The city of Plasencia has hosted various activities aimed at improving the knowledge of the Iberian desman in the area of Extremadura. Several public schools in the town have hosted an action that uses social and collaborative theatre as a tool, carried out by the students of the centres themselves. These actions have been attended by representatives of the City Council of Plasencia, the General Directorate of Environment of the Ministry of Environment and Rural, Agrarian Policies and Territory of the Junta de Extremadura, as well as the deputy director of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Ignacio Torres, who coordinates the project.

During the week, work has been carried out in the area through theatre for a greater knowledge of the desman and its habitat and especially for it to be protected and recognised as a species of vital importance to gauge the health of river resources. All actions aimed at protecting the desman and its habitat are accompanied by awareness-raising processes for the population that lives in areas where the desman is present.

With today’s performance in Plasencia by the students of the Public School of Tornavacas and the screening of the short film made by the Public School of Garganta la Olla, an action shared with the entire educational community that has been a milestone for the LIFE+ Desmania Project and the knowledge of the Iberian desman in Extremadura comes to an end.

LIFE+ Desmania aims to conserve the Iberian desman (Galemys pyrenaicus), a small aquatic mammal that inhabits the vicinity of rivers, streams and lakes in mountainous areas and is distributed from the French side of the Pyrenees to Portugal, although it is in Spain where most of its population is found. The actions of the project aim to improve their conservation status and that of their habitat, promote environmental education and encourage awareness and participation in society.
 
This project, 50% co-financed by the European Commission, is being developed in Natura 2000 Network areas in the provinces of León, Zamora, Salamanca, Ávila, Palencia and Cáceres.