Encamp to Designate 528-Hectare Circ dels Pessons as Natural Park by 2027

Encamp parish is advancing plans to designate the 528-hectare Circ dels Pessons as a communal natural park by autumn 2027, with full parish funding covering at least €300,000 annually for upkeep and staff.

The project received public presentation on Monday at Estany Forcat within the Circ dels Pessons, where Mayor Laura Mas described it as fulfilling a shared aspiration to safeguard the parish's defining natural heritage, mountains and landscapes. Environment Minister Guillem Casal called it a vital step to protect exceptional terrain. The initiative follows last week's Council of Ministers approval of a memorandum with the government, which the Encamp Comú Council ratified on Thursday. Technical work begins in October.

Spanning 528 hectares from 2,300 to 2,864 metres, the glacier-carved zone features over 25 ponds and wetlands that form the Riu dels Pessons, a Valira d’Orient tributary. It supports species including rock ptarmigan, chamois, Pyrenean newts, raptors, arnica and snow gentian. Bordering Vall del Madriu-Perafita-Claror via the Montmalús to Pic del Cubil ridge, it will boost ecological connectivity.

Excluded from SAETDE’s 2023 Grau Roig-Pas de la Casa ski concession renewal—a key enabler after two decades of parish efforts—the site represents 6% of Encamp’s land. The government will provide technical support and consultancy costs, while Encamp handles management, guides, signage and education.

A six-month study phase will evaluate landscapes, biodiversity, zoning and viability, followed by two months of public consultation via BOPA, review by the National Biodiversity Strategy commission (Cenba), a management plan and final Comú approval by summer 2027. Existing activities—hunting, fishing, grazing, trails and roads—continue under current rules, shifting to a park ordinance with penalties. No motorized access exists, preserving the baseline.

Nationally, it lifts protected areas past the 30% target by 1.13 percentage points to 32.07%, alongside the pending 8,843-hectare Canillo-Ordino national park. Casal emphasized benefits for wildlife, water and ecosystems on communal land, without government control.

Mas highlighted broad political and social consensus around natural protection, aligning with the 2021 government goal of 30% coverage by 2030. Casal added that Demòcrates-led coalition discussions are progressing but too early for candidate announcements, positioning the party as a unifying force.