LIFE+ Desmania advances in the knowledge of the Iberian desman in Extremadura and Castilla y León for the recovery of this endangered species

The European LIFE+ Desmania project advances in the study of the habitat and population analysis of the Iberian desman for the recovery in Extremadura and Castilla y León of this small threatened mammal, which inhabits the mountain massifs of the Iberian Peninsula.
 
The Lago de Sanabria Natural Park and surroundings (Zamora) has hosted the fifth Management Committee of the project coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA), through the Biodiversity Foundation, and in which the Junta de Castilla y León, the Junta de Extremadura, CESEFOR, the Natural Heritage Foundation of Castilla y León, SOMACYL and Tragsatec.
 
During the meeting, the participants discussed the actions undertaken within the framework of the project during the last six months, in which monitoring and analysis actions have been launched of the distribution area and habitats occupied by the populations of Iberian desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) both in Extremadura and in Castilla y León by collecting data on their habitat and searching for signs of the presence of the species.
 
Iberian desman populations have been significantly reduced in recent years throughout the country. Actions aimed at their conservation include actions to improve the habitat in the riverbeds and banks, awareness and participation of society, the reduction and control of non-native species and non-natural threats.  
 
Among its main threats are water pollution, the decrease in the flow of rivers mainly due to illegal extraction, alterations in riverbeds or the loss of riverside vegetation, as well as the appearance of invasive species such as the American mink, predator of desman.
 
As a control measure for this species, 323 specimens of American mink have been captured so far in León, Zamora and Palencia.
 
For the development of this action, a total of 15 training sessions have been organized for 255 environmental and technical agents in Zamora, León, Ávila, Salamanca and Palencia. Likewise, results of the LIFE+ INVASEP project, which promotes the fight against invasive species in the Tagus and Guadiana river basins in Extremadura, have been transferred to LIFE+ Desmania.
 
In the field of dissemination and awareness, the contents are being developed to launch a travelling exhibition on the Iberian desman in the next six months. Likewise, dissemination days will continue to be held aimed at fishermen from León and schoolchildren, as in recent months.
 
LIFE+ DESMANIA
With the LIFE+Desmania project: Program for the recovery and conservation of Galemys pyrenaicus and its habitat in Castilla y León and Extremadura, the MAGRAMA is not only committed to the conservation of emblematic species of the Iberian Peninsula, but is also directing its efforts towards the conservation of other lesser-known species, such as the Iberian desman, but also very important from a biological and ecological point of view.
 
The project, 50% co-financed by the European Commission, has an endowment of 1.3 million euros from the European LIFE+ programme, and is being developed from 2012 to 2016 in Natura 2000 Network areas in the provinces of Ávila, León, Palencia, Zamora, Salamanca and Cáceres.
 
The City Council of Valencia de Don Juan and the Association of Municipalities of the South of León participate as co-financiers and has the support of the Hydrographic Confederations of Miño-Sil, Tagus and Duero, research centers and fishermen’s associations.