The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment has joined, once again, the commemorative events of World Water Day, and this year the United Nations has dedicated to the link between water and sustainable development.

The Ministry, in order to bring the World Day closer to citizens, has held different events throughout this week to publicize, first-hand, the work carried out by the Administration in the field of water. Thus, the Secretary of State for the Environment and in different parts of the country have organized environmental workshops, school activities, visits and open days, competitions, etc.
 
The Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment supports with 1.2 million euros the development of 75 projects dedicated to habitat restoration, species monitoring, training and awareness on sustainable water management and the development of studies on the economic valuation of water resources. Up to 50 of these projects have had the significant involvement of volunteers.
 
The Biodiversity Foundation is also executing the LIFE+ Desmania project as its most outstanding project, with a total amount of almost 2.6 million euros, for the conservation of the “Iberian desman”, which involves the collaboration of eight national and regional entities, from Extremadura and Castilla y León, and the Duero, Tagus and Miño-Sil Hydrographic Confederations.
 
The Iberian desman is a small semi-aquatic insectivorous mammal that is distributed throughout the northern half of the Iberian Peninsula. Its populations have experienced a significant decline and, in some Autonomous Communities, it is in danger of extinction. The main threats have to do with causes that lead to the degradation and fragmentation of their habitat, and are mainly of anthropic origin, such as water pollution, among others.