> The 1st meeting of the Scientific Committee of LIFE charcos project occurred in early May, allowing an important exchange of experiences with experts.
Between the 8th and May 10th was the first meeting of the Scientific Committee of the LIFE Charcos Project, which aimed to present the project and temporary pools of SIC southwest coast of scientific advisers. Through the work of this Committee is intended to be a scientific monitoring of the actions envisaged in the draft but also expert advice on the implementation of management measures on the ground and in achieving the long-term conservation of this priority habitat.
The Scientific Committee comprises national and foreign experts in the conservation of Mediterranean temporary ponds in particular coordinators of LIFE projects in France, Spain (Menorca) and Greece (Crete). Thus, during these three days visited the SIC southwest coast five members of this Committee: Elias Dimitriou (Institute of Inland Waters of Hellenic Centre for Marine Research - Greece); Jose Antonio Molina April (Universidad Complutense de Madrid - Spain); Laila Rhazi (Hassan II Casablanca University - Morocco); Patrick Grillas (Tour du Valat Foundation - France) and Pere Fraga Arguimba (Consell Insular de Menorca - Spain). The project team, with elements of all partners, also followed the work done and the field trips that took place.
This 1st meeting included a panel presentations that took place in the ABM headquarters in Odemira, where it was possible to present a general context of temporary ponds of SIC's southwest coast, which are the target of the actions of the Project LIFE Charcos, and hear a summary of the experience of experts invited. For a more concrete knowledge and debate took place several field trips that allowed discuss different situations of land management and how they can positively or negatively affect the conservation of these temporary ponds. These outputs were also privileged moments to answer questions and share ideas between the technical project LIFE Ponds and experts of the Scientific, resulting from this exchange an important mutual learning. With the on-site observation was possible to discuss specific cases of possible management actions to be implemented according to different threats. During these outputs were still observed the most characteristic species of the Mediterranean Temporary Ponds of this SIC, both Flora and Fauna such as Eryngium corniculatum blossom, vicentinus Triops, tadpoles of amphibians as the pygmy newt (Triturus pygmaeus) and evidence presence of Cabrera mouse (Microtus Cabrera). The visit ended with a meeting held in Milfontes, where he carried out an evaluation of the perception of the Scientific Committee and the project team regarding the strengths, weaknesses, mistakes to avoid and opportunities of the project.
As the Scientific Committee includes experts elements in conservation Temporary Ponds of various Mediterranean countries, this will be an asset that will certainly contribute to a better application of existing knowledge. The resulting exchange of this meeting will facilitate the implementation of habitat management measures in this project, even though they have been implemented in other countries, are still unknown in our country.
These meetings will take place annually, and the next will be carried out by videoconference.
