This project is a second phase of the work on Iberian desman developed within the framework of the 2009 call for grants, in which the 2010 diagnosis of its Spanish populations was prepared, as well as a catalogue of threats.

This project is a second phase of the work on Iberian desman developed within the framework of the 2009 call for grants, in which the 2010 diagnosis of its Spanish populations was prepared, as well as a catalogue of threats.

This new project sets a series of objectives for the second year within the global initiative for the species designed by Galemia, through the continuation of field and laboratory work, as well as activities for the exchange of scientific information between the actors involved in its conservation and the drafting of a first draft of the strategy.

The initiative is developed in coordination with the autonomous communities and the Sub-Directorate General of Biodiversity of the Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs.

More specifically, it is intended to:

• To develop an experimental design of structures for the management and maintenance of specimens of Iberian desman in captivity.
• Confirm the presence of the species in selected areas. Samples should be taken, if possible, for genetic studies.
• Holding of technical conferences for the exhibition and debate of the current situation of the Iberian desman.
• Drafting of a first Draft of the National Strategy for the Conservation of the Iberian Desman that will be presented at the Technical Conferences.

Finally, it has been decided to reduce the scope of objectives 1 and 2. Thus, in the former, only the experimental design is maintained, ruling out the realization of real captive management experiences. In the second, it is specified that genetic samples will be taken only “if possible”.

To this end, a series of activities will be developed:

• Design and experimental construction of an aquarium adapted for the maintenance of excesses in captivity.
• Taking biological samples from each specimen captured in field sampling.
• Sampling in selected basins due to the absence or scarcity of information (in the 2011 campaign they will be Galicia, north-east Aragon, northern Extremadura and southern Salamanca).
• Organization and realization of a technical conference under the title “The situation of the Iberian desman”.
• Coordination with the Ministry’s Sub-Directorate General for Biodiversity to adequately develop the steps towards the development of the National Strategy for the Conservation of Desman.