The Moorish tortoise (Tortoise) is an emblem of the southeastern Iberian Peninsula, and its conservation is not a simple formality: it is a challenge that unites science, public administration, and citizens. In recent years, various administrations and entities have launched plans, field studies, private reserves and participation processes to secure their future.
This article brings together, in a close and practical language, all the essential things that are already underway: the conservation plan in Murcia and its processing, the scientific objectives to understand biology and distribution of the species, the volunteer monitoring program, and the value of private reserves like Malcamino. We also indicate where to consult official documents and how to submit contributions.
What we know about the species and its situation
The Moorish tortoise, present in semi-arid Mediterranean areas, is classified as Vulnerable in the IUCN and in the National Catalogue of Threatened SpeciesThis status reinforces the need for medium- and long-term planning that takes into account habitat conservation and the socioeconomic reality of the rural environment where they live.
In Spain, efforts are concentrated especially in the southeast of the peninsula, with focal points in the Region of Murcia and the province of Almería, where they have been identified. areas of maximum density and key population unitsHabitat continuity, pressure from land use changes, and fragmentation are critical elements that determine their viability.
Plans and legal framework in the Region of Murcia
The regulatory project in Murcia aims to elaborate and develop the Conservation Plan for the Moorish tortoise (Testudo graeca) provided for in Article 18 of Law 7/1995, of April 21, on Wildlife in the Region of Murcia. The plan specifies its territorial scope, identifies threat factors, and defines management and conservation measures.
The administrative itinerary includes a phase of prior consultation, the section of regulatory processing and a scope note which provides the general framework for the document. These stages allow for the integration of technical information and contributions from stakeholders from the outset.
Furthermore, the plan is aligned with Law 42/2007 on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity, which implies that specific conservation instruments must be established for species classified as vulnerable. In this context, it is anticipated declare Wildlife Protection Areas in two areas with the highest density of Moorish tortoises: the Almenara and La Torrecilla mountain ranges.
The document incorporates relevant cartographic updates: the National Topographic Map 1:25.000 most recent in the annex relating to the delimitation and maps of the plan, improving spatial precision for decision-making.
Public participation: how and where to contribute
The General Directorate of Natural Heritage and Climate Action of Murcia has reopened the process of public information and hearing for the draft decree on the conservation plan. The new statement, published in the Official Gazette of the Region of Murcia (issue 201, September 1, 2025), extends the deadline for receiving comments to two months, following the initial phase announced on June 27, 2025 (BORM no. 153, July 5).
The justification for this second period is based on the vast scope of the plan and the need for a broader and more effective process. The explicit aim is to gather input from experts, technicians, owners, city councils, NGOs and citizens, especially in territories where the species has significant ecological and social weight.
The allegations can be registered electronically in the electronic headquarters of the Autonomous Community (procedure code 1549: Preparation and processing of regulatory provisions), using the model “Claims form – hearing procedure”Articles 82 and 83 of Law 39/2015 on the common administrative procedure, as well as the regional and state participation and transparency rules (Law 6/2004 RM; Law 27/2006; Law 12/2014 RM) also apply.
The project and its Regulatory Impact Analysis Report are available for in-person consultation in Murcia (Plaza Juan XXIII, No. 4, from 9 a.m. to 14 p.m., Monday to Friday) and online on the official website. You can access the page directly on the portal. murcianatural.carm.es, where the plan documentation is published. They also appear in the Transparency Portal of the Autonomous Community.
In the public note released by the Ministry, the intention to give greater dissemination to the process was highlighted, as well as the fact that the announcement included a printable version and included the accumulated views (171 at that time)All of this reinforces the idea of an open and participatory process.
Research and monitoring: scientific pillars
Several technical studies have systematized key information for managing the species. Among the baselines, a priority is given to review of biology and natural history of the Moorish turtle, integrating life cycles, behavior and relationships with the environment.
The species responds to various environmental factors, which is why they are analyzed climatic gradients, relief, lithology and land useThese variables help explain the local presence and relative abundance of turtles in Mediterranean landscapes undergoing rapid change.
- Distribution and abundance: Description and analysis of spatial patterns at a regional scale, identifying focal points of presence and discontinuities.
- Habitat loss and changes in land use: Processes that reduce or fragment the habitat are studied, considered the main current and future problem.
- Local density and census: estimates using routes and distance sampling to quantify populations with rigor.
- Population units: Physical characterization and diagnosis of the state of conservation of each unit, integrating environmental and demographic parameters.
- Effectiveness of protection: evaluation of how different territorial protection figures contribute to conserving habitats and populations.
- Follow-up: proposal for a sustained program over time for populations and fragmentation processes.
- Management Guidelines: Strategic guidelines to guide actions, with applications indicated for the province of Almería.
The structure of these studies allows us to move from data to action. By delimiting population units and measuring densities, we obtain a basis on which to establish measurable conservation objectives, evaluate results and adjust measures at local and regional levels.
Diagnosis and monitoring in Spain: science and volunteering
In parallel to the regional efforts, a project with a national focus is being developed to develop a diagnosis of the state of the populations of the Moorish tortoise in Spain and to launch a permanent monitoring program in the southeast of the peninsula.
The initiative, promoted by the Miguel Hernández University of Elche with the collaboration of the Spanish Herpetological Association (AHE), responds to the need to establish a long-term follow-up that allows for the evaluation of the evolution of the state of conservation. The role of citizen science and volunteering is central.
- Outreach actions to recruit volunteers: communication and awareness campaigns to gain support.
- Training of field technicians and volunteers: specific sessions to standardize methods and improve data quality.
- Population censuses: coordinated efforts to collect comparable information across areas and years.
- Work meetings: coordination with experts and responsible administrations to align management criteria.
- Analysis and reports: data processing, drawing conclusions and disseminating results.
- National strategic proposal: reference document to guide the conservation of Tortoise in Spain.
These works are complemented by accessible technical documents, such as the report on corridors published by the AHE, available for download at this link. There are also reference sheets and materials available from state agencies, such as the MITECO documentation for reptiles, available at this PDF.
Private reserves: the example of ANSE and the Malcamino Reserve
The creation of a network of private reserves has been one of the major milestones of the Testudo Project promoted by ANSE. The first experience materialized in the pre-coastal mountains of Águilas in the mid-nineties, with the protection of 60 hectares of steppe which housed an interesting population of Moorish tortoises.
After that initial reservation, the association worked for two years to locate farms with wild populations and acquire another property thanks to donations from individuals in Spain and other European countries. Finally, the most attractive property was purchased by another organization with German aid, and ANSE redoubled its efforts to address a very specific challenge: What to do with captive turtles to facilitate their return to suitable environments.
In May 1996, ANSE acquired its own Reserve for the Moorish tortoise in the pre-coastal mountains of Mazarrón (less than 50 hectares), designed for the reintroduction of specimens from captivityBoth the farm and its immediate surroundings apparently lacked tortoise populations, which is ideal for avoiding interference with local populations. The presence of public forests in much of the mountain range encouraged dreams of a larger-scale project.
La Malcamino Reserve It is located at the western end of these mountain ranges, near the Sierra de los Cucos. It is a rugged terrain, with somewhat flatter lowlands and an altitudinal gradient ranging from approximately 225 to 592 meters. Geologically, it alternates between metamorphic limestone (marble) and siliceous (phyllite) materials, and features small rocky elevations resembling marble "castles" that form cliffs a few meters high.
The vegetation reflects the exposure of the slopes: on the sunniest ones (S and W) there are abundant albaida and esparto In similar proportions; on sheltered slopes, rosemary dominates with tall hedges (and large specimens), accompanied by albaida, which grows more vertically. Singular species appear in lower density, with small groups of junipers in shady areas.
Mastic trees and some palmettos grow on the drainage bottoms, and well-developed wild olive trees grow on the cliffs. A small population of the Ibero-African plant Caralluma europaea. Scattered oleanders thrive in the gullies. This plant mosaic provides shelter, food, and valuable microhabitats for the turtle.
The reserve has been expanding its surface area: it currently covers about 100 hectares and is expected to reach around 120 hectaresIn addition to the Moorish tortoise, the area benefits species such as the eagle owl and the increasingly rare Bonelli's eagle, which use the area as a breeding ground. Birds such as black wheatears, shrikes, bee-eaters, red-rumped swallows, golden orioles, larks, and cuckoos are frequently observed.
In recent years, the association has released more than 200 turtles from the Region of Murcia, all with marking systems: microchips in the smallest ones and tiny indentations in the side plates for the rest. Around thirty specimens of various sizes carry radio transmitters for precise monitoring of their adaptation to the environment.
Key measures, threats and good practices
The analyses agree: the land use changes and the resulting habitat loss and fragmentation are the main challenges, both now and in the future. Therefore, in addition to legally protecting critical areas, it is essential to integrate the management of agroforestry matrices and semi-natural landscapes that contribute to creating connectivity.
The regional plan and the technical studies insist on combining scales: acting at the level of local scale to adjust measures to the local context (densities, habitats, pressures) and coordinate objectives at the regional level to maintain the coherence of the network of cores and corridors.
Evaluate the evaluate the results Territorial conservation is another priority. Declaring areas is not enough: it is necessary to measure whether populations are improving, mortality is reducing, and habitat quality is maintained. Monitoring programs and census protocols comparable over time provide the necessary data to assess results.
Social participation is a strategic asset. Involving property owners, municipalities, associations, and citizens facilitates more realistic and applicable solutions, from custody agreements to good practices in farm management, including the prevention of discomfort, responsible circulation on the slopes, and control of risk factors during sensitive periods.
Projects with volunteers, who receive specific training, increase the sampling and awareness-raising capacity. Furthermore, the collaborative approach between universities, NGOs, and administrations allows for the integration of results, the sharing of methodologies, and the optimize resources in a context where time and budgets are often limited.
Documents and resources available
For those who want to learn more, there are valuable official resources. The Murcia regional portal offers the plan file (draft decree and MAIN) in its participation section: consult documentation. There are collected the instructions for submitting allegations in a timely manner.
At the state level, the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge has technical sheets and materials on reptiles, useful as a reference to contextualize the conservation of TortoiseYou can download a related document at this link, another resource within the information available at MITECO.
There are also technical documents from other regional administrations. For example, the CAIB (Balearic Islands) website has a related publication, accessible here: Download pdf. This type of materials complement with methodologies and technical criteria useful for those working in the field.
Looking to the future: from data to effective management
The roadmap is clear: review and update biological knowledge, refine mapping and the delimitation of areas of action, and orient measures toward measurable results. The combination of long-term monitoring, reservation network (public and private) and active participation is the best guarantee to sustain viable populations of the Moorish turtle.
In practical terms, it is important to continue strengthening censuses with comparable methodologies, periodically review the effects of land use, and prioritize actions where diagnoses detect the greatest urgency. Reserves such as Malcamino have demonstrated that well-planned and monitored reintroduction can provide high-quality data to assess the adaptation of released individuals.
Finally, the process of processing the plan in Murcia itself—with extended deadlines, accessible documentation, and a focus on improving representativeness—demonstrates an explicit desire to open the debate and gather input from all sectors. This is, surely, the most effective way to turn a technical document into a real management on the ground.
The conservation of the Moorish tortoise is advancing with complementary tools: regional regulations, applied science, a reserve network, and citizen collaboration. By combining these elements—and safeguarding habitat quality against changes in use and fragmentation—the foundations are being consolidated for Testudo graeca populations in southeastern Spain maintain and improve their condition in the coming years.