Over 70 Join Andorra's Mountain Refuge Program for Eco-Conscious Hiking

More than 70 people participated in the "Cita als cims, desig de refugi, desig de muntanya" programme during June and July at Andorra's four staffed mountain refuges: Sorteny, Juclar, Comapedrosa and Illa.

Led by Andorra Recerca + Innovació (AR+I) with backing from the Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock, the initiative sought to foster a more conscious approach to the mountains. It encouraged participants to move beyond sports and recreation, prompting reflection on coexistence with high-altitude ecosystems and their ecological fragility.

The final of four sessions occurred on Wednesday at the Illa refuge. Each gathering opened with tastings of local Andorran products to underscore the refuges' links to their territory. These set the stage for conversations about mountain use, hikers' drives and environmental pressures in upland zones.

Afternoons featured sessions guided by AR+I's Aula coordinator, Montse Brugulat. She presented audiovisual projections with soundscapes, alongside readings from works by Jacint Verdaguer, Marc Aureli Vila, Rossend Marsol, Marta Déu and Àngel Bonada's story L'ocell de foc, among other authors tied to Andorra.

The effort supports the ecological shift in mountain refuges and promotes responsible ways to inhabit and explore these areas. It aligns with the POCTEFA DESIR programme, which drives sustainable growth via hut-to-hut routes across the Pyrenees, and the Xarxa Educació Pirineus Vius network for heritage awareness in the range.

Ten partners from institutional, associative and scientific fields span the French, Andorran and Spanish Pyrenees sides. The Federació Aragonesa de Muntanyisme coordinates, with the Andorran government as an associated partner. Collaborators also include entities from Catalunya, Aragó, Navarra, the Vall d'Aran and France focused on natural heritage protection and outreach.