The Sand dune lizard Liolaemus multimaculatus is an endemic species of the pampas coastal dunes habitat of Buenos Aires and Río Negro Provinces in Argentina. This lizard is extremely adapted to live in coastal dunes, and for this reason is a habitat specialist species. Sand dune lizard only inhabits sand grasslands and they prefer those microhabitats with low to medium vegetation cover. This lizard show low natural densities and is an extremely sensitive species to dunes habitat changes. For these reasons, small human disturbances on the habitat can reduce its natural densities until making local extinctions.

The lizard habitat is under a strong human disturbance, due mainly by the growth of the coastal cities and the unregulated tourism activities. At present time, only six and small dune sectors sustain relict populations of this species. These sectors have been declared like “Grasslands Valuable Areas for South America”. Sand dune lizard populations that inhabit these dunes patches are isolated without crossing possibilities. For these reasons SDL has been declared vulnerable species. However, knowledge about Sand dune lizard ecology, behaviour and effects of human disturbs remain scarce.

Attempts to conserve L. multimaculatus populations will be successful only if data on the factors limiting their populations become available and if local people and tourists known their problematic and participate of their conservation. More researches and educational activities are necessary in order to develop management actions and to promote the conservation of this lizard and the dunes habitat. The project for the study and conservation of the Sand dune lizard, are worked on these aims along the past 4 years with success. However still remain lot of work in order to promote SDL and coastal habitats viability.

During the study, we keep training students (of Argentine and other countries) on different field techniques and encourage them to pursue a career in conservation biology. The field work is very hard, and includes long surveys (in time and in space) in several coastal areas. We also work together with local people (i.e.: school teachers, management authorities) and with Park Rangers to promote SDL conservation and educational actions.