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 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: itorres@fundacion-biodiversidad.es
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
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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
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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
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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)
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Read more:
Project web site
Project's website
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Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data R e a d m o r e