The management committee of the LIFE+ Desmania project met today at the headquarters of the Biodiversity Foundation in Madrid to analyse its actions.

The management committee of the LIFE+ Desmania project, an initiative whose objective is the recovery of the Iberian desman, met today in Madrid at the headquarters of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and the Environment. The meeting addressed the evolution of the project’s actions and the approval of the plans for the recovery of the desman.

The session, which was attended by representatives of the project partners, served to learn about the general state of the project and to learn about the specific conservation and informative actions that are being developed. In addition, the Committee has addressed the preparation of the Fourth LIFE+ Desmania technical seminar, which will allow attendees to increase their knowledge of the problems surrounding the species, as well as the exchange of experiences on the management of its habitat.

Finally, the final phase of the project has been planned, which will be developed in the coming months.

The Iberian desman (Galemys pirenaicus) is a semi-aquatic insectivorous mammal that is distributed throughout the northern half of the Iberian Peninsula. It is an endemic species currently in a situation of vulnerability, except in the Central System, where it is considered in danger of extinction. The main reasons for their population decline are due to the deterioration and fragmentation of their habitat, often as a result of human action.

In order to stop this trend, the LIFE+ Desmania project has arisen, an initiative that has been underway since 2012 and whose goals are the recovery and conservation of this species. Coordinated by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and the Environment, it is 50% co-financed by the European Commission through the LIFE+ funds. In addition to the Ministry itself, the Regional Government of Castilla y León, the Regional Government of Extremadura, CESEFOR, the Natural Heritage Foundation and SOMACYL participate as partners in this project. Likewise, LIFE + Desmania also receives the support of the Miño-Sil, Tagus and Duero Hydrographic Confederations, town councils, research centres and fishermen’s associations.