DESMANIA - Recovery and conservation Program for Galemys pyrenaicus and its habitat in Castilla y León and Extremadura LIFE11 NAT/ES/000691 Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data R e a d m o r e Contact details: Project Manager: Ignacio TORRES Tel: 0034911210920 Fax: +34 912 10931 Email: [email protected] Project description: Background The Iberian/Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) is a small semi-aquatic mammal that is endemic to mountain streams in the Iberian Peninsula. The species is an excellent biological indicator with numbers reflecting closely the state of conservation or degradation of the habitats it occupies. However, the desman is increasingly in danger of extinction, with populations being both reduced and increasingly fragmented. The species is currently disappearing from the Sistema Central mountain range that covers the inner Iberian plateau and significant population decreases have been identified in the southern river basins of the Cantabrian mountain range. It has been catalogued by the IUCN Red List as a “vulnerable” species and is classified in some Spanish regions as “in danger of extinction”. Objectives The 'DESMANIA' project aims to establish the basis for a long-term strategy of recovery for the Iberian desman and its habitats. Ultimately, it hopes to change the negative population trend and improve the conservation status of the species, whilst also benefitting other species using the same habitat. The project will conduct an exhaustive study of the distribution, biology, behaviour (ethology), and genetics of the Iberian desman. In particular, it will examine and determine the causes of the regression of the species in the area, as well as determine the causes of the regression of the species in the area, as well as defining risk maps of the high-priority habitats of the Iberiandesman. The project team plans to carry out actions to improve the status of the key habitats for the species in the SCIs covered by the project. They expect to establish measures to avoid and reduce the effects of the major identified threats, including invasive predator species, poor water quality and non-sustainable water use in natural channels. The project will involve and engage the relevant competent administrations and diverse social groups in the long-term management of the important habitat for the target species. It will work to increase awareness of the population of the existence of the Iberian desman and its role as a biological indicator of the quality of the water resource and the habitats that it occupies. Expected results: Increased understanding of the Iberian desman, its distribution, biology and its population regression; Identification and mitigation of major threats; Creation of a network for the long-term conservation of the species; Improvement in habitat quality at key sites for the species (including 88 km of river banks restored and 88.000 trees/shrubs planted); An increase in the Iberian desman population; Benefits to other species in the same habitat – in quantitative terms as well as biodiversity, improving the food chain; Increased awareness of the species and its biological indicator role; and The establishment of a basis for the future transfer of individuals to suitable habitat areas. Results Top Environmental issues addressed: Themes Species - Mammals Keywords endangered species‚ aquatic ecosystem‚ endemic species‚ protected area‚ mountainous area‚ population dynamics Target species Galemys pyrenaicus Galemys pyrenaicus Natura 2000 sites SCI SCI SCI SCI SCI SCI SCI SCI SCI SCI SCI SCI SCI SCI SCI SCI SCI SCI SPA SCI SCI SCI SCI SCI SCI SCI SCI SCI SCI SCI ES0000210 ES4130003 ES4130010 ES4130035 ES4130037 ES4130050 ES4130065 ES4130076 ES4130079 ES4150032 ES4180069 ES4190033 ES4190067 ES4190074 ES4320011 ES4320031 ES4320037 ES4320038 ES4150087 ES4130117 ES4130149 ES4150098 ES4150101 ES4150107 ES4150121 ES4150126 ES4190105 ES4190110 ES4190131 ES4190132 ALTO SIL PICOS DE EUROPA EN CASTILLA Y LEÓN SIERRA DE LOS ANCARES VALLE DE SAN EMILIANO HOCES DE VEGACERVERA MONTAÑA CENTRAL DE LEÓN RIBERAS DEL RÍO ÓRBIGO Y AFLUENTES RIBERAS DEL RÍO SIL Y AFLUENTES RIBERAS DEL RÍO ESLA Y AFLUENTES EL REBOLLAR RIBERAS DEL RÍO CEA SIERRA DE LA CULEBRA RIBERAS DEL RÍO TERA Y AFLUENTES RIBERAS DEL RÍO ALISTE Y AFLUENTES LAS HURDES Río Tietar SIERRA DE GATA SIERRA DE GREDOS Y VALLE DEL JERTE RÍO ÁGUEDA MONTES AQUILANOS Y SIERRA DE TELENO OMAÑA CAMPO DE ARGAÑÁN CANDELARIO LAS BATUECAS-SIERRA DE FRANCIA RIBERAS DEL RÍO ALAGÓN Y AFLUENTES VALLE DEL CUERPO DE HOMBRE LAGO DE SANABRIA Y ALREDEDORES SIERRA DE LA CABRERA RIBERAS DEL RÍO TUELA Y AFLUENTES RIBERAS DEL RÍO MANZANAS Y AFLUENTES Top Beneficiaries: Coordinator Type of organisation Description Partners Fundación Biodiversidad NGO-Foundation Fundación Biodiversidad is a non-profit-making nature foundation, whose activities focus on nature conservation, sustainable use of biodiversity and international development co-operation. Junta de Extremadura, Spain Fundación del Partners Junta de Extremadura, Spain Fundación del Patrimonio Natural de Castilla y León, Spain Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino, Spain Junta de Castilla y León, Spain Fundación Centro de Servicios y Promoción Forestal y de su Indústria de Castilla y León, Spain Fundación Global Nature, Spain Top Administrative data: Project reference Duration Total budget EU contribution Project location LIFE11 NAT/ES/000691 01-JUN-2012 to 31-DEC -2017 2,598,257.00 € 1,299,632.00 € Castilla-León(España),Extremadura(España) Top Read more: Project web site Project's website Top Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data R e a d m o r e