The Iberian desman and the Moorish coot have been declared critically endangered species in Spain.
Ana Tuñas Matilla
The Iberian desman and the Spanish coot have been added to the list of species in critical condition in Spain, which has included six fauna species (European mink, marbled teal, lesser grey shrike, mother-of-pearl, daisy and Cantabrian capercaillie) and one flora species (Cartagena rockrose) since 2018, according to the order of the Ministry for Ecological Transition published in the Official State Gazette (BOE).
The Natural Heritage and Biodiversity Law establishes that Ecological Transition may declare this situation when the monitoring or evaluation of the conservation status of an endangered species shows that there is an imminent risk of its disappearance .
This declaration alone will not save these species, but it is an "essential requirement" for their conservation to become a priority, emphasized biologist Jorge González Esteban of DESMA Environmental Studies and one of the leading experts on the Iberian desman.
"More resources for the desmand, greater social recognition, a greater number of stakeholders involved (Ministry, Regional Governments, Hydrographic Confederations, Universities, Companies, NGOs). We need extraordinary actions to save an extraordinary animal. Let's hope the story ends like the lynx and not like the bucardo," the expert warned.
Top priority to prevent extinction
With the acquisition of critically endangered status, the species is now considered a priority when allocating resources to its recovery, and any works or projects to achieve it are considered to be of general interest and are therefore processed urgently.
Furthermore, the Ministry will coordinate measures to halt the decline of these species in collaboration with the autonomous communities where they live.
The Spanish coot (Fulica cristata), a water bird belonging to the rail family, is given maximum protection after the decline in population size, the reduction of its area of occupancy and the criteria of experts have been confirmed.
The Iberian desman (Galemys pyrenaicus), a small semi-aquatic mammal belonging to the talpid family, is included in the list following the results of population viability analyses, expert opinions, and, in part, the reduction of its area of occupancy.
New additions to the Catalogue of Endangered SpeciesThe order also modifies the Catalogue of Endangered Species, in the category of species "in danger of extinction" , to which the species of flora nomevés (Gyrocaryum oppositiflorum), the Gomero dovebird (Lotus gomerythus) and the Sierra de Gádor dragon (Gadoria falukei) are incorporated.
As for anthropods, the gambilusa (Linderiella baetica) and the violet-mantle butterflies (Lycaena helle) and the Balearic swift (Gegenes pumilio) are added.
In the "vulnerable" category, the Arguineguín snail (Monilearia arguineguinensis) is added.
List of Wild Species under Special ProtectionRegarding the List of Wild Species under Special Protection, the order establishes the inclusion of the hawthorn pear flower (Gymnosporia cryptopetala); the Sierra Nevada alpine butterfly (Agriades zullichi), the halterneck checkerboard butterfly (Pyrgus cinarae), and the yellow checkerboard butterfly (Pyrgus sidae); and one bird, the jackdaw (Corvus frugilegus).
Also included are Mediterranean populations of four species of cnidarians: the yellow coral (Dendrophyllia cornigera), the orange coral (Dendrophyllia ramea), the cockscomb coral (Desmophyllum dianthus) and the bamboo coral (Isidella elongata).
Regarding fish, the Mediterranean populations of four species of cartilaginous fish or chondrichthyans are included: the bull ray (Aetomylaeus bovinus), the brown ray (Bathytoshia lata), the stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca) and the Lusitanian sparrowhawk (Rhinoptera marginata).
In addition, all bull sharks (Carcharias taurus) have been added, whose Mediterranean population was already included in the List.
On the other hand, the populations of the Iberian desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) that were in the "vulnerable" category are now "in danger of extinction," with the exception of the population of the Central System, which was already in the "endangered" category.
There are species that improveBut it's not all bad news, as two species of flora, the Ifach silene (Silene hifacensis) and the Peñíscola saladilla (Limonium perplexum), have been upgraded from "endangered" to "vulnerable" due to an improved conservation status.
For its part, the Jameos cochineal (Halophiloscia canariensis) has been removed from both the Catalogue and the List after it was confirmed that its distribution is much more extensive than previously thought and a taxonomic error was corrected.
And new invadersThe ministerial order also modifies the Catalog of Invasive Species to include the boxwood moth (Cydalima perspectalis), the oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis), the pleco fish (Hypostomus plecostomus), and the species of turtles or aquatic turtles of the genera Pseudemys and Mauremys , with the exception of the leper turtle (Mauremys leprosa), which is a protected native species.
The public consultation process, during which objections can be submitted, will remain open until October 30. EFEverde
ATM
Only one in five threatened species has a recovery plan in Spain.
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