Background Garbancillo de Tallante (Astragalus nitidiflorus ) is a plant that is endemic to Cartagena in the Murcia Region of Spain. First described early in the 20th Century, the species has a population of just 300 adult plants, all growing in the SCI Cabezos del Pericón (ES6200040) and surrounding area. It is a named species on several conservation lists. It is included on the Spanish Environment Ministry’s list of Wild Species Under Special Protection (139/2011, 04 February 2011) and is categorised as “in danger of extinction” in the Spanish Catalogue of Endangered Species. It was considered “in critical danger” in the 2008 Red List of Spanish vascular flora and it is even labelled as an “extinct” species under the European Red List from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Objectives The principal objective of the 'CONSERVASTRAGALUS-MU' project is the recuperation and conservation of the Garbancillo de Tallante. The beneficiary aims to increase understanding of the species, strengthen existing populations and put in place plans to ensure long-term conservation of the species in the region. A key approach in terms of increasing and reinforcing the existing populations will be to develop, test and demonstrate techniques for cultivation of the plant in nurseries. As well as growing increased numbers of the plant, these efforts will seek to increase the genetic resilience of the species. Measures to reinforce existing populations will also have a focus on improving the connectivity between the existing populations. The project will look to reduce the threats that impact negatively on the species, notably through improved land stewardship. Supported by conferences, forums and specialised working groups, it will develop a study of the species in the form of a monograph, a Habitat Management Guide and a recovery plan for the species. It will conduct an evaluation of the impact of the project on the target species and on the local economy. The project will work hard to raise awareness and spread knowledge about the species and biodiversity conservation, particularly in the municipality where this endemic species is found Expected results An increased population of Astragalus nitidiflorus (10ha with 12.000 new plants); Improved genetic resilience of the species; Improved connectivity of populations; Better land stewardship; Three technical publications: a monograph; a technical manual for habitat management; and a recovery plan for the species; Improved long-term management and conservation of the species; and Dissemination of the project results at national and international levels.