complementing the ongoing BAI ‘Anfibios Urbanos’ project.”
The Bolivian Amphibian Initiative team conducting fieldwork on the Sucre Water Frog © Arturo Muñoz Saravia
Advice for emerging conservationists
Arturo urges new conservationists to seek collaboration and connection: “Try to reach out to people, organizations, or institutions already involved in research or conservation. Expanding your network will open opportunities to learn, grow, and contribute. Collaboration allows you to achieve far more than you could alone—it is the key to building lasting and meaningful conservation impact.”
Want to contribute?
If Arturo’s CLP journey has encouraged you to follow in his footsteps, then consider applying for a 2026 CLP Future Conservationist Award for a chance to win a project grant of up to US$15,000 along with specialised leadership training and ongoing professional development support. Applications must be submitted via the online portal by January 9, 2026 and we recommend you carefully follow the application guidelines and consult our Help & Resources for information on the support we offer to applicants.
To stay up-to-date with the latest CLP news and opportunities, follow us on social media (LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky) and sign up to our newsletter.