The public presentation of LIFE Charcos project was in Odemira

> The public presentation of LIFE charcos took place on February 27th in Odemira and was attended by over 70 participants.

The Presentation of LIFE Charcos "Conservation of Mediterranean Temporary Ponds of the southwest coast of Portugal" was held in the auditorium of the Mira Beneficiaries Association, a partner of this project, in Odemira, on February 27th, 2014, acting as the event official public launch of the project.

With this session was intended to make known its objectives, actions and expected results, and the uniqueness and importance of this habitat and its species, and still allow the exchange of ideas and answer questions from participants and key legend in the theme of conservation of temporary ponds.

This event included the opening session, with the presence of:

Miguel Geraldes, from the national leadership of LPN;
Rui Pingo, administrator of the University of Évora;
José Alberto Guerrero, Mayor of Odemira;
José Santos Silva, President of the Board of Mira Beneficiaries Association
Margarida Cristo, representing the Rector of the University of Algarve.

After the opening session were carried out several presentations to contextualize the project (which will later be available on the project website):

Project Presentation - Rita Alcazar, LPN
Biodiversity of CTM:
- Flora - Carla Pinto Cruz, UÉvora
- Fauna Crustaceans - Margarida Cristo, UAlg
- Vertebrate Fauna - Paulo Sá Sousa, UÉvora
- Hydrogeological context - José Paulo Monteiro, UAlg

The session ended with a field visit to a temporary pond where we observed some features and unique species of this habitat as some great branquiópodes (including Tanymastix stagnalis, a fairy shrimp), amphibians (such as Lissotriton boscai and tadpoles of Cultripes pelobates and Epidalea calamita) and plants such as Eryngium corniculatum and Isoetes sp. .

The session was attended by over 70 participants, in addition to the project partners. The number of participants, as well as the diversity of represented entities (ICNF, SEPNA, agricultural, municipal councils and parish councils, NGO's, owners, farmers, schools, etc.), demonstrated the interest and expectations created by the Project.

"Temporary Ponds: a natural habitat to be protected!"