Andorra, Spain and France: a common brand for 4 natural parks in the Pyrenees
Two main objectives are clearly shown
It’s official: the Pyrenean Natural Park of the Three Nations was officially born at the end of August. Specifically, it brings together the following four natural parks in Spain, France and Andorra in a single entity:
The Natural Park of Alt Pirineu (Spain),
The Ariégeoises Regional Pyrenees Natural Park (France)
The natural parks of the Sorteny Valley and the Comapedrosa Valley (Andorra).
As the director of the Regional Natural Park of the Pyrenees Ariège, Matthieu Cruège, highlights, the main objective of the creation of the Pyrenean Natural Park of the Three Nations is to better promote this area, as well as its protection, particularly in terms of biodiversity (fauna, flora , etc.) of what is now one of the largest high mountain areas in Europe.
Other specific goals
The creation of the Pyrenean Natural Park of the Three Nations also aims to help its various agents to improve the joint tourism promotion of the territory thus defined (for example, the highlighting of the many hiking trails in Andorra, such as the famous GRP, in Spain and Ariège), to promote its socio-economic dynamics and facilitate exchanges in terms of sustainable development and natural heritage.
To meet these specifications, the arrival of the largest natural park in the Pyrenees provides a legal and political framework for the actions of project leaders. All while taking advantage of existing structures related to the 4.
Zoom over the Pyrenean Natural Park of the Three Nations
The Pyrenean Natural Park of the Three Nations covers exactly 428,700 hectares and 158 municipalities in Catalonia (15), Andorra (2) and France (141). If, during your stay in the Principality, you embark on some of the most prestigious hiking trails in the Sorteny or Comapedrosa valleys, you can move to the new Pyrenean Natural Park of the Three Nations.
The origins of the Three Nations Pyrenean Natural Park project
The new cross-border space stems from the passion of the region’s specialist, Ariégeois Michel Sébastien, who died unfortunately in 2016. The latter was one of the main initiators and promoters of the Three Nations Pyrenean Natural Park, such as André Rouch, president of the National Park Pyrénées Ariégeoises, remember it rightly.
A new playground for hikers
Current and future joint actions
There are already joint actions between the different parties, such as cross-border meetings initiated within the framework of the Interreg Poctefa Green, a project funded by European funds.
The exchanges are already fruitful
Regularly, Catalan producers come to Castillon-en-Couserans to discover their cheeses, and Ariège producers also visit regularly. Will trekking specialists in Andorra follow the same path to give their Catalan counterparts the magnificent beauty of the landscapes of the Principality and vice versa? This, in any case, is another idea of cooperation, such as those designed to define a common image in order to facilitate the reception of tourists and economic exchanges within the Pyrenean Natural Park of the Three Nations.
A UNESCO candidate to capture
UNESCO on the 2020-2021 horizon
The leaders of the Pyrenean Natural Park of the Three Nations also publish their goal of running for UNESCO for 2020-2021, for classification as a cross-border biosphere reserve. This would be a first for the Pyrenean chain!
An even more valued practice
The Park of the Three Nations includes the Natural Park of the Alt Pirineu in Catalonia, the Regional Natural Park of the Pyrenees of Ariège and the Natural Parks of the Sorteny Valley and the Comapedrosa Valley in Andorra. During their multiple trips along the paths of the Principality, nature and hiking enthusiasts will have long realized the importance of preserving natural spaces by protecting the biodiversity of the area and adapting economic practices and resource models Environmentally friendly humans.
This possible recognition by UNESCO would definitely validate the excellence of the Three Nations Pyrenean Natural Park project.
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