Within the framework of the actions of the LIFE+ project Programme for the conservation and recovery of the Iberian Desman and its habitat in Castilla y León and Extremadura (LIFE+ Desmania), contacts will be initiated with irrigators and water users in the Sites of Community Importance (SCI) at the headwaters of mountain rivers, in order to avoid irreversible effects on biodiversity caused by the decrease in the flow of the rivers below of its ecological flow.
 
The withdrawal and use of water in certain channels can cause the flows to decrease during the period of maximum drought below the minimum ecological flow, which in some cases can completely dry up the channel. These situations are considerably aggravated in areas of Mediterranean influence, where the damage to biodiversity in rivers is greater. For this reason, the collaboration of irrigators is essential, and it is to them that this action of the project is directed, providing them with the appropriate technical and material means to prevent some channels from being left with flows below the ecological minimum.

One of the species that can be affected by the lack of water is the Iberian desman, which requires a minimum flow for its survival. This jewel of our rivers, considered a great bioindicator, is included in the Spanish Catalogue of Threatened Species in the category of Vulnerable, except for the populations of the Central System that are listed as Endangered. The Iberian desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) is a small semi-aquatic insectivorous mammal that is distributed throughout the northern half of the Iberian Peninsula, from the northern third of Portugal to the Pyrenees.

The start of the action will take place in the province of León, later extending to the rest of the provinces of the project (Ávila, Palencia, Zamora, Salamanca and Cáceres). Technicians from the Junta de Castilla y León, Cesefor and the Duero Hydrographic Confederation will collaborate in it, which highlights the collaboration and commitment of the entities that participate in the conservation and recovery of the Iberian desman.
 
The LIFE+ Desmania project, 50% co-financed by the European Commission within the framework of the LIFE+ programme, will be carried out between 2012 and 2016 in Natura 2000 Network areas in the provinces of Ávila, Palencia, León, Zamora, Salamanca and Cáceres. It is coordinated by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment and has as partners the ministry itself, the Junta de Castilla y León, the Junta de Extremadura, CESEFOR, the Natural Heritage Foundation of Castilla y León, SOMACYL and Tragsatec.

The City Council of Valencia de Don Juan and the Association of Municipalities of the South of León participate as co-financiers and has the support of the Hydrographic Confederations of Miño-Sil, Tagus and Duero, research centers and fishermen’s associations.