after-life conservation plan

Aphanius iberus’ CONSERVATION

PLAN IN THE REGION OF MURCIA After-LIFE Conservation Plan of the LIFE-Nature

Project “Conservation of Aphanius iberus’ genetic

stocks in the Region of Murcia”

LIFE04NAT/ES/000035. 1 January 2005 – 31 December 2008

DOCUMENT TITLE: APHANIUS IBERUS’ CONSERVATION PLAN IN THE REGION OF MURCIA.

AFTER-LIFE CONSERVATION PLAN OF THE LIFE-NATURE PROJECT: “CONSERVATION OF

APHANIUS IBERUS’ GENETIC STOCKS IN THE REGION OF MURCIA”.

PROMOTER::

CONSEJERÍA DE AGRICULTURA Y AGUA Dirección General de Patrimonio Natural y Biodiversidad Servicio de Protección y Conservación de la Naturaleza

Coordination: Justo García Rodríguez

Fco. M. Gonzálvez Riquelme

AUTHOR: TAXON ESTUDIOS AMBIENTALES, S. L. Coordinator: Alberto Perán Rex Work Team: M. Nieves Aylagas Gómez Contact: Urb. La Fuensanta, 2. Algezares. 30.157 MURCIA

Tel. 968 845 265 / Fax. 968 844 525

E-mail: [email protected]

Cover page photos: Male and female of Aphanius iberus: Carlos González Revelles

The other photos: Dirección General de Patrimonio Natural y Biodiversidad

A. iberus’ Conservation Plan in the Region of Murcia. After-LIFE04NAT/ES/000035 Page 1 of 24

Región de Murcia Consejería de Agricultura y Agua Dirección General de Patrimonio Natural y Biodiversidad

INDEX

1. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................2

2. GENERAL INFORMATION ..................................................................................................3

2.1. Distribution of Aphanius iberus in the Region of Murcia................................................3

2.2. The LIFE Nature Project: “Conservation of Aphanius iberus’ genetic stocks in the Region of Murcia” .................................................................................................................6

2.3. Contributions of the LIFE Project to the After-LIFE Conservation Plan.........................7

3. OBJECTIVES OF THIS PLAN .............................................................................................9

3.1. Final Objective...............................................................................................................9

3.2. Operative Objectives .....................................................................................................9

4. ACTION PROGRAMS........................................................................................................10

4.1. Program of Conservation and Management................................................................11

4.2. Program of Participation and Coordination..................................................................14

4.3. Program of Research and Monitoring..........................................................................14

4.4. Program of Public Awareness and Environmental Education .....................................16

5. BUDGET ............................................................................................................................18

5.1. Fixed costs ..................................................................................................................18

5.2. Variable costs..............................................................................................................19

6. GANTT CHARTS ...............................................................................................................20

7. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SOURCES .....................................................................................21

Legislation ..........................................................................................................................24



1. INTRODUCTION

This document has been developed with the aim of guaranteeing the durability of the

investments made in the LIFE project “Conservation of Aphanius iberus’ genetic stocks in the

Region of Murcia”.

This Plan is divided in three parts: the first one provides a general description of the

A. iberus’ distribution in the Region of Murcia, its legal status, a summary of the mentioned

LIFE project’s objectives and, based in the results obtained in the Project, the conservation

needs found.

In the second part, the objectives of this document are listed based on the identified

conservation needs.

Finally, the actions proposed to achieve the objectives are described, as well as the

budget and the schedule required to perform them.



2. GENERAL INFORMATION The Spanish toothcarp, Aphanius iberus1 (Valenciennes, 1846), is a small and

endemic killifish to the Spanish Mediterranean coast (Doadrio, 2002), the Region of Murcia

included, and belongs to the Family Cyprinodonts. It lives in different places with little current

and depth, as swamps, coastal lagoons, saltflats and lowland water bodies (Planelles, 1999).

It is listed as Endangered by the Wildlife Law in the Autonomous Government of the

Region of Murcia (Law 7/1995, of 21 April 1995, of Wildlife Fauna in the Region of Murcia,

Annex I “List of endangered species of wildlife fauna of the Region of Murcia”), just as in

Spain (Royal Decree 439/1990, of 30 March 1990, which regulates the National List of

Endangered Species and Law 42/2007, of 13 December, of Natural Heritage and

Biodiversity). Also, it is a protected species in a European level (Council Directive

92/43/ECC, of 21 may 1992, on the Conservation Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora,

Annex II “Animal and Plant Species of Community Interest whose Conservation Requires the

Designation of Special Areas of Conservation”) as well as in an international level (Bern

Convention, 1988; Appendix II “Strictly Protected Fauna Species” and Appendix III

“Protected Fauna Species”).

2.1. Distribution of Aphanius iberus in the Region of Murcia

The historical distribution of this species in the Region of Murcia had two population

groups (Torralva et al 1999): one inland, located in the irrigation channels of the “Huerta de

Murcia”2, in the Segura river basin (Lozano Rey 1935, Mas 1986), and the other on the

1 Aphanius iberus is from now on: A. iberus. 2 “Huerta de Murcia” is an agricultural area, around the city of Murcia, whose lands are irrigated by the water of the Segura River.

Figure 1: Distribution of A. iberus in the Iberian Peninsula. Current populations (black spots) and extinct populations (grey spots). (Modified of Moreno-Amich et al 1999)



Figure 2: Historical distribution of A. iberus in the Region of Murcia. (Modified of Oliva-Paterna & Torralva 2008).

“Huerta de Murcia”

“Mar Menor”coastal lagoon

Figure 3: Current distribution of A. iberus in the Region of Murcia. (Modified of Oliva-Paterna & Torralva 2008)

“Mar Menor” coastal lagoon

The “Chícamo” River

coast, in the “Mar Menor” coastal lagoon area (De Buen 1935, Lozano Rey 1935, Lozano

Cabo 1954, 1958, 1960 y 1979, Ludovicus 1966, Mas 1981, Ramírez et al. 1989, Mas et al.

1994).

Those are the only two areas where the species were detected, but the low specific

samples carried out focused on the icthyofaunistic component until the last decade (Torralva

& Oliva-Paterna 2003) cause that a conclusion about the real absence of the species, in

areas not included in the historical references, can’t be concluded.

This species shows a drastic reduction in all its distribution range from the lasts

decades (Moreno-Amich et al. 1999), and also in the Region of Murcia, where only can be

found in two locations: the “Mar Menor” coastal lagoon and adjacent wetlands and the

“Chícamo” River source (Torralva et al. 1999; Torralva et al. 2001; Oliva-Paterna et al. 2002).

An important fragmentation in the population cores in the “Mar Menor” coastal lagoon area

has been found, and also, only one sampling point of the theorical inland core.

The population of A. iberus in the Region of Murcia can be divided in three subpopulations (called OCUs3), as a result of analyzing both, the distribution pattern (geographical data) and genetic data. (Doadrio et al., 1999; Torralva et al. 2001; Oliva-Paterna et al. 2002). These OCUs are the following: 3 OCU: Operational Conservation Unit (Doadrio el al. 1996).



OCU-1: “Mar Menor” coastal lagoon. OCU-2: “Marchamalo” saltflats. OCU-3: The “Chícamo” River.

Nevertheless, a new population, probably introduced, was detected in “Rambla de las

Moreras” (Mazarrón) during the project LIFE04NAT/ES/000035, being unknown the responsible of this action. The main threats detected on A. iberus populations, in previous studies, were the following: the exclusiveness and the isolation of the populations; the poor available habitat; hydric management without keeping in mind the presence of A. iberus; the biological pollution due to exotic invasive alien species, which are direct competitors and change the habitat conditions; the anthropic pressure; a low number of stocks are kept in captivity; shortage of control on potential captivity populations; a low number of fish to do translocations and/or new population’s reconstitution; shortage of make society aware about the species and insufficient specific formation about this species’ management (Oliva-Paterna 2006).

Systematic search

Genetic analysis

Figure 4. Distribution of A. iberus’ population stocks in the Region of Murcia. (Modified of: Candidature dossier of the LIFE-project: “Conservation of Aphanius iberus’ genetic stocks in the Region of Murcia”)

LOCATION

OPERATIONAL CONSERVATION UNITS

The “Chícamo” River

OCU-3 The “Chícamo” River

“Mar Menor” and surroundings

OCU-1 “Mar Menor” coastal lagoon

OCU-2 “Marchamalo” saltflats



Figure 5: Assessments of threats detected in aquatic systems of the Region of Murcia. (Modified of Oliva-Paterna 2006)

2.2. The LIFE Nature Project: “Conservation of Aphanius iberus’ genetic stocks in the Region of Murcia”

In 2004, the European Commission approved a LIFE-Nature Project, called

“Conservation of A. iberus’ genetic stocks in the Region of Murcia”, with the following specific

objectives:

Development of A. iberus’ Recovery-Plan in the Region of Murcia.

Guarantee the conservation in situ of exclusive genetic stock of the species

in the “Chícamo” River, by means of the habitat restoration in the “Chícamo”

River and some actions in the saltflats complex of “Rambla Salada”

(Fortuna).

Guarantee the conservation in situ of exclusive genetic stock of the species

in the “Marchamalo” saltflats, by means of the habitat restoration in both,

“Marchamalo” saltflats and “Rasall” saltflats.

Guarantee the maintenance and breeding in captivity of the genetic stocks

that are the object of the project (the “Chícamo” river-OCU and

“Marchamalo” saltflats-OCU).

Establish an information and environmental education program.

The implementation of almost all of the project’s actions was successfully concluded

in December 2008, the ending date of the project. Nevertheless, conservation actions for the

species and its habitat are still required, because some threats are still present.



2.3. Contributions of the LIFE Project to the After-LIFE Conservation Plan

In the frame of the LIFE project for the A. iberus’ conservation developed in the

Region of Murcia, important progress have been performed in order to conserve this species,

which was an unknown species for a big part of the society.

A SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) has been

carried out, in order to describe the situation of A. iberus and its habitats once the LIFE

project has finished, but also to identify some conservation strategies by means of certain

extern elements, threats and opportunities. The main results obtained are:

1. The basis for the protection of this species and its habitats have been

established, by means of the development of different documents with a great

importance to the A. iberus’ management (Recovery Plan, certain SCIs4

Management Plans and other management plans) although the administrative

procedures required to their approval haven’t finished yet.

2. The actions carried out to enlarge the habitat of the species had been

successful. This situation, together with the good results obtained from breeding

in captivity, shows a great potential capacity of this species’ recovery in a

medium to long term.

3. The actions focused on the eradication of Gambusia holbrooki5 have allowed

the decreasing of its presence in the “Chícamo” river source. This situation,

together with the population reinforcement carried out, can improve the status of

A. iberus in this location.

4. The persistence of some inadequate uses in the areas where the species lives,

most of them related with the human pressure could make more complicated

the recovery of A. iberus.

5. The people’s knowledge about the species and its conservation status is rising,

but the increasing of their awareness in certain topics is still required, especially

among the local population of some places where the species lives.

6. The risk of new introductions of exotic species in the area of the “Chícamo”

River still exists as it has been checked during the project, with the capture of

certain species not found before in that area, as ducks or another fish. An

4 SCI: Site of Community Importance. 5 Gambusia holbrooki (gambusia) is an exotic invasive fish, native to the eastern and southern of the United States. This species displaces A. iberus because both of them use the same resources.



example is the Valencia toothcarp (Valencia hispanica), a fish listed as

Endangered under the National List of Endangered Species (Royal Decree

439/1990, of 30 March 1990, which regulates the National List of Endangered

Species), but the Region of Murcia not belongs to its distribution range. For that

reason, it is necessary to follow with the awareness campaigns and include in

them the negative effects of the aloctone species’ introduction on the local

species.

7. The habitat restoration and the reintroduction of the species carried out in the

“Rasall” saltflats mean an important progress in the recovery of the genetic

stock that lives in the “Marchamalo” saltflats, due to those actions mean an

enlargement of the species’ distribution area and the recovery of a place where

this species lived until the early 90s, when it disappeared as a result of the

saltflats’ draining.

8. A Maintenance Pilot Project of A. iberus’ (the “Chícamo” river-OCU) in

agricultural ponds (offered unselfishly by their private owners) started as a way

to improve the actions carried out in the “Chícamo” river to enlarge the available

habitat for the species. In one of these agricultural ponds, several fish (from

breeding in captivity) were introduced, with good results for the moment.

SWOT ANALYSIS

Strengths Weaknesses Success in actions related with the remaining of impacts and also with the enlargement of the available habitat to the species.

Improvement in the society’s knowledge of the species.

Good results obtained with the program of breeding in captivity.

Success in the actions carried out within the frame of the maintenance pilot project of A. iberus’ in agricultural ponds.

Good results in reintroductions and reinforcements carried out.

Not totally operational management tools yet.

Low involvement by local population. Lack of coordination among different public organizations involved.

Opportunities Threats Establish better collaboration agreements with the owners of both, “Marchamalo” saltflats and “Rasall” saltflats. And also, with other public entities.

Promotion of Natura 2000 network. Following awareness campaigns.

Possibility of new introductions of exotic species.

Tourism pressure. Not complete eradication of inadequate uses.

Natural catastrophes.

Table 1: Outline of the SWOT analysis



3. OBJECTIVES OF THIS PLAN

The specific conservation needs of A. iberus in the Region of Murcia for the after-

LIFE04NAT/ES/000035 period are focused in different topics, such as the importance of

both, management and monitoring actions, as well as the control of some persistent threats,

which are caused mostly by human actions.

3.1. Final Objective

The final objective of this Plan is guaranteeing the diversity of A. iberus in the Region

of Murcia, by means of the conservation of its genetic stocks and also of its habitats.

3.2. Operative Objectives

It is expected to achieve certain operative objectives, which are related to the

conservation needs observed, by means of performing different actions and also, as a way to

reach the final objective. These operative objectives are the following:

1. Approval of the different management tools, whose procedures started in the

frame of the LIFE Project.

2. Monitoring of A. iberus’ populations and its habitats.

3. Breeding in captivity of the “Chícamo” River-OCU, as a way to have enough fish

available to future reintroductions and enlarge the distribution of this species in

the Region of Murcia.

4. Development of awareness campaigns, in order to reduce the inadequate uses

that are still present in the action places of the LIFE Project, and also trying to

remove them.

The actions required to reach these objectives will be implemented, mainly, by the

Directorate-General for Natural Heritage and Biodiversity belonging to the Regional Ministry

of Agriculture and Water, possibly in cooperation with others institutions, such as universities,

in certain actions.



4. ACTION PROGRAMS

The actions proposed to achieve the objectives and also to conserve the species and

its habitat, are shown in this section. These actions have been designed to have an

extension in time of five years. After that, this Plan will be revised, in order to analyze the

obtained results and the future requirements.

Planned actions can be divided in four action ways: (a) conservation and

management, (b) participation and coordination, (c) research and monitoring and (d) public

awareness and environmental education.

PROGRAM OF CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

A. iberus’ Recovery Plan in the Region of Murcia (approval).

Management Plans to the Sites of Community Importance: ES00028 “Río Chícamo” and ES6200005 “Humedal del Ajauque y Rambla Salada” (approval).

Management Plans of A. iberus in both “Marchamalo” saltflats and “Rasall” saltflats (approval).

Works of habitats’ maintenance/refurbishment.

Monitoring and control of Gambusia holbrooki in the “Chícamo” river.

Monitoring and management of the “Rasall” saltflats.

Monitoring and management of the “Marchamalo” saltflats.

PROGRAM OF COORDINATION AND PARTICIPATION

Agreement with other administrations and/or private owners.

PROGRAM OF RESEARCH AND MONITORING

Monitoring of the A. iberus’ populations.

Breeding and maintenance in captivity of A. iberus.

Monitoring of A. iberus’ Conservation Plan.

PROGRAM OF PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Meetings with local population in areas with the presence of the species.

Program of the species’ awareness.

Meetings with the workers of the Environmental Information Points located where the species lives.

Table 2: Summary of the actions included in the Conservation Plan, classified by action program.



4.1. Program of Conservation and Management

Action 1: Recovery Plan of Aphanius iberus in the Region of Murcia. Achieved operative objectives: 1 Priority6: 1

Description: Follow with the administrative steps which are necessary to get the approval of

this Plan.

Responsible: Directorate-General for Natural Heritage and Biodiversity.

Other possible participants: --

Necessary resources: No extra funding required.

Proposed indicators: Assessments of procedures’ status. Action 2: Management Plans of the Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) ES6200028 “Río Chícamo” and ES6200005 “Humedal del Ajauque y Rambla Salada”. Achieved operative objectives: 1 Priority: 1


these Plans.




Proposed indicators: Assessments of procedures’ status.

6 Priority: 1.- Critical 2.- Important 3.- Necessary

Figure 6: Diagram where the relationship among the planned actions and the pursued objectives are shown.

OPERATIVE OBJECTIVES

Final objective Guarantee the A. iberus’ diversity in the Region of Murcia

Management tools’ approval

(Objective 1)

In situ conservation (Objective 2)

Ex situ conservation (Objective 3)

Information (Objective 4)

ACTIONS INCLUDED IN THE CONSERVATION PLAN

Action 8 & Actions 12-14

Action 10Habitats’ Conservation Actions 4-8

Species’ Monitoring Action 9

Actions 1-3



Action 3: Management Plans of A. iberus in both “Marchamalo” saltflats and “Rasall” saltflats. Achieved operative objectives: 1 Priority: 1


these Plans. They have been attached to the Recovery-Plan, so the steps needed are the

same that the Recovery-Plan.




Proposed indicators: Assessments of the procedures’ status. Action 4: Works of habitats’ maintenance/refurbishment.

Achieves operative objectives: 2 Priority: 3

Description: Maintenance of the ponds located in the “Chícamo” River area and the

restoration of ponds’ walls or channels in the saltflats will be performed in case these should

be necessary. Also, other habitats’ conservation actions will be carried out if necessary.


Other possible participants: The Segura Hydraulic Confederation (CHS), Ministry of

Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs (MMARM).

Necessary resources: Technical assistance.

Action Places: Areas where the species lives.

Proposed Indicators: In situ checking. Action 5: Monitoring and control of Gambusia holbrooki in the “Chícamo” river. Achieved operative objectives: 2 Priority: 1

Description: The information and the results obtained from the project

LIFE04NAT/ES/000035 will be used to carry out a control program of Gambusia holbrooki by

means of periodic extractions. These extractions are going to be more intensive before its

reproductive period, in order to avoid the displacement of A. iberus in the “Chícamo” river

source due to the competence exerted by G. holbrooki.


Other possible participants: University of Murcia.

Necessary resources: Technical assistance (10,000.00 €/year).

Action Places: The “Chícamo” river. Mainly in certain ponds, the ponds near the “Chícamo”

river source and ponds near of “La Umbría” reservoir.

Proposed indicators: Number of fish extracted. Annual results report.



Action 6: Monitoring and management of the “Rasall” saltflats. Achieved operative objectives: 2 Priority: 1

Description: Implementation of the general actions required to get an optimum maintenance

in the circulation and renovation of water into the ponds; and also to maintain enough water

in the ponds all of the year.




Action Places: “Rasall” saltflats.

Proposed indicators: In situ checking of the water levels. Action 7: Monitoring and management of the “Marchamalo” saltflats. Achieved operative objectives: 2 Priority: 1

Description: Implementation of the general actions required to get an optimum maintenance

in the circulation and renovation of water into the ponds; and also to maintain enough water

in the ponds all of the year.


Other possible participants: Ministry of Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs (MMARM).

Necessary resources: A new collaboration agreement between the Regional Ministry in

charge of environment in Murcia (Regional Ministry of Agriculture and Water) and the

saltflats’ owners (40,000.00 €/year).

Action Places: “Marchamalo” saltflats.

Proposed indicators: In situ checking of the water levels.



4.2. Program of Participation and Coordination

Action 8: Agreements with other administrations and/or private owners. Achieved operative objectives: 2 & 4 Priority: 2

Description: The objective is promote agreements with other administrations (City Councils,

the Segura Hydraulic Confederation or the Ministry of Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs)

with the aim to they impulse some of the actions of this Plan and also with private owners.

Regarding private owners, the aim is to keep the agreements settled with the owners of the

ponds included in the maintenance pilot program of A. iberus (OCU-the “Chícamo” river) in

agricultural ponds and also trying to reach agreements with the private owners of lands near

the source of the “Chícamo” river, in order to develop a commitment to “good practices” near

the river. Also, in regard to “Rasall” saltflats, there is an agreement between the Regional

Ministry in charge of Environment and their owners. Also, the agreement between this

Regional Ministry and the owners of “Marchamalo” saltflats is close to be available again, so

the commitment to avoid damaging activities for the lands natural value already exists.


Other possible participants: Other administrations. Private owners.


Proposed indicators: Number of meetings carried out. Number of agreements achieved.

4.3. Program of Research and Monitoring

Action 9: Monitoring of the A. iberus’ populations. Achieved operative objectives: 2 Priority: 1

Description: The aim is to continue the monitoring of the A. iberus’ populations in the Region

of Murcia, as a way to check the status of the species’ populations and its habitats, and also

the effectiveness of the in situ actions carried out during the LIFE04/NAT/ES/000035 project.





Proposed indicators: Annual results report.



Action 10: Breeding and maintenance in captivity of A. iberus. Achieved operative objectives: 3 Priority: 1

Description: A program to the breeding and maintenance in captivity of A. iberus (the

“Chícamo” river genetic stock) will be carried out, in order to have enough fish to do future

reintroductions or population reinforcements. The protocol used to reach this objective will be

the procedure developed during the LIFE project.




Action Places: Breeding in captivity facilities at the University of Murcia.

Proposed indicators: Annual results report. Number of fish obtained. Action 11: Monitoring of A. iberus Conservation Plan. Achieved operative objectives: 1-4 Priority: 2

Description: A monitoring program of the Conservation Plan of A. iberus will be developed, in

order to check the achievements of the objectives and actions proposed in this Conservation

Plan.

Each action includes a proposed indicator, which aim is to provide information about the

status of the action at any moment and also to identify potential problems found during

implementation. However, the team in charge of this Plan’s implementation will be also the

responsible for establish the final monitoring indicators, in order to get an optimal evaluation

of the degree to which actions have been carried out.


Other possible participants: ---


Action Places: All of the places included in the Conservation Plan of A. iberus.

Proposed indicators: Periodic reports.



4.4. Program of Public Awareness and Environmental Education

Action 12: Meetings with local population in areas with the presence of the species. Achieved operative objectives: 4 Priority: 3

Description: Meetings will be developed, aimed at informing local people about the

importance of the conservation of this species and its habitats, in order to increase the

people’s awareness. In the area of “Mar Menor”, would be better the meetings were focused

on tourists, due to tourism cause an important impact in A. iberus’ habitats.





Proposed indicators: Number of meetings carried out. Number of audience. Action 13: Program of the species’ awareness. Achieved operative objectives: 4 Priority: 3

Description: Environmental education activities will be developed, aimed at informing the

people about this species and its habitats; prevention of introduction of exotic species and

also about aquatic pollution. The target groups are both, the local population and the tourist,

especially primary and secondary education schools.

These activities will be adapted to the target groups’ knowledge levels.




Action Places: Nature’s Classrooms network, Environmental Information Points, etc.

Proposed indicators: Annual results report. Number of audience. Action 14: Meetings with the workers of the Environmental Information Points located where the species lives. Achieved operative objectives: 4 Priority: 2

Description: Meetings with the workers of these Environmental information Points will be

carried out in order to give them all the information about the species, and also about actions

done and future activities related with it. These meetings will give them up to date

information, so the data provided to the visitants of theses areas will be higher too.

Meetings will be carried out once a year, but if necessary their frequency will be increased.






Action Places: Environmental information points of areas where the species lives.

Proposed indicators: Number of meetings carried out. Number of audience.

All of these actions will be classified in two groups according their priority:

Actions with priority 1 or 2: included in Fixed Costs Group

Actions with priority 3: included in Variable Costs Group



5. BUDGET

The total budget of this Plan, programmed to be carried out in 5 years, is divided in

two parts: fixed costs and variable costs. Actions with priority 1 or 2 are considered fixed

costs and the actions with priority 3 are included in the variable costs.

The available budget to carry out the actions listed as variable costs will depend on

the Directorate-General for Natural Heritage and Biodiversity’s annual budget.

The projected total budget per year of this Plan will be dependent on the total annual

budget available, by the Regional Government, for the Natural Heritage and Biodiversity DG.

It will correspond with the 1% of the budget available in the Costs Chapter No 6, called “Real

Investments”. In 2009, this 1% goes up to 180,000.00 €.

5.1. Fixed costs

The budget of the actions included as fixed costs in this Plan is 139,000.00 € per

year. These actions will be carried out every year during the validity period of this

Conservation Plan, and they are the following:

BUDGET ACTION PRIORITY Annual Total Program of Conservation and Management

1 A. iberus’ Recovery Plan in the Region of Murcia. 1 - € - € 2 Management Plans of the SCIs “Río Chícamo” and

“Humedal de Ajauque y Rambla Salada”. 1 - € - €

3 Management Plans of A. iberus in both “Marchamalo” saltflats and “Rasall” saltflats. 1 - € - €

5 Monitoring and control of Gambusia holbrooki in the “Chícamo” river. 1 10,000.00 € 50,000.00 €

6 Monitoring and management in the “Rasall” saltflats. 1 40,000.00 € 200,000.00 € 7 Monitoring and management in the “Marchamalo” saltflats. 1 40,000.00 € 200,000.00 €

Program of Participation and Coordination 8 Meetings with other administrations and/or private owners. 2 - € - €

Program of Research and Monitoring 9 Monitoring of the A. iberus’ populations. 1 25,000.00 € 125,000.00 €

10 Breeding and maintenance in captivity of A. iberus. 1 20,000.00 € 100,000.00 € 11 Monitoring of A. iberus’ Conservation Plan. 2 4,000.00 € 20,000.00 € Program of Public Awareness and Environmental Education 14 Meetings with the workers of the Environmental

Information Points where the species lives. 2 - € - €

TOTAL 139,000.00 € 695,000.00 € Table 3: Budget breakdown of the fixed costs by actions



Budget Action Program Annual Total

Program of Conservation and Management 90,000.00 € 450,000.00 € Program of Participation and Coordination - € - € Program of Research and Monitoring 49,000.00 € 245,000.00 € Program of Public Awareness and Environmental Education - € - €

Total 139,000.00 € 695,000.00 €

Table 4: Budget breakdown of the fixed costs by Action Program

Actions with cost 0 € are those where is estimated that the own resources of the

Natural Heritage and Biodiversity DG are enough to carry them out.

5.2. Variable costs

Actions included in this section of costs are the following:

Works of habitats’ maintenance/refurbishment

Meetings with local population in areas with the presence of the species

Program of the species’ awareness

The available budget to carry out these actions will be a variable amount every year,

resulting of take off the fixed costs from the total annual budget.

Available budget to variable costs each year will be distributed among the action

areas where the most important conservation needs have been located (the “Chícamo” river,

“Marchamalo” saltflats and “Rasall” saltflats) with different percentages: a 50% to the

“Chícamo” River, a 25% to the “Marchamalo” saltflats and other 25% to the “Rasall” saltflats.

However, these percentages could be modified if necessary.



6. GANTT CHARTS

YEARS ACTION PRIORITY 1 2 3 4 5Program of Conservation and Management

1 Aphanius iberus’ Recovery Plan in the Region of Murcia. 1 x x x x x

2 Management Plans of the SCIs7 “Río Chícamo” and “Humedal de Ajauque y Rambla Salada”. 1 x x x x x

3 Management Plans of A. iberus in “Marchamalo” saltflats and “Rasall” saltflats. 1 x x x x x

5 Monitoring and control of Gambusia holbrooki in the “Chícamo” river. 1 x x x x x

6 Monitoring and Management in the “Rasall” saltflats. 1 x x x x x

7 Monitoring and Management in the “Marchamalo” saltflats. 1 x x x x xProgram of Participation and Management

8 Meetings with other administrations and/or private owners. 2 x x x x xProgram of Research and Monitoring

9 Monitoring of the A. iberus’ populations. 1 x x x x x

10 Breeding and maintenance in captivity of A. iberus. 1 x x x x x

11 Monitoring of A. iberus’ Conservation Plan. 2 x x x x xProgram of Public Awareness and Environmental Education 14 Meetings with the workers of the Environmental Information Points where the species lives. 2 x x x x x

Table 5: Field, priority and schedule of each proposed action included as fixed costs

7 SCI: Site of Community Importance



7. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SOURCES

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Legislation

Region of Murcia Law 7/1995, of 21 April 1995, of Wildlife Fauna in the Region of Murcia (BORM8 nº

102, 04 May 1995).

National Royal Decree 439/1990, of 30 March 1990, which regulates the National List of

Endangered Species (BOE9 nº 82, 05 April 1990).

Law 42/2007, of 13 December 2007, of Natural Heritage and Biodiversity (BOE nº

299, 14 December 2007).

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and of Wild Fauna and Flora (DO10 L 206, 22/07/1992).

Bern Convention, 1988.

Other Regions of Spain Council Decree 265/2004 of Valencian Community, of 3 December 2004, on the

approval of the Recovery Plan of “Samaruc” in the Valencian Community (DOGV.11 nº

4.902, 14 December 2004).

Council Decree 151/2006 of Valencian Community, of 6 October 2006, on the Council

Decree 265/2004 of Valencian Community, of 3 December 2004, on the approval of

the Recovery Plan of “Valencia toothcarp (V. hispanica)” in the Valencian Community

is modified (DOGV nº 5.365, 11 October 2006).

Council Decree 9/2007 of Valencian Community, of 19 January 2007, on the approval

of the Recovery Plan of “Spanish toothcarp (A. iberus)” in the Valencian Community

(DOGV nº 5.435, 24 January 2007).

8 BORM: Official Journal of the Region of Murcia. 9 BOE: Official Journal of Spain. 10 DO: Official Journal of the European Union. 11 DOGV: Official Journal of the Valencian Community.

after-life conservation plan

Documents