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The Iberian desman (Galemys pyrenaicus E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1811), is, according to the latest population studies, in a profound regression. The species has reduced its presence in several basins, it has even disappeared and can be considered extinct in many of them and, in those where it is still present, there is data on its population decline both in terms of population density and occupation of riverbeds and habitats.

In the province of Salamanca, the disappearance of the species from many gorges of the Duero basin is confirmed. Although the exact status of other potential ones is not known, it is present in the Tagus basin. In the province of Zamora, not all potential basins have been assessed and the studies carried out for the certification of citations in the Sanabria area indicate their regression and even disappearance in some sub-basins. The province of León is where the largest number of populations are expected, although the historical citations in many cases are very old, so it is necessary to know the real state of the populations in the area. In the Province of Cáceres, it is found in several nuclei within the Sierra de Gredos and Valle del Jerte SCI.

The genus Galemys is an endemic species of the Iberian Peninsula listed by the IUCN as vulnerable, the same category with which it is included in the Spanish Catalogue of Threatened Species, with the exception of the Central System, where it is considered in danger of extinction, a cataloguing that it presents in the autonomous community of Extremadura. The species has disappeared from many areas of its historical distribution, and presents a regressive trend that implies a rapid response by the administrations, not only to reverse the population trend but also to mitigate the threats that affect the species and the habitats it occupies.

That is why a rapid intervention on the unnatural causes that significantly affect the species and the habitats it occupies, would undoubtedly prevent the disappearance of this endemic genus so primitive in the Iberian Peninsula, avoiding the loss of genetic variability and biodiversity. Therefore, the actions proposed in this project seek to complement the existing knowledge about the species for the application of measures necessary for its conservation, which would otherwise mean, without a doubt, continuing with the regression of the species until its disappearance.

The project proposes urgent conservation actions on the habitats in which the species is characteristic. These actions to improve the habitat of the desman will not only have results in improving the conservation of the species, but also in the rest of the associated fauna and flora. The actions on riparian habitats such as alder groves will have effects on the increase of benthic macroinvertebrates, which benefits the presence of ichthyofauna species, which has an impact on sport fishing and other activities, thus producing a complementary added value of interest for the general population. The actions to improve longitudinal and transversal connectivity will allow the connection of different population units of the desman and many other species, in addition to recovering the natural water regime of the riverbeds.

In addition, the actions to improve these habitats, together with those proposed to improve the quality of water resources and watercourses, will involve a revaluation of the water resource, a higher quality of it and the awareness of the population for the sustainability of water as a basic and essential element for life.

In the same order of things, the techniques used for the execution of the actions will serve as a model for subsequent actions in other areas with the same problems, not only with respect to desman, but also with similar problems, so they will be extended to other areas, not only in the region and Spain, but also in Europe.

The populations of this river insectivore, endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, have experienced a significant decline and in some autonomous communities it is in danger of extinction. In addition, its regression reflects the state of degradation of the habitats it occupies, so that through support for the Natura 2000 Network and in situ improvement activities of these habitats, the overall state and quality of these habitats will improve.

The LIFE+ Desmania project for the conservation of desman, approved by the European Commission in 2012, will involve the collaboration of eight national and regional entities (Extremadura and Castilla y León) and has the following objectives:

• Know and analyze the distribution of the species and its population regression.
• To increase knowledge about the biology and ecology of the species in the regions where it lives.
• Increase the populations of the Iberian desman.
• To improve the state of priority habitats and species related to the Iberian desman.
• To mitigate the effect of natural hazards affecting the distribution of Galemys pyrenaicus.
• To eliminate the main threat to the desman, the American mink, an introduced species with a great capacity for expansion and adaptation to the environment.
• Knowledge by the population of the existence of the desman and its dual function as a biological indicator of the quality of water resources and the habitats it occupies.

With the aim of increasing the knowledge of the Iberian desman, its distribution and the habitat it occupies, the LIFE+ Desmania Project contemplates the following actions:

• Preparation of a population analysis to determine its current distribution, analyse the habitats it occupies or may occupy, as well as know the biology, ecology and ethology of the species in all its breadth, in order to determine specific conservation actions. Excreta collection, genetic analysis, radio telemetry, thermography, identification of benthic macroinvertebrates, limnological analysis of water and analysis of the phytosanitary status in habitats.
• Actions to improve the longitudinal and transverse continuity of rivers: elimination of hydraulic barriers, transverse dam, without authorised works, the suppression of water withdrawals in rivers, removal of sediments, the extraction of aggregates from channels, novel activities through the use of techniques that do not invade the environment and practices in their execution as long-range machinery.
• Actions to improve and conserve the characteristic habitats of the Iberian desman: restore the vegetation cover through reforestation, improvement and enrichment plantations, riparian forests to facilitate its regeneration and adapt to the luminosity of the river to have diversity in macroinvertebrates. To restore areas subject to natural disasters such as fires or indirect damage caused by infrastructures with unprotected erosion risks.
• Reduction and control of threats from other invasive allochthonous species: especially the American mink. Collection of samples from the predator and their subsequent analysis, for the identification of the degree of expansion, the use of light traps and restraint systems in accordance with protocols, security means and the establishment of permanent sections.
• Reduce or eliminate the unnatural effects of the desman and the habitats it occupies: construction of ponds for the decantation of leachate, avoid withdrawals of river waters, with flows that maintain the ecological balance in the adjacent system and habitats, the construction of mini-adapted water gauges with the channel and flow meter for withdrawals, the adjustment of existing water gauges through the incorporation of gate limiters, water gauges in light and portable mountain areas.
• To reduce phytosanitary threats to priority habitats where the Iberian desman lives. Scheme for the implementation of good practices for the mitigation of the effects of diseases such as Phytophthora alni, adjustment of the structures of riverside vegetation with the appropriate tools, disinfection of the tool,    low-cost demonstration treatments. Forestry work, the objective of which is to maintain and improve the structure of the habitat.
• A model of sustainable management of habitats which translates into the maintenance of traditional activities: local awareness, involvement of fishermen, adventure sports groups, the inhabitants of the affected localities, good practices in the adoption of traditional measures such as the advantages of firewood and firewood for domestic use, the implementation of use and management criteria, carrying out activities in the rivers and habitats where the species is present in an appropriate way, respecting them. The aim is to create a channel for the participation of these social sectors and the competent administrations for their management model and thus combine criteria and objectives for habitat management.

The main results expected with the implementation of the project:

• Increase in the population of the Iberian desman.
• Knowledge and awareness of the population about the Iberian desman as a biological indicator.
• Establish the exhaustive distribution, biology, ethology and genetic resources of the species, as well as the determination of the causes of population regression in the area.
• Establish measures to avoid and reduce the action of predators in the same environment.
• Conservation of the species as a guarantee of the sustainable use of water in natural waterways, as well as its quality.
• Identify the non-natural threats, palliative effects and mechanisms of the species.
• To improve the conservation status of habitats in Sites of Community Importance (SCI) and high priority of the Iberian desman.
• Establish a permanent monitoring network.
• Establish risk maps of the priority habitats of the desman.
• To establish the bases for a strategy for the recovery of the Iberian desman and its habitats, as a biological indicator of water quality and biodiversity.
• Establish the bases for plans for the translocation of specimens.
• Acceptance by the administrations of the presence of desman as a biological indicator when carrying out the management of their competencies.
• To improve aquatic species and species that share the same habitat, both in quantitative terms and in terms of biodiversity, improving the food chain.